Setting Object Orientation Using Drawing Surfaces

Drawing surfaces make it easy to draw objects on a particular plane. Drawing surfaces can be created in either of the following ways:

§  Create a drawing surface with a particular orientation, for creation of objects with the same orientation. Then with Set Position Based on Mouse  mode on, create an object in the area of the surface. The drawn object will automatically be aligned to the surface.

§  Create a drawing surface based on the orientation of a specific polyline or polygon – Draw a polyline/polygon so that its nodes are all lying in the same plane, and then create a drawing surface. The surface will automatically be aligned to the polyline/polygon. Additional objects then drawn on that surface, will be automatically aligned to it and to the original polyline/polygon.

The drawing surface commands can be accessed from the Objects tab or from the Feature Layer tab.

Creating a Drawing Surface

To create a surface with a particular orientation, do the following:

1.     On the Objects tab, click the arrow next to Drawing Surface and select one of the following options:

§  Auto-Aligned Surface – Create a surface that is automatically aligned to the surface under the cursor.

§  Horizontal Surface – Create a horizontal drawing surface that is horizontally aligned to the surface under the cursor.

§  Vertical Surface – Create a vertical drawing surface that is vertically aligned to the surface under the cursor.

§  Surface by 3 Points – Create a drawing surface that is aligned to the three points you draw.

2.     A surface is placed in the current location of the cursor, and the cursor changes to XYZ Magnet mode ., so you can drag the surface to the required location. Click the left mouse button to set the drawing surface in its place.

Aligning a Drawing Surface to a Polyline/Polygon

To align a drawing surface to a polyline/polygon:

1.     Draw a polygon or polyline whose nodes are all lying in the same plane, or select an existing one. See also Creating a New Polyline" and "Creating a New Polygon" in the "Objects and Labels" chapter.

2.     On the top bar of the polygon/polyline property sheet, click Show/Align to Surface  to create a surface aligned with the drawn polygon/polyline. When the property sheet is closed, the drawing surface is no longer displayed. To redisplay it, on the Objects tab, click the arrow next to Drawing Surface and select Show Last Surface. The last surface that was created is displayed.

Aligning Polylines/Polygons to a Drawing Surface

Drawing surfaces are used to control objects' orientation.

To align polylines/polygons to a drawing surface:

1.     Create a surface with a particular orientation. See "Creating a Drawing Surface" in this chapter for information.

2.     Select Set Position Based on Mouse , and then draw the polyline/polygon in the area of the created surface. See the "Objects and Labels" chapter for information.

If you draw an object not directly on the drawing surface, the object's default alignment depends on the angle between the surface and the horizon:

• If the drawing surface is vertical or nearly-vertical, the object's nodes are projected perpendicularly from where you clicked to add the node, onto the surface.

• For other drawing surfaces, the object's nodes are projected vertically from where you clicked to add the node, onto the surface.

Note:        You can override the default alignment using keyboard shortcut keys. For a near-vertical surface, type and hold down "v" to project the object vertically to the drawing surface. For other surfaces, type and hold down "n" to project the object perpendicularly.

3.     If you draw a polygon or a polyline that is not aligned to surface or a polyline/polygon becomes misaligned with the surface as a result of editing in XY or Z mode, rather than in Set Position Based on Mouse  mode, Show/Align to Surface  becomes enabled. Click Show/Align to Surface  to align any misaligned nodes. The node's alignment is represented by its color:

§  Black – aligned

§  White – misaligned

Note:        The selected node is yellow, regardless of alignment.

4.     Other polylines or polygons in the area of the surface that were drawn before the surface was created, can also be aligned by selecting the polyline/polygon, and then clicking Show/Align to Surface .

Editing a Drawing Surface

To edit the drawing surface that is currently displayed:

1.     On the Objects tab, click the arrow next to Drawing Surface and select Edit Surface. The surface property sheet is displayed.

2.     Edit altitude, x, y, yaw, pitch, and roll properties in the property sheet as required, and use the toolbar, resizers, and rotators to edit the surface in the 3D Window. See "Editing a 2D or 3D Object Using Object Handles" and "Editing Objects in the 3D Window" in this chapter for information.