Editing objects

Selecting objects

You must select objects before you can manipulate them.

Selected objects display with dotted lines and a white box at the insertion point.
Selected light fixtures and projectors are filled in green.

Use the following table to identify the selection method for objects.

Desired action	Selection method
Select a single object.	Click the object. Note: You must click a line on the object. Clicking inside the object does not select it.
Select a single fixture.	In Drawing Wireframe, click on or inside the fixture symbol’s outline. In 3D view, click the symbol’s outline to select the fixture
Select multiple objects.	Press and hold the CTRL key while clicking the desired objects. Draw a box from left to right to select all objects fully within the box. Draw a box from right to left to select all objects fully within the box, as well as the objects partially contained in the box.
Select all the objects on the screen.	Press and hold the CTRL and type A.
Select all the objects on the current layer.	From the Edit menu, choose Select Current Layer. or Press and hold the CTRL+SHIFT keys and type A.
Restore selection to the objects previously selected.	From the Edit menu, choose Select Special, and then choose Restore Previous Selection.
Select the last object created.	From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Select Last Object Created.
Select all the objects on one or more layers or in layer groups.	From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Specify Layers to Select. To select multiple layers from the Pick layers to select dialog box, press and hold the CTRL key while selecting the layers.
Select only specific objects from within already selected objects.	In Drawing Wireframe, select multiple objects. Press and hold SHIFT, and right-click. The right-click menu's Select Native Objects > and/or Select Library Items > menus only show visible and selectable objects from the current selection set (as opposed to all visible and selectable objects in the file - which is what these menus show when SHIFT is not used).
Invert Selection	From Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Invert Selection. Press CTRL+I to deselect all editable objects currently selected, and consequently select all the other editable objects that were previously not selected. Note: Invert Selection applies only to fixtures in Lighting Wireframe/Quad and Virtual View.
Select all of one type of lighting fixture or all lighting fixtures in your file.	In a drawing tab, right-click and choose Select All > Select [specific type of fixture] or Select All > Select All.
Cycle select multiple objects.	Press SHIFT before clicking to select the object. When Cycle Selection is active, Cycle On appears in the Vivien Status Bar. To select the object, you must click on a spot where two or more lines overlap or intersect. To continue selecting, keep pressing SHIFT to cycle through all items that share the area where you clicked.

Desired action

Selection method

Select a single object.

Click the object.

Note: You must click a line on the object. Clicking inside the object does not select it.

Select a single fixture.

In Drawing Wireframe, click on or inside the fixture symbol’s outline.
In 3D view, click the symbol’s outline to select the fixture

Select multiple objects.

Press and hold the CTRL key while clicking the desired objects.
Draw a box from left to right to select all objects fully within the box.
Draw a box from right to left to select all objects fully within the box, as well as the objects partially contained in the box.

Select all the objects on the screen.

Press and hold the CTRL and type A.

Select all the objects on the current layer.

From the Edit menu, choose Select Current Layer.

Press and hold the CTRL+SHIFT keys and type A.

Restore selection to the objects previously selected.

From the Edit menu, choose Select Special, and then choose Restore Previous Selection.

Select the last object created.

From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Select Last Object Created.

Select all the objects on one or more layers or in layer groups.

From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Specify Layers to Select. To select multiple layers from the Pick layers to select dialog box, press and hold the CTRL key while selecting the layers.

Select only specific objects from within already selected objects.

In Drawing Wireframe, select multiple objects. Press and hold SHIFT, and right-click. The right-click menu's Select Native Objects > and/or Select Library Items > menus only show visible and selectable objects from the current selection set (as opposed to all visible and selectable objects in the file - which is what these menus show when SHIFT is not used).

Invert Selection

From Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Invert Selection.
Press CTRL+I to deselect all editable objects currently selected, and consequently select all the other editable objects that were previously not selected.

Note: Invert Selection applies only to fixtures in Lighting Wireframe/Quad and Virtual View.

Select all of one type of lighting fixture or all lighting fixtures in your file.

In a drawing tab, right-click and choose Select All > Select [specific type of fixture] or Select All > Select All.

Cycle select multiple objects.

Press SHIFT before clicking to select the object. When Cycle Selection is active, Cycle On appears in the Vivien Status Bar. To select the object, you must click on a spot where two or more lines overlap or intersect. To continue selecting, keep pressing SHIFT to cycle through all items that share the area where you clicked.

Invert selection

This feature is helpful if you want to deselect all the currently selected editable objects (in Wireframe), and consequently select all objects that were previously not selected.

From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Invert Selection to activate invert selection, or press CTRL+I, which applies to all objects displayed in Wireframe.
Invert Selection or CTRL+I applies only to fixtures displayed in Lighting Wireframe and Virtual View.

To use invert selection

For example, if your drawing has a total of 10 objects, and 4 objects out of the 10 are currently selected. From the Edit menu, choose Select Special and then click Invert Selection, or press CTRL+I to activate invert selection.

