Rotate Tool - Alignment Rotate mode

[markdd]

Does anybody on the forum understand the Alignment Rotation mode of the Rotate tool? I spent at least an hour trying to work out what it is meant to achieve.

 

The Help files are no help and the Youtube video is no help at all!

 

 

[Andy Broomell]

I remember trying to figure it out recently and still had absolutely no clue what it does. Would love to know.

[Kevin McAllister]

I think all it does is project a third point from a snap on another object down to the working plane to define the "rotate to" position of the lever arm. In my example the working plane is the layer plane and the extrude I'm referencing is floating over it. That said, sometime it generates so super weird previews with your object rotated off into space.

 

3d rotation in general is pretty bad in VW and something I hope will be improved soon.

 

Kevin

 

 

Edited August 27, 2017 by Kevin McAllister

[markdd]

Thanks Kevin. I think you might be right. I hoped it would be something more useful! 

[Andy Broomell]

1 hour ago, Kevin McAllister said:

I think all it does is project a third point from a snap on another object down to the working plane to define the "rotate to" position of the lever arm. In my example the working plane is the layer plane and the extrude I'm referencing is floating over it. That said, sometime it generates so super weird previews with your object rotated off into space.

 

 

Interesting, although I seem to get the exact same function/results when using the other mode too...

[markdd]

10 hours ago, Andy Broomell said:

 

Interesting, although I seem to get the exact same function/results when using the other mode too...

So do I!

[Kevin McAllister]

Me too.

 

I tried the example from the help - http://app-help.vectorworks.net/2017/eng/index.htm#t=VW2017_Guide%2FObjects_edit1%2FRotation_by_Alignment.htm%23XREF_22732_Rotation_by&rhsearch=rotate&rhsyns=  - and it works in both Standard Rotation Mode and Alignment Rotation Mode. @JimW you made the help video for this, are we missing something here?  (the forums really need a head scratching emoji).

 

Kevin

 

Edited August 28, 2017 by Kevin McAllister

[PVA - Admin]

The Alignment mode requires that the third click be snappable 3D geometry, but I don't think there is much point to it any more. I think a number of versions back the way 3D rotation was changed such that snapping to other objects was always allowed rather than forcing screen plane rotation from whatever view you were in. This MIGHT have happened around the same time as automatic working planes but I am not sure, I'll submit and see what comes of it. Might just be a vestigial mode that doesn't need to keep existing.

In my personal experience, I don't think I've used that rotation mode other than when I made that video.

[markdd]

Thanks @JimWfor that clarification. If it is a redundant mode then it would be good to get rid of it in a service pack to save dopes like me ages trying to figure it out!

[Kevin McAllister]

1 hour ago, markdd said:

Thanks @JimWfor that clarification. If it is a redundant mode then it would be good to get rid of it in a service pack to save dopes like me ages trying to figure it out!

Ha I've tried to figure out how to "make it work" in various scenarios myself..... I wonder if there's now user data on how many people use this mode..... 

 

I've often wanted a rotate mode that allowed me to define the axis of rotation in the first step....

 

KM