Translating objects

In translating a geometric object, the program moves it from its original position to a new one. The translation can include also the creation of mirror representations and rotating.

To translate an object or a series of objects

1. Select the object or objects that you want to modify.
2. Do any of the following:

• On the Transformation toolbar, click Translate .
• On the Transformations menu, click Translate.
• Press CTRL+T+T.

A contextual edit bar appears above the graphical area.

Snapping You can use point-focused snapping.

Copy Leaves the original object in place.

Step distance Translates the objects at a distance that is either equal to or divisible by the entered value.

Dx Sets a horizontal offset distance of the translated objects relative to the original ones as projected along the x-axis.

Dy Sets a vertical offset distance of the translated objects relative to the original ones as projected along the y-axis.

Rot. Angle Sets an angle by which the objects will be rotated during translation.

Horizontal Mirror Mirrors the original objects in respect of the x-axis.

Vertical Mirror Mirrors the original objects in respect of the y-axis.

NOTE: The Translate button is available only if there is a selected object in the drawing.

3. (Optional) To keep the original objects in their original location, in the contextual edit bar, click Copy .
4. (Optional) In the contextual edit bar, in Step distance type a step distance.

The objects will be translated only at distances that are equal to or divisible by the value in Step.

NOTE: The step-distance functionality is useful when you want to translate by copying the objects several times and array them at equal distances — for example, for drawing a grid for the text fields in a design frame.

5. (Optional) To rotate the objects while they are being translated, in the contextual edit bar, in Rot. Angle enter a value.
6. (Optional) To apply a vertical and/or horizontal mirror representation of the translated objects, in the contextual edit bar, click the Horizontal Mirror and/or Vertical Mirror .
7. (Optional) Set a different style for the translated objects.
8. Set a source point of reference by doing one of the following:

• Click the selected objects.
• Use a point-focused snapping to snap this first point of reference to an existing object in the graphical area.

IMPORTANT: At this point the program begins to automatically detect the relations available to the objects you touch with the mouse pointer. Relations with other objects are ignored.

9. Set a destination point of reference to indicate the target location by doing one of the following:

• Point to where you want the point of reference to be.
• Use a point-focused snapping to snap the destination point of reference to an existing object in the graphical area.
• Define the horizontal and vertical offset distance of the translated objects relative to the original ones by entering Dx and Dy values in the respective edit boxes in the contextual edit bar.

NOTE: The Dx and Dy offset attributes are relative to the absolute coordinate position of the original objects.

10. Click to position the objects.
11. (Optional) For any subsequent translations of the same objects, repeat Steps 3–10.
12. To complete the translating, press ESC to complete the translating.

Notes

• During translating, relation indicators appear at the mouse pointer to guide you about possible relations with other objects.
• To cancel the translation at any time, do any of the following:
• • Press ESC.
  • In the graphical area, right-click, and then click Cancel Transformation on the context menu.