Result: The 4 selected objects will be deselected and the other 6 objects that were previously not selected, will be selected automatically.

Undoing/Redoing actions

You can reverse your last series of actions using the Undo menu command. The name of the Undo command changes depending on what the last action was (for example, if the last action was a Paste operation, the Undo command is Undo Paste). Undo reverses the series of actions that you performed since you opened the document, including those actions that you performed before you last saved the document. If you cannot reverse the last action, the Undo command is grayed.

If you decide that you did not want to undo an action, use the Redo command. Similar to the Undo command, the name of the Redo command changes depending on what the last undo action was.

To use the Undo tool

From the Edit menu, choose Undo.

Click the Undo tool on the Edit toolbar. The last action you performed is reversed.

The Undo button.

To use the Redo tool

From the Edit menu, choose Redo.

Click the Redo tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Redo button.

Result: The last undo action you performed is reversed.

Repeating the last command

To repeat the last command

From the Edit menu, choose Repeat.

Click the Repeat tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Repeat button.

Result: The last command you performed is repeated.

Deleting objects

There are two ways to remove objects from your drawing: using the Delete command and using the Cut command. The Cut command places the object on the clipboard so it is available to be pasted.

To delete an object

Select the object(s) to be deleted.
From the Edit menu, choose Delete.

Click the Delete tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Delete button.

Result: The object is removed from the drawing and the Event Resources.

To cut an object

Select the object(s) to be deleted.
From the Edit menu, choose Cut.

Click the Cut tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Cut button.

Result: The object is removed from the drawing and the Event Resources and placed on the clipboard.

Grouping/Ungrouping objects

Grouping objects together ensures that they are always selected (and edited) as one. For example, you might want to group a projector with the table or riser it sits on. If you relocate the projector in the drawing, the riser automatically moves with it, saving you time and work.

In order to use Groups effectively, it is important to understand how they operate in Vivien (which may be different than in other software). To that end, ensure that you have read through the “Groups are objects that exist on layers” section.

To group objects

Select the objects to be grouped.
From the Modify menu, choose Group.

Click the Group tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Group button.

Result: The Dynamic Group Outline appears to indicate that the selected objects have been Grouped.

Dynamic Group Outline is a dashed framing outline enclosing all objects within a Group. The color of the outline is the same as the color of the Layer where the Group belongs. Dynamic Group Outline will continue to appear every time a Group is selected, until the Group is Ungrouped. For more information, see “Dynamic group outline”.

To ungroup objects

Select the grouped objects.
From the Modify menu, choose Ungroup.

Click the Ungroup tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Ungroup button.

Result: The objects are ungrouped and the Dynamic Group Outline disappears.

Objects located on different layers can be grouped together but the resulting group only exists on one layer—the current layer when initially created.

To change or view the layer of a group

Select the object(s) for which you want to view the grouping.
Right-click and select Object Properties.

The Properties button.

Click the Group tab.

Result: The layers for the objects in the group are listed with the layer for the group highlighted.

Note: By default, the group assumes the current layer when initially created.

If you want to group the objects on a different layer, select the layer from the list.

Selection Sets

You can group non-fixture objects and create Selection Sets shortcuts in the Selection Sets shortcut bar in the Wireframe, Quad and Virtual views. Selection Sets apply to any and all drawn objects and objects inserted from the Library Browser, which include Groups and Truss.

Selection Sets are NOT the same as Groups because they only save which particular objects are selected, and the order in which they are selected.

To create a Selection Set

Select the objects you want to group and select with a shortcut.
On the shortcut bar, click Selection Sets.
Right-click on the open space on the Selection Sets shortcut bar, and choose New Selection Set from the popup menu.

Result: The Enter new selection set name dialog box appears.

Type a name for the new selection set.
Click OK.

Result: The new Selection Set shortcut appears on the Selection Sets shortcut bar.

Moving objects

Vivien supports two types of move commands: relative and absolute.

Absolute coordinates are relative to the origin of the drawing. An absolute move is defined as moving an object from one specific point to another.

A relative move is defined as moving an object to a destination relative to its original position.

To move an object using the mouse

Select the object(s) to be moved.
Hover the cursor over the object until a gray box appears at the base of the cursor.
Click and drag the mouse to the new position and then release to finish the move.

To move an object using absolute values

Select the object(s) to be moved.
From the Modify menu, choose Move.

Click the Move tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Move button.

Click to set the base point for the move.

Press ENTER to automatically select the object's insertion point as the base point for the move.

Type the coordinates of the base point and press ENTER. Type a comma between each coordinate. When you start typing, the Command Line toolbar opens, if it is not open already.

Enter the new coordinate location for the base point, and then press ENTER.

Tip: You can change only one or two coordinates to an absolute location while keeping the other coordinates as they are.

Example: If you want an object to move to a height of Z=10 but you don’t know the X and Y coordinates. Start the Move command and type “x,y,10” in the Command Line after picking the base point.

