Anchor Points of Moving and Copying 2D Elements

When moving or copying 2D elements, you need to specify special points - origin and target. These points define the direction and dimension of transformation. Number of required points of each type varies for different commands.

Origin point

Origin is the point that marks the original position of the objects to be transformed. Depending on the command you may or may not have to specify a single origin point.

Following automenu option is active by default upon calling a move or copy command:

While it's active, the origin point can be defined in one of the following ways:

•Typing X and Y coordinates in the parameters window.

•Pointing an arbitrary location in 2D window using .

•Selecting an existing 2D node in 2D window, using the following automenu option:

Upon activating this option, a click in 2D window selects a nearest existing 2D node as the origin of transformation.

Upon defining the origin point, the command switches to the target point selection mode.

Alternatively, one of the key points of the bounding rectangle can be used as origin. The bounding rectangle is a rectangular area formed by horizontal and vertical lines that covers the extents of the set of objects selected for the transformation. Key points of the bounding rectangle are its center, corners and the side midpoints.

In order to use one of the bounding rectangle's key points as an origin, click and hold on the free attachment mode option. A drop-down list will appear containing following options:

Upon selecting any of these options, except free attachment, the command immediately switches to the target point selection mode.

Target point

Target is the point defining the target position of the objects after the transformation. If the command requires origin point, then a target point can only be selected after selecting an origin. Different commands may require different numbers of target points. The target point can be defined in one of the following ways:

•Typing X and Y coordinates in the parameters window.

•Pointing an arbitrary location in 2D window using .

•Selecting an existing 2D node in 2D window, using the following automenu option:

Upon activating this option, a click in 2D window selects a nearest existing 2D node as the target of transformation.

In the target point selection mode the 2D window contains a preview of the operation result, which dynamically changes depending on the cursor position.

Upon defining one-by-one a required number of target points, the current transformation is complete. Next action of the system depends on the active automenu option (see the Next Action upon Moving and Copying 2D Elements section).

Parameters of origin and target points

In origin and target points selection modes the parameters window contains parameters of such points. Each point has its own group of parameters. Groups may have various names depending on the transformation type (origin - Starting Point, Base Point, Scale Center, Rotate Center; target - Base Point, Target Point, Center, Starting Point, Starting Direction, Ending Direction).

Point's parameters always include its X and Y coordinates. By default, coordinates of a point being defined at the moment dynamically change depending on the cursor movement. However, typing in a coordinate's value using the keyboard enables a checkbox located near coordinate's value input box. Enabling the checkbox fixates the value, so it doesn't depend on the cursor movement anymore. Preview of such point in 2D window then may only be moved along a horizontal or vertical line corresponding to the typed in value. Such line is indicated by blue dashes. During defining some types of points following options may be available and active by default:

Deactivating such options enables the checkbox of the corresponding coordinate, fixes its value and blocks movement of the point along the corresponding axis. So it is helpful fro defining horizontal or vertical translation.

Moreover, for some points additional parameters can be displayed in parameters window, such as dx and dy increments of coordinates in relation to coordinates of the origin point, length L of the transformation vector (distance between origin and target), angle A. Angle is measured counterclockwise in relation to the horizontal right direction (X axis). Length and angle have checkboxes for fixating values similar to X and Y coordinates' checkboxes. Upon fixating a length value, the preview of a point in the 2D window may only be moved around the origin point along a circle whose radius is equal to the length value. Such circle is indicated by blue dashes. Upon fixating an angle value, the preview of a point may only be moved along a straight line passing through the origin point at the specified angle. Such line is indicated by blue dashes as well. Fixating any two of the mentioned parameters (X, Y, L, A) simultaneously blocks the point movement in all directions, so that it's located at the intersection of the corresponding blue dashed lines. Then you have to click anywhere within the 2D window in order to confirm the point's position.