monkey Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 cannot decompose a 2D symbol in 14...... via shortcut or menu. thought it might be mys symbols, so turned a square into a symbol, but same thing..... anyone else??? Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted November 14, 2013 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted November 14, 2013 I tested as you described from Vectorworks 2014 back to Vectorworks 2011, none of them were capable of decomposing a 2D symbol. Did you perhaps use Convert to Lines or Convert to Polygons previously? Quote Link to comment
bcd Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 cmd K to convert a Symbol to a Group (decompose is more descriptive though) works for me in VW14 on 2d and 3d symbols. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 This is another place where VW is inconsistent. Depending on the type of object you need to either Modify>Decompose or Ungroup or Convert to Group. KM Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Just musing. Kevin, are you contemplating a wish? Are these commands named differently in other software? I think all 3 commands are necessary, each one representing a level of control and a wholly different purpose. Each one performs as named, even though the Convert to Group and Ungroup can confuse the inexperienced user. And it does require knowledge of the commands and a few clicks to activate one or the other in the Modify menu pulldown. Key shortcuts are the way to go. I don't see this as a good idea, but it might be possible to implement these functions in a single command or in a tool similar to Edit Poly. For instance a symbol could be converted, ungrouped and decomposed in one go, or just converted and ungrouped. But this would still require decisions and clicks to pick the desired option (via - wait for it - a dialog box!, or maybe a pulldown, or maybe tab through pref modes with the u key). -B Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Benson, I guess it is a bit of a wish. I wish for consistency so that things are intuitive. Right now different objects react inconsistently with these commands. My awareness of this particular inconsistency started when I was trying to figure out how to "undo" an Auto Hybrid in VW2013, restoring it back to its original objects. I assumed that Ungroup was the appropriate way, since it works for things like solid additions, solid subtractions, 3d fillets etc. and an Auto Hybrid is essentially a "group" of 3d objects. In this instance ungroup seems to be dependent on whether its a 2d or 3d view. None of the objects were 2d to begin with so there's no logic in that. Ungroup actually "decomposes" Auto Hybrids. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea. Kevin Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted November 15, 2013 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted November 15, 2013 I hadn't thought about it for awhile, but it is confusing. I have simply gotten used to which objects need decomposing, which objects need to be converted to a group first, and which objects need ungrouping directly. Maybe instead of just a failure notice a prompt as mentioned above, where the other options are available. A sort of "This object can not be Decomposed, would you like to attempt to Ungroup it instead?" prompt and vice versa. Quote Link to comment
RickR Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 That and a menu resorting. I'm suggesting that assembly as well as near all these disassemble variations be near each other. Maybe even sub menus with titles that help you decide which to use. Hmm, I'm sure I don't understand all the fine points, but is it possible for the software to apply some intelligence? Just do what can be done with that type of object? Quote Link to comment
monkey Posted November 18, 2013 Author Share Posted November 18, 2013 cmd k (decompose) has always converted a 2D symbol into a group, but not in 14. maybe it should not have worked like that and now i have to use the correct command.... Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted November 18, 2013 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted November 18, 2013 Command + K will invoke Convert to Group, which does work, but the Decompose function will not. It seems similar, as most objects when decomposed will also become a group and then their components can be found within. Quote Link to comment
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