To move an object using relative values

Select the object(s) to be moved.
From the Modify menu, choose Move.

Click the Move tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Move button.

Type @ and the distances to move the object and press ENTER. For example, to move an object 2’0” stage right (X axis) and 3’0” off the floor (Z axis), type the following and then press ENTER: @2’,0,3’ .

To move an object using distance and direction

Select the object(s) to be moved.
From the Modify menu, choose Move.

Click the Move tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Move button.

Type @, the distance, the < sign and the direction (as an angle, positive or negative) to move the object and press ENTER. For example, to move an object 3’6” to the left, type the following, and then press ENTER: @3’6”<-180.

Distributing objects

A group of objects can be selected and then distributed in a straight line between two points.

To distribute objects between two points

Select the objects to be distributed.

From the Modify menu, choose Distribute Objects and then click Between Two Points.

Click the Between Two Points tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Between Two Points button.

Click on the drawing to set the first distribution point.
Click on the drawing to set the second distribution point.

Result: The objects will be distributed evenly in a straight line between the two chosen points.

Rotating objects

Objects can be rotated around a base point. This allows you to place objects on angles in your drawing or to reorient objects place from the Library.

To rotate an object

Select the object(s) to be rotated.
From the Modify menu, choose Rotate.

Click the Rotate tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Rotate button.

Press ENTER on your keyboard to rotate the object from its insertion point, OR click to set the center point for the rotation, OR type in the coordinates of the center point for the rotation, and then press ENTER.
Enter the rotation angle and press ENTER, or drag the mouse, and then click to enter the rotation angle. For example, to rotate an object 45 degrees, type 45 and press ENTER.

Rotating objects in place

You can rotate multiple objects around their respective insertion points to place them all at the same angle in your drawing.

To rotate multiple objects in place

Select the objects to be rotated.
From the Modify menu, choose Rotate in Place.

Click to set the base point used for the rotation angle.

Type in the coordinates of the base point, and then press ENTER.

Note: The base point is only used to help determine the angle, as each object is rotated around its own insertion point.

Type the rotation angle, and then press ENTER, or move the mouse and click to set the rotation angle. For example, to rotate objects 45 degrees, type 45, and then press ENTER.

Resetting object orientation

To reset the rotation of objects

Select the objects whose rotation needs to be reset.
From the Modify menu, choose Reset Orientation.

Result: The object’s orientation will be reset to its default setting.

Mirroring objects

The Mirror command duplicates and reverses an object, inserting it the same distance from an axis line as the original.

Notes:

Pipes, truss (including fixtures hanging on them) and fixtures inserted on the floor can be mirrored. “Mirroring pipes” and “Mirroring truss” for more information.
When mirroring Text Label objects, the Text Label’s position/rotation, anchor position, callouts and arrows will be mirrored across the mirror plane, but the text will always face the screen and will not be reversed.

To insert a mirrored object

Select the object(s) to be mirrored.
From the Modify menu, choose Mirror.

Click the Mirror tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Mirror button.

Click on the drawing to set the first axis point.
Click on the drawing to set the second axis point.

Result: The mirrored object is copied, reversed from the origin based upon the axis drawn.

Copying objects

There are two ways to make copies in Vivien: using the Copy and Paste commands, and using the Clone command.

The Clone command makes multiple copies of an object and distributes them evenly along a line, arc, grid or random pattern.

For details about cloning fixtures along a pipe or truss, see “Hanging multiple fixtures”.

To copy and paste

Select the object(s) you want to copy.
From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

Click the Copy tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Copy button.

From the Edit menu, choose Paste.

Click the Paste tool on the Edit toolbar.

The Paste button.

To perform a linear clone

Select the object you want to clone.
From the Modify menu, choose Clone and then click Linear.
Click a point on your drawing or type coordinates to specify the direction and interval/length of the linear clone.

Example: To place a copy of the selected object every 5’ at a 45 degree angle type the following and then press ENTER: @5’<45

Result: The Clone Linear window appears.

In the Clone Linear window, in the Length section, select whether the section drawn in Step 3 will be an Interval, or the Total Distance of the clone.
If you selected Interval, you may click Use object extents for interval to automatically populate the Interval text box with the dimensions of the selected object.
In the Object Placement section, select which values will be available for editing.

Notes:

When performing a clone, the value not chosen for editing is calculated automatically by Vivien and is grayed out.
To undo changes made to the clone values, click Reset button.

The Reset button.

In the Number in row box, type the total number of copies desired (this includes the original object).
In the Interval box, type the interval distance between objects.
In the Total Distance box, type the distance from the first to last object.
Select the Align Objects to Line checkbox, to align objects to the set line.
If you want to scale the copied objects, select the Apply Scale checkbox in the Scale Objects section and choose the scaling options that are available for editing.
Select the Uniform radio button to display all the copied objects in one size.

