drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 This should be easy and I think I'm missing something easy: I have a line the is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle I need. I have the length of one side, 6". I'm trying to use the diagonal to create the length of the other side by drawing a 6" line, connecting one end of the diagonal to the end of the 6" and then rotating up until the end of the tangent is in line with the other end of the 6" line. The problem is, the rotate tool doesn't snap to the length of the object you are rotating, so I can snap to the right height, but I can slide along that height anywhere I want to. There's nothing to keep it at the right length of the diagonal I am rotating. I hope that makes sense, I have included an image of what I'm doing, but it's hard to capture. This has got to be easy, what am I doing wrong? Quote Link to comment
CipesDesign Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 There are multiple MODES for the Rectangle Tool, one of which is Rotated. I'll bet if you find the correct mode this will be as easy as click/drag/click... Quote Link to comment
James Russell Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 It took me a while but I think I understand what you're asking. See this video, because if I'm correct it is a hard thing to show/describe. Perhaps a tweek needs to be added to the rotation tool so that the extension-line defined by the second click is also an interactive and snappable point that can have Object/Object interactions. Quote Link to comment
drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Thanks, I tried the different modes, but they all seem to require that you know the length of each side you want first. I know one length, and the diagonal. And I don't know the angle of the diagonal. I could do it with math, but I'd prefer a way in vectorworks itself! Quote Link to comment
drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 The video is private Quote Link to comment
James Russell Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Blergh! Try again now. Haha. Quote Link to comment
drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 James, Thanks, that is exactly what my issue was, no snap point. I like your solution, and I can make it work, the one slight issue, and this is getting picky, is that I developed the diagonal from several other parameters so it's not a nice round number, it's just a line that I grabbed and it has lots of decimal places! :-) I can type it in, just feel like there should be a geometric way this could be done. I appreciate your answer and it will work! Thanks David Quote Link to comment
James Russell Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 No worries. I'm sure if I sat here and thought about it long enough I'd figure out a way to make it work from an existing line, but it's already 3am... so probably won't. Just call it to three decimal places, no-one really cares after that right? Cheers, J Quote Link to comment
Andy Broomell Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) (Pardon me if I'm misinterpreting the question.) Since the rotate tool doesn't snap to the length of the diagonal (something which it should REALLY DO), try drawing a circle with the center point at your rotational center and the radius at the length of the diagonal line. Then the rotate tool uses the geometry of the circle for snap points. Edited June 24, 2015 by AEB Quote Link to comment
drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Hey that works too! And I can use the length of the diagonal without having to input the numbers, but just by snaping the circle tool to the end of the line. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
drmdzh Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Actually, you never even have to rotate the line, just snap a new line to the intersection of the circle and the horizontal. Quote Link to comment
AlanW Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I want your version of Vectorworks "20014" I only have 2015. Back to the future. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 I use the circle / arc workaround all the time. I second the wish for holding a snap distance along a line when rotating. KM Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted June 25, 2015 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted June 25, 2015 Got it. Submitting request now for that type of interaction to generate its own snap along the smartcursor line. (or really, along/against any other snap point) Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) Jim, there are different scenarios. I think VW needs to auto generate a guide arc along the path generated by the lever arm of the rotation. Here's an example. As far as I know its not possible to properly snap the corner of the rectangle to where the rotation arc hits this circle without drawing the guide arc. Without the guide arc there is no "intersection" point to snap to and this operation isn't possible. KM Edited June 25, 2015 by Kevin McAllister Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted June 25, 2015 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted June 25, 2015 I had submitted a request for just the control point (I THINK thats what the second click of the rotate tool is called...) to become a snappable point during the rotate operation, but that seems even more useful. Especially if the guide arc created temporary snap points at all intersections of it and geometry AND smartcursor cues. Submitting this as another wish now. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 Exactly right! I guess technically the guide arc is probably a circle.... Thanks Jim! KM Quote Link to comment
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