Protrusion/Cutout (Push/Pull)

[ccc]

Using Vectorworks 2010 on PC-XP. New and temporary VW user.

Can anyone explain typical circumstances under which the Protrusion/Cutout (renamed push/pull in later versions) tool would cease functioning?

Was working on a more sophisticated 3D model, went to use the P/C tool, selected a face as normal, extended that face to the desired distance, pressed enter. No result: solid remains the same(unextended), no error message or feedback of any kind. Same behavior clicking the check mark instead of hitting enter. Also, with the pull/push distance of a given face set, but unconfirmed, moving the mouse cursor off of the main screen (to the menu bar or left/right toolbars) causes the pulled face to disappear (appear as unstretched), and then when the mouse cursor returns to the main screen, it again shows the unconfirmed pulled-out face. Don't know if that latter phenomenon is normal or not. The big problem is that the Protrusion/Cutout tool is not functioning, as I said.

Same behavior repeats when starting a new file, making a simple rectangular solid, and attempting to pull any face.

Again, using vectorworks 2010. Any help would be appreciated.

[Benson Shaw]

Surface to extend needs to be NURBS.

Profile needs to be 2d or NURBS.

Projection path needs to intersect Surface.

Projection direction needs to point from profile to surface.

In Projection plane, Surface needs to fully enclose projection Profile.

Otherwise, dunno.

-B

[Christian Fekete]

I am trying to push and pull parts of a cube by drawing a square on the top and pushing into the cube to remove the volume but I end up with a separate volume inside the cube which was not cutout at all.

What am I doing wrong?

Please help

Thanks

[Christian Fekete]

I think I found the answer, you need to have the Alt key pressed when you do the push/pull. Am I correct?

[Tamsin Slatter]

Yes - press and hold Alt while you click. If you have pulled away from the original object, it will created a solid addition.

[mike m oz]

Christian, Tamsin you are both wrong. You need to press the Alt key (Option key on a Mac) after you have started the Push-Pull action but before you click to finish the edit action. If you have it held down when you start the Push-Pull action you will not get a solid addition or solid subtraction. Its a finicky operation but once you understand how to do it works fine.

[Tamsin Slatter]

As I said, press Alt while you click.