Select the Non-Uniform radio button to display the copied objects in different sizes.

If Uniform was selected, type the value in the X box to specify a uniform scale factor of the last copied object in the clone. The sizes of the copied objects multiply uniformly in increments from first to the last copied object.

If Non-Uniform was selected, type the values in the X, Y and Z boxes to specify the scale factors of the last copied object in the clones. The sizes of the copied objects multiply in increments from first to the last copied object.

Click OK.

To perform a clone along a path

Perform this procedure to clone a selected object along a path that shares the same design as a line, arc or spline.

Draw a line, arc or spline that will act as a path for the cloned object.
Select the object you want to clone.

Note: The object will be cloned from its current location. To clone the object on top of the path, snap the object to the end point of the path.

From the Modify menu, choose Clone and then click Along Path.

Result: The Clone Along Path window appears.

Under Length, select one of the two options:

Number: To clone a specific number of objects along the path.

Interval: To clone the object at specific intervals along the path.

Note: Objects can be cloned a specific number of times, or at specific intervals along the path. When one option is selected, the other will become unavailable.

Under Object Placement, if Number was selected previously, enter the number of time the object is to be cloned in the Number of items field. If Interval was selected, enter the distance at which the object will be cloned in the Interval field.

Note: If Interval was selected, the Unused Distance field will show how much space along the path will be unused with no objects cloned.

Select from the Unused Location drop-down menu where the unused space should be along the path.

To have the object clones aligned to the path, select the Align to Path checkbox.
If you want to scale the copied objects, select the Apply Scale checkbox in the Scale Objects section and choose the scaling options that are available for editing.
Select the Uniform radio button to display all the copied objects in one size.

Select the Non-Uniform radio button to display the copied objects in different sizes.

If Uniform was selected, type the value in the X box to specify a uniform scale factor of the last copied object in the clone. The sizes of the copied objects multiply uniformly in increments from first to the last copied object.

Click OK.

Result: The object will be cloned in a patter based on the path.

To perform a polar clone

Select the object you want to Clone.
From the Modify menu, choose Clone and then click Polar.
Click a point that represents the center of the circle around which the objects will be cloned.
In the dialog box that opens, type the total number of copies desired (this includes the original object).
Specify the total angle in degrees to fill with copied objects.
Select the Rotate Objects checkbox if you want the copied objects to rotate as they are pasted around the center of the circular clone, as shown below.

Click OK.

To clone objects in a grid pattern

Perform this procedure to copy and paste the selected object in a grid pattern in the direction and at the distance that you specify.

Select the object that you want to clone.
From the Modify menu, choose Clone and then click Grid.

Result: The Grid Clone window appears.

Select whether the horizontal and vertical lengths will be an Interval, or the Total Distance of the clone.

Note: Click Freehand to manually draw the horizontal and vertical lengths of the gird clone.

If you selected Interval, you may click Use object extents for interval to automatically populate the Horizontal Interval and Vertical Interval text boxes with dimensions of the selected object.
Specify which values will be available for editing.

Notes:

When performing a clone, the value not chosen for editing is calculated automatically by Vivien and grayed out.
To undo changes made to the clone values, click the Reset button.

The Reset button.

In the Number of columns box, type the number of columns in the grid.

Note: This value includes the original object(s) as the first “column” of the grid. For example, if you type 3, the object is copied and pasted twice beside the original object in the direction and at the distance that you specify.

In the Interval box, type the spacing between each horizontal object in the grid.
In the Total Distance box, type the distance between each horizontal object in the grid.
Select the Fill direction in which you want the object(s) to be cloned horizontally in the grid, either To the right or To the left of the original object.
In the Number of rows box, type the number of rows in the grid.

Note: This value includes the original object(s) as the first “row” of the grid. For example, if you type 3, the object is copied and pasted twice above or below the original object at the distance that you specify.

In the Interval box, type the distance between each vertical object in the grid.
In the Total Distance box, type the distance between each vertical object in the grid.
Select the Fill direction in which you want the object(s) to be cloned in the grid vertically, either above or below the original object.
Click OK.

To clone object in a random pattern

Clone fill is used to take an object and randomly clone it in a defined space.

Select the object that you want to clone.
From the Modify menu, choose Clone and then click Random Fill.

Result: The Random Fill window appears.

In the Number of Objects box, type the number of cloned objects to appear.
In the Horizontal Distance box, type the horizontal distance of the defined space.
Select the Fill direction in which you want the object(s) to be cloned horizontally, either To the left or To the right of the original object.
In the Vertical Distance box, type the horizontal distance of the defined space.
Select the Fill direction in which you want the object(s) to be cloned horizontally, either To the bottom or To the top of the original object.
If you want to scale the copied objects, select the Apply Scale checkbox in the Scale Objects section and choose the scaling options that are available for editing.
Select the Uniform radio button to display all the copied objects in one size.

Select the Non-Uniform radio button to display the copied objects in different sizes.

