Moving Polygon Edges

Overview

This tool moves an edge of a polygon exactly like Xform > Move moves an object.

For other Xform edge tools, see:

Rotating Edges around T and N Axes on page 81

Scaling from an Edge Mid- Point on page 82

However, unlike Move, coordinates you type for numeric positioning move the midpoint of the edge.

For example, if you pick two vertices that make up a edge, select Xform > Move, then type 0, 0, 0 in absolute addressing mode, both of the vertices are moved to the world space origin. If you type 0, 0, 0 in absolute addressing mode while using the Xform Edge > Translate tool, the midpoint of the edge moves to the world space origin while maintaining its size and orientation.

How to Use

1

Select Polygon Edit > Xform edge > Translate - or double click this icon:

2

In the Poly Transform Options box, choose Polygon axis or XYZ axis.

3

Click Go.

The system prompts:

Select edge to transform (Translate).

4

Click the polygon you want to move. A locator is displayed and the system prompts:

Translate edge using mouse or enter transform values (ABS) (N,S,T):

or

Translate edge using mouse or enter transform values (ABS) (x,y,z):

See Moving the edge with the mouse and Moving the edge with the keyboard below.

5

Drag the edge with the mouse, or enter the move amounts using the keyboard.

Moving the edge with the mouse

If you are using XYZ axes, use the following mouse buttons to move the edge in an orthographic window:

• Drag with the left mouse button to move the edge along the axes in the current view window.

• Drag with the middle mouse button to constrain the movement to the horizontal axis.

• Drag with the right mouse button to constrain the movement to the vertical axis.

If you are using Polygon axes, or XYZ axes in a perspective window, use the following buttons:

• Drag with the left mouse button to move the edge along the X or N axis.

• Drag with the middle mouse button to move the edge along the Y or S axis.

• Drag with the right mouse button to move the edge along the Z or T axis.

Mousing Tips

• Hold down Shift and click the right mouse button to repeat the last transformation of the active polygon.

• Hold down Shift and click the left mouse button to deselect the edge.

• You can use object and grid snap with Xform Edge. The edge's midpoint will snap to other objects or grid points:

Moving the edge with the keyboard

Type coordinates and press Enter to move the edge. The values you type are interpreted as XYZ or NST depending whether you have chosen XYZ axes or Polygon axes in the options box.

For details on typing absolute and relative coordinates, see Basic Tools in Alias.

Poly Transform Options

Select Polygon Edit > Xform edge > Translate - to open the Poly Transform Options box.

Transform Axis

XYZ axes

Moves the edge along the world axes.

Polygon axes

Moves the edge along the polygon's local axes.

Rotating Edges around T and N Axes

Rotate a polygon edge around the polygon's T or N axes.

How to Use

1

Select Polygon Edit > Xform edge > Rotate or click this icon.

The system prompts:

Select edge to transform (Rotate):

2

Click the edge you want to rotate. The system prompts:

Rotate edge using mouse or enter transform values (N, T):

• Drag with the left mouse button to rotate the edge around the N axis.

Hold down Shift and click the right mouse button to repeat the last transformation of the active polygon.

• Drag with the right mouse button to rotate the edge around the T axis.

Press Shift and click the left mouse button to deselect the edge.

Rotating the edge using the keyboard

Type decimal rotation values for N and T in degrees, separated by a space or a comma. The rotation is always relative.

Scaling from an Edge Mid-Point

Xform Edge - Scale changes the scale of an edge from its mid-point.

How to Use

1

Select Polygon Edit > Xform edge > Scale or click this icon.

The system prompts:

Hold down Shift and click the right mouse button to repeat the last transformation of the active polygon.

Select edge to transform (Scale):

2

Click on the edge you want to scale. The system prompts:

Scale edge using mouse or enter transform values (uniform):

Press Shift and click the left mouse button to deselect the edge.

3

Drag to scale the edge.

Scaling the edge using the keyboard

Type a decimal scale factor to scale the edge from its midpoint. The scaling is always relative.