External Variables Manipulators of 3D Fragment

Calling the command:

To specify the values of external variables of a 3D model, custom manipulators can be created.Manipulators are created using the Manipulators command.

Manipulators of external variables can be used in two ways:

•to change parameters of the model in the scene;

•to change values of external variables on the fragment upon insertion of the model into the assembly.

To create manipulators it is required that the external variables that control parameters of the given model be present in the current 3D model.

In order to show or hide the manipulators in the scene, you need to use the corresponding command in the View toolbar:

Creating manipulator

In this command it is possible to add new manipulators, remove existing ones, change manipulator’s description. Creation of the following types of manipulators is possible:

•linear manipulator – arrow the length of which is equal to the variable’s value;

•radial manipulator – ring the radius of which is equal to the variable’s value;

•diametrical – ring whose diameter is equal to the variable’s value;

•angular manipulator by three points and  angular manipulator by axis and initial point – a segment of a circle whose angular dimension is specified in degrees and equal to the variable’s value;

•list – for external variable the list of admissible values is available. The list can be tied to an arbitrary point on a 3D model. Manipulator of this type is shown as a small ball and upon pressing on this ball the list for variable’s value selection will appear.

When calling the Parameters > Manipulators command the list of already existing in the given document manipulators is displayed in the properties window. If there are no manipulators in the document yet, the list will be empty.

To create a manipulator ,the cursor has to be placed over the line in the list, and afterwards parameters of the manipulator must be specified in the fields below.

Manipulators already created in the document are displayed in 3D window with a gray color. In order to edit the parameters of already existing manipulator, it is required to select it – with the help of in 3D window or in the list of the properties window. The selected manipulator is highlighted in 3D window with a color (by default – red color).

Variable section

List for manipulator’s type selection:

•Linear

•Radial

•Diametrical

•Angular by three points

•Angular by axis and initial point

•List

Field for specifying the manipulator’s name. The name (text string) can be typed manually. Also it can be specified automatically based on the name of external variable with which the given manipulator will be linked. For this case, it is required to leave the field empty. After selection of the variable from the list below, the system itself will fill in this field according to the format Variable’s value“Variable_name”.

List of external variables of document – allows us to indicate the external variable whose value will be controlled by the manipulator being created.

Hide. This flag allows us to control manipulator’s visibility on the screen. As a value for this parameter it is possible to use the real variable. Manipulator will be hidden if the value of the variable is not equal to zero.

Parameters of the Scroll step group specify the step with which the manipulator’s value changes:

•By default – the step is selected automatically depending on the scene’s scale;

•Value (the user can specify the exact value for the step);

•By list of values (the list is generated by the user).

Parameters of the Range group specify the limits for the change in the manipulator’s value and scale:

•Limit at the beginning. This parameter allows us to specify the minimum admissible value of the manipulator;

•Limit at the end. This parameter allows us to specify the maximum admissible value of the manipulator;

•Multiplier. With the help of this parameter the coefficient by which the manipulator’s value will be multiplied can be specified.

Manipulator’s visualization section

In the command’s parameters window there is additional section with the manipulator’s visualization parameters:

Size. Size of the manipulator in 3D scene. This parameter affects only the manipulator’s visualization;

Colors/Draw. The color with which non-active manipulators will be drawn in 3D scene;

Colors/Selection. The color with which the manipulator will be drawn in 3D scene when the cursor comes near the manipulator;

Colors/Active. The color with which the active manipulator will be drawn in 3D scene;

Radius from a point. This parameter is available only for the angular manipulator and specifies the radius of the manipulator’s arc. By default this flag is enabled, the radius is determined automatically by the points specified by the user (when defining manipulator’s geometry). When this flag is disabled, the radius value can be specified manually.

Geometrical parameters of the manipulator are specified with the help of the options of the automenu. The set of these options is different for each type of the manipulator.

For a linear manipulator:

These options allow us to specify the image of the manipulator in 3D scene by two ways – either to specify the initial and final points of the manipulator’s vector or to select a 3D object that is capable of defining the manipulator’s vector.

For radial and diametrical manipulators:

These options allow us to specify the axis of the circular manipulator either by specifying two points or by selection of a 3D object capable of defining the axis entirely. The radius of the manipulator will correspond to the value of the variable linked with the manipulator.

For angular manipulator by three points:

The arc of the angular manipulator of the given type is determined by three points: central point of an arc (selected with the help of the option), initial point of the arc (the option) and final point of the arc (the option).

For angular manipulator by axis and initial point:

For the angular manipulator of the given type it is required to specify the manipulator’s arc axis – by selection of two points (the and options) or one 3D object (the option). After the axis has been specified the initial point of the manipulator’s arc must be specified. The arc length will be determined by the system automatically based on the value of the variable linked with the manipulator.

For manipulator of the type “List”:

This option allows us to indicate a 3D point in which manipulator in the form of a small ball will be created.

To complete creation/editing of the manipulator it is required to press after all parameters have been specified.

Using manipulators

When using manipulators, i.e. when changing the values of model variables using manipulators, an additional control appears in the filter toolbar – to set the exact numeric value of the manipulator.

See also:

•External variables manipulators of 2D fragments