If Uniform was selected, type the value in the X box to specify a uniform scale factor of the last copied object in the clone. The sizes of the copied objects multiply uniformly in increments from first to the last copied object.

If Non-Uniform was selected, type the values in the X, Y, and Z boxes to specify the scale factors of the last copied object in the clones. The sizes of the copied objects multiply in increments from first to the last copied object.

Click OK.

Scaling objects

The Scale command changes the size of the object(s). The Scale command applies to a library object, an imported object, and some primitive objects.

When you use Scale from the Modify menu a selected 2D or 3D primitive object, it multiplies the scale factor specified, calculates a new dimension for the primitive object and updates the value in its properties. Whenever an object is scaled, the scale factor of the resulting scaled object in its new size will always be equal to 1 again.

When you use Scale from the Modify menu and specify a scale factor equal to 1, the size of the selected object will not change.

If you want to reset the scaled object back to its original or normal size, select the object, and then choose Reset Scale from the Modify menu.

To use the Scale command on imported objects which did not import as single entities, we recommend for you to consolidate the selected objects first, using Vivien’s Consolidate Mesh feature. If not consolidated, the relative position and size of such objects will not be preserved after the Scale operation is completed.

Notes:

Fixtures, Truss and Groups cannot be scaled.
You can enable the Show Bounding Box for CAD operation option in the Object Settings tab in the Document Options window to improve the operation performance when you scale complex objects. A bounding box appears as a placeholder to complex objects when scaling or rotating in Wireframe.

To scale one or more objects uniformly

Select the object(s) to scale.
From the Modify menu, choose Scale.

Tip: You may also click the Scale button on the Modify toolbar.

The Scale button.

In the Command Line toolbar, type the scale factor value (for example “2” or “0.5” or “4”, etc) for a uniform and precise resize.

Use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the size of the objects for a uniform and experimental resize method; each notch of the mouse wheel will increase or decrease the object’s scale uniformly (i.e. on all three axes) by a factor of 0.5.

On your keyboard, press ENTER.

Result: The size of the selected object changes uniformly according to the scale factor.

To scale one or more objects with different scale values in X, Y, Z

Select the object(s) to scale.
From the Modify menu, choose Scale.

Tip: You may also click the Scale button on the Modify toolbar.

The Scale button.

In the Command Line toolbar, type the three (3) values for X, Y, Z directions.

Example: Type “2,3,1” in the Command Line to make the selected object 2x wider in the X direction, 3x longer in the Y direction, and the height remains the same as 1x in the Z direction.

On your keyboard, press ENTER.

Result: The size of the selected object changes according to the scale factor for X, Y and Z.

To scale an object by stretching it with click and drag

Note: To scale Library objects (e.g. Tables, Chairs, etc.) by stretching, Library Snap must be enabled.

Select the object(s) to stretch.
Click and hold on one of the object’s grips, then drag inwards or outwards.

Result: The mouse pointer becomes an arrow at the corner, and the selected object changes its size according to the movement of the mouse.

Release the mouse when you reach the desired size.

To reset the scaled object back to its original size

Select the scaled object(s).
From the Modify menu, choose Reset Scale.

Result: The size of the selected scaled object changes back to its original size.

Resizing objects

Certain objects, once drawn, can be resized, which, in some cases, modifies the shape. Based on the Vivien program you are in and the objects available in that program, you can resize lines, risers, cameras, surfaces, and arcs. Resizing changes one or more of the parameters of the object, such as width, height, or radius.

To resize an object

Select the object that you want to resize.

Result: Several white boxes appear at the vertices of the object. These boxes are referred to as “grips”.

Move your cursor to a grip.

Result: The cursor changes to an arrow.

Note: If you see a gray dotted box beside your mouse cursor, the object moves instead of being reshaped. Move your cursor so that only the arrow appears.

Drag the marker until the object reaches the desired shape.
Release the mouse button to set the shape.

Tip: As you move the mouse, the current coordinates appear at the bottom right of the screen.

Breaking objects

The Break command allows you to break a custom drawn object into smaller components.

Note: You cannot break a library object into component parts.

To break an arc into arcs

Select the arc you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Arc into arcs.
Type the number of desired break arcs on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The arc is broken equally into the number of arcs specified.

To break an arc into lines

Select the arc you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Arc into lines.
Type the number of desired break lines on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The arc is broken equally into the number of lines specified.

To break a circle into arcs

Select the circle you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Circles into arcs.
Type the number of desired break arcs on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The circle is broken equally into the number of arcs specified.

To break a circle into lines

Select the circle you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then choose Circles into lines.
Type the number of desired break lines on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The circle is broken equally into the number of lines specified.

To break a line at vertices

Select the multi-segment line you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then choose Lines at Vertices.

Result: The continuous multi-segment line breaks at the segment intersections. Each vertex is now an independent line.

