Manipulation Tools
The manipulations tools are a series of tools and functions used for altering the position of cell elements and their origin in the 3D viewer. These tools are seperated into 2 sections: The Manipulation Widget and the 3D Viewer Manipulation Tools.
The manipulation widget is located in the top right on the Cell Editor application, and contains all tools relating to changing the position of cell elements precisely by adjusting the translation and rotation values.
The 3D viewer manipulation tools are located along the top of the 3D viewer, and relate to adjusting the position of elements by clicking, dragging and selecting objects directly in the 3D viewer.
Manipulation Widget
Manipulation Widget
The manipulation widget contains 3 options for adjusting the position of cell elements:
Manipulation Modes
Transform/Origin: A drop-down menu for selecting whether changes to the selected cell elements position will apply to the element itself, or its origin. If origin is selected, child elements will retain their current position.
Local/Global: 2 radio buttons for selecting whether the translation and rotation values entered for the cell elements selected will be in reference to the global origin of the cell, or the origin of the parent element.
Translation
The position of the selected cell elements, defined using X, Y and Z values. 3 individual input boxes are listed under the translation label to adjust each of these values.
Rotation
The orientation of the selected cell elements, defined using R, P and Y values. 3 individual input boxes are listed under the rotation label to adjust each of these values.
3D Viewer Manipulation Tools
3D Manipulation Tools
The 3D manipulation tools contain a series of tools relating to changing the position of cell elements directly using the 3D viewer. These tools are grouped into 2 sections.
Note
The manipulation mode selected in the manipulation widget (this being transform or origin) will be the manipulation mode used when changing the position of elements directly in the 3D viewer.
Handles and Snapping Tools
This section contains tools for enabling different forms of manipulation in the 3D viewer:
Move Handle
Enables a visible handle in the 3D viewer for transforming the selected element along its x, y, or z axis.
The handle is shown as 3 lines, each coloured to match one axis. Click and drag a line to move the element along the axis.
Rotate Handle
Enables a visible handle in the 3D viewer for adjusting the selected elements roll, pitch and yaw.
The handle is shown as 3 circles, each one coloured to represent each rotation component. Click and drag along one of the circles to rotate the element.
Planar Handle
Enables a visible handle in the 3D viewer for moving the selected elements across one of the three planes created by the x, y and z axes.
The handle is shown as 3 squares sitting in-between the x and y axes, the x and z axes, and the y and z axes. Click and drag one of these squares to select a plane to move the selected element across.
Move Handle |
Rotate Handle |
Planar Handle |
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Snap
While snapping is enabled, cell elements manipulated in the 3D viewer will translate or rotate in intervals of the distance/angle specified in the two input boxes found to the right of the snap button.
Pick and Point Tools
This section contains tools that manipulate the position of cell elements by selecting other cell elements to reference.
Pick transform from
Selecting a cell element then clicking this button enables the pick transform from tool. While this tool is active, the currently selected cell element will copy the transform values of the next selected cell element.
Point X Towards
Selecting a cell element then clicking this button enables the point x towards tool. While this tool is active, the currently selected cell element will be rotated to have its x-axis point towards the origin on the next selected cell element.
Point Y Towards
Selecting a cell element then clicking this button enables the point y towards tool. While this tool is active, the currently selected cell element will be rotated to have its y-axis point towards the origin on the next selected cell element.
Point Z Towards
Selecting a cell element then clicking this button enables the point z towards tool. While this tool is active, the currently selected cell element will be rotated to have its z-axis point towards the origin on the next selected cell element.
Point Towards Demonstration