To break a line into lines

Select the line or multi-segment line you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then choose Lines into lines.
Type the number of desired break lines on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The line is broken equally into the number of lines specified.

To break a solid into faces

Select the 3D solid you want to break, a riser for example.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Solids into faces.

Result: Each face of the solid becomes an independent surface.

To break a solid into lines

Select the 3D solid you want to break, a riser for example.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Solids into lines.

Result: Each segment of the solid becomes an independent line. The 3D solid is no longer a solid.

Tip: Alternatively, to perform a break command, you can use the Break tool on the Modify toolbar. This is the same as choosing Specify from the Break sub-menu.

The Break button.

To break using the Specify dialog

Select the object you want to break.
From the Modify menu, choose Break and then click Specify.

Result: The Break dialog box opens.

Select the desired break type from the available options (depending on the object you have selected to break) by selecting the appropriate options.
In the boxes at the top right corner, specify the number of break lines or arcs if appropriate.
To replace the original object with the new “broken” ones, select Delete original objects.
To place the new “broken” objects on the current layer, as opposed to the selected object’s original layer, if different, select Put new objects on current layer.
Click OK.

Converting objects to other object types

The Convert command turns an object into a different kind of object. For example, you can convert a circle into a circular surface.

To convert a circle into an arc

Select the circle you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Circles into arcs.

Result: The circle is converted into a 360 degree arc. You can drag the marker points out to open the arc.

To convert a circle into a surface

Select the circle you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Circles into surfaces.
Type the number of segments to make up the contour of the surface on the dialog box that appears. The number entered cannot be 1. The higher the number, the more circular the surface will be.
Click OK.

Result: The circle is converted into a surface.

Note: If you type 2 for the number of segments, the circle is converted to a linear surface. If you type 3 for the number of segments entered, the circle is converted to a triangle surface. If you type 4 for the number of segments, the circle is converted to a square surface. This pattern repeats for each increment in the number of segments.

Tip: Alternatively, to perform a convert command, you can use the Convert tool on the Modify toolbar.

The Convert button.

To convert a line into a pipe

Select the line that you want to convert.

Note: The line must have more than two points in order to be converted into a surface; otherwise, the option is not available.

From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Lines into Pipes.

Result: The line is converted into a pipe.

To convert a line into a surface

Select the line that you want to convert.

Note: The line must have more than two points in order to be converted into a surface; otherwise, the option is not available.

From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Lines into Surfaces.

Result: The line is converted into a surface.

To convert a pipe into a line

Select the pipe that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Pipes into Lines.

Result: The pipe is converted into a line.

To convert an arc into a pipe

Select the pipe that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Arcs into Pipes.

Result: The arc is converted into a curved pipe.

To covert a curved pipe into an arc

Note: This command only works if a (converted) curved pipe is selected.

Select the curved pipe that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Pipes into Arcs.

Result: The curved pipe is converted into an arc.

To convert an arc into surfaces

You can convert arcs into semi-circular or elliptical surfaces.

Select the arc you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Arcs into Surfaces.
Type the number of desired converted points (lines) on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The arc is converted into surfaces based on your specified number of points (lines).

Note: The first vertex of the resulting surface is the original start point of the arc.

To convert a rectangle into lines

Select the rectangle that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Rectangle into Lines.

Result: The rectangle is converted into lines.

To convert a rectangle into pipes

Select the rectangle that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Rectangle into Pipes.

Result: The rectangle is converted into pipes.

To convert a rectangle into surfaces

Select the rectangle that you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then click Rectangle into Surfaces.

Result: The rectangle is converted into surfaces.

To convert a spline into pipes

Select the spline you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then choose Splines into Pipes.
Type the number of desired converted pipes on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The spline is converted into the specified number of pipes and automatically grouped.

To convert using the Specify dialog

Select the object you want to convert.
From the Modify menu, choose Convert and then choose Specify.

Result: The Convert dialog box opens.

Select the desired convert type from the available options. If you do not want to convert the circle into either an arc or a surface, select Don’t convert.

Note: For circles, select Arcs or Surfaces and type the number of points, as discussed above.

If you want the original object to be replaced with the new “converted” one, select Delete original objects.
If you want the new “converted” objects to be placed on the current layer, as opposed to the selected object’s original layer, if different, select Put new objects on current layer.
Click OK.

Dividing objects into equal parts

The Divide command separates objects into equal parts. The initial object is left intact (if not deleted) and the parts are identified by newly created objects such as points or lines.

To divide an arc into lines

Select the arc you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Arcs into lines.
Type the number of lines desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The arc is divided into equal parts by the number of lines specified. The lines are automatically drawn from the center of the arc outward. The result is similar to a pie chart.

To divide an arc into points

Select the arc you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Arcs into points.
Type the number of points desired on the dialog box that appears
Click OK.

Result: The arc is divided into equal parts by the number of points specified. The points are placed along the arc at the calculated interval.

To divide a circle into lines

Select the circle you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Circles into lines.
Type the number of lines desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The circle is divided into equal parts by the number of lines specified. The lines are automatically drawn from the center of the circle outward. The result is similar to a pie chart.

To divide a circle into points

Select the circle you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Circles into points.
Type the number of points desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The circle is divided into equal parts by the number of points specified. The points are placed along the circle at the calculated interval.

To divide a cylinder into circles

Select the cylinder you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Cylinders into circles.
Type the number of circles desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The cylinder is divided into equal parts by the number of circles specified. The circles are stacked within the cylinder at the calculated interval.

To divide a cylinder into lines

Select the cylinder you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Cylinder into lines.
Type the number of lines desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The cylinder is divided into equal parts by the number of lines specified. The lines follow the same pattern as the cylinder’s existing segments but at the calculated interval.

To divide a line into points

Select the line you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Lines into points.
Type the number of points desired on the dialog box that appears.
Click OK.

Result: The line is divided into equal parts by the number of points specified. The points are placed along the line at the calculated interval.

You can also divide lines by adding vertices. In this case no new objects are created; the line is simply divided by marker points.

To add a vertex to a line

Select the line to be divided.
Right-click on the line segment you want to divide and choose Add Vertex.

Result: The original line remains intact. A marker point is placed at the midpoint of the line.

Note: You can repeat this procedure for vertices within a line. The marker points are always be placed at the midpoint of the vertices.

You can drag marker points to re-shape the line.
If you delete the line, the marker points are also deleted.

Tip: Alternatively, to perform a divide command, you can use the Divide tool on the Modify toolbar. This is the same as choosing Specify from the Divide sub-menu.

The Divide button.

To divide using the Specify dialog

Select the object you want to divide.
From the Modify menu, choose Divide and then click Specify.

Result: The Divide dialog box opens.

Check the desired divide type from the available options.
To delete the original object when the new ones are created, select Delete original objects.
To place the new objects on the current layer, as opposed to the selected object’s original layer, if different, select Put new objects on current layer.
Click OK.

Transforming objects into surfaces or 3D surfaces

The 3D Transform command allows you to turn a 2D object like a line or an arc into a surface, or turn a surface into a 3D surface or 3D solid.

To 3D Transform a line

Select the line you want to 3D Transform.
From the Modify menu, choose 3D Transform and then click Lines into Surfaces.
Type the distance to 3D Transform the line on the dialog box that appears. The transformation occurs parallel to the axis of the Height value in Plan view. For example, a line shown in plan view transforms vertically. For splines, you must specify the number of segments for the new surface in the # of Points box.
Click OK.

Result: The line is transformed into a surface based on your specified distance.

To 3D Transform an arc

Select the arc you want to 3D Transform.
From the Modify menu, choose 3D Transform and then click Arcs into Surfaces.
Type the distance to 3D Transform the line on the dialog box that appears. The transformation occurs parallel to the axis of the Height value in Plan view. For example, an arc shown in plan view transforms vertically.
Type the number of segments for the new surface. The number entered cannot be 1. The higher the number the more circular the surface will be.
Click OK.

Result: The arc is transformed into surfaces based on your specified number of segments and distance.

To 3D Transform a surface into a solid

Select the surface you want to 3D Transform.
From the Modify menu, choose 3D Transform and then click Surfaces into Solids.
Type the distance to transform the surface on the dialog box that appears. The transformation occurs parallel to the axis of the Height value in Plan view. For example, a surface shown in plan view transforms vertically.

Tip: You can also use the 3D Transform tool on the Modify toolbar.

The 3D Transform button.

Click OK.

Result: The surface is transformed into a solid based on your specified distance.

Transforming objects into transformed objects

The Transform Objects command allows you to turn a 2D object like a line or an arc into a transformed object where transformed surface geometry can be modified with options that apply textures to fit the geometry and a smoother appearance.

The transformation will occur parallel to the axis of the missing coordinate. Objects such as line, spline, arc, circle or rectangle shown in plan view will transform vertically.

To transform an arc into a transformed object

Select the arc that you want to transform.
From the Modify menu, choose Transform Objects and then click Arcs into Transformed Objects.

Result: The Transform Arcs into Transformed Objects window appears.

Type the value for Distance 1 to set the transform distance of one end of the arc.
Type the value for Distance 2 to set the transform distance of the opposite end of the arc.

Note: If you wish to have a uniform height for the transformed object, set the same value for Distance 1 and Distance 2.

Type the Number of Points to set the number of vertices that divide the arc. You cannot type the number 1. The higher the number, the smoother the curve of the transformed object.
Type the number of Transformed Segments to specify the number of dividing segments that will make the transformed object.
Select the Transform in Both Directions checkbox if you wish to transform the 2D object in both opposite directions from the axis with respect to the Wireframe view currently viewing the object.
Select the Stretch Texture checkbox if you wish to fit the applied image or video texture onto the resulting transformed object geometry. If disabled, the default rectangular texture is applied to the largest extents of the object, and sections will be cut based on the resulting height (if two transform distances were used).
Select the Smooth Shading checkbox if you wish to display transformed objects with a smoother appearance.
Click OK.

To transform a line into a transformed object

Select the line that you want to transform.
From the Modify menu, choose Transform Objects and then click Lines into Transformed Objects.

Result: The Transform Splines into Transformed Objects window appears.

Type the value for Distance 1 to set the transform distance of one end of the line.
Type the value for Distance 2 to set the transform distance of the opposite end of the line.

Note: If you wish to have a uniform height for the transformed object, set the same value for Distance 1 and Distance 2.

Type the Number of Points to set the transformed distance of the opposite end of the line.
Type the number of Transformed Segments to specify the number of dividing segments that will make the transformed object.
Select the Transform in Both Directions checkbox if you wish to transform the 2D object in both opposite directions from the axis with respect to the Wireframe view currently viewing the object.
Select the Stretch Texture checkbox if you wish to fit the applied image or video texture onto the resulting transformed object geometry. if disabled, the default rectangular texture is applied to the largest extents of the object, and sections will be cut based on the resulting height (if two transform distances were used).
Select the Smooth Shading checkbox if you wish to display transform objects with a smoother appearance.
Click OK.

To transform a circle into a transformed object

Select the circle that you want to transform.
From the Modify menu, choose Transform Objects and then click Circles into Transformed Objects.

Result: The Transform Circles into Transformed Objects window appears.

Type the value for Distance 1 to set the transform distance of one end of the circle.
Type the value for Distance 2 to set the transform distance of the opposite end of the circle.

Note: If you wish to have a uniform height for the transformed object, set the same value for Distance 1 and Distance 2.

Type the Number of Points to set the number of vertices that divide the circle. You cannot type the number 1. The higher the number, the smoother the curve of the transformed object.
Type the number of Transformed Segments to specify the number of dividing segments that will make the transformed object.
Select the Transform in Both Directions checkbox if you wish to transform the 2D object in both opposite directions from the axis with respect to the Wireframe view currently viewing the object.
Select the Stretch Texture checkbox if you wish to fit the applied image or video texture onto the resulting transformed object geometry. If disabled, the default rectangular texture is applied to the largest extents of the object, and sections will be cut based on the resulting height (if two transform distances were used).
Select the Smooth Shading checkbox if you wish to display transformed objects with a smoother appearance.
Click OK.

To transform a rectangle into a transformed object

Select the rectangle that you want to transform.
From the Modify menu, choose Transform Objects and then click Rectangle into Transformed Objects.

Result: The Transform Rectangles into Transformed Objects window appears.

Type the value for Distance 1 to set the transform distance of one end of the rectangle.
Type the value for Distance 2 to set the transform distance of the opposite end of the rectangle.

Note: If you wish to have a uniform height for the transformed object, set the same value for Distance 1 and Distance 2.

Type the number of Transformed Segments to specify the number of dividing segments that will make the transformed object.
Select the Transform in Both Directions checkbox if you wish to transform the 2D object in both opposite directions from the axis with respect to the Wireframe view currently viewing the object.
Select the Stretch Texture checkbox if you wish to fit the applied image or video texture onto the resulting transformed object geometry. If disabled, the default rectangular texture is applied to the largest extents of the object, and sections will be cut based on the resulting height (if two transform distances were used).
Select the Smooth Shading checkbox if you wish to display transformed objects with a smoother appearance.
Click OK.

Note: You can also view and edit the transformed objects properties in the transformed object’s Properties tab.

Filleting lines

The Fillet command joins two lines sharing the same end point or two apparent intersecting lines with an arc. A fillet radius must be specified to achieve the desired fillet angle.

To set the fillet radius

From the Modify menu, choose Fillet and then click Specify fillet radius.
Type a radius measurement for the resulting fillet.

Note: All subsequent fillet commands follow this value until it is modified again.

To fillet two lines

Select the lines to be filleted.
From the Modify menu, choose Fillet, then click Fillet.

Result: The lines are joined by an arc based on the value set for the fillet radius.

Notes:

You must set a fillet radius to perform this command.
If the fillet radius is 0, the lines are extended and joined at their intersection. If they are already intersecting, nothing occurs.

Aligning objects

You can use the Align tools to quickly and precisely align a series of selected objects in your drawing. For example, if you have manually placed some chairs in your drawing, you can select them all and align them in one of six ways.

You can align the selected objects from the:

top
bottom
left
right
center (horizontally)
center (vertically)

The following procedures illustrate each of these align methods when applied to four sofas placed manually in your drawing, as shown in the following graphic:

To align objects from the top

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Top. The top edges of the selected objects are aligned.

Note: Before you align the objects, you must ensure that they will not overlap each other in their new positions.

To align objects from the bottom

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the first graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Bottom. The bottom edges of the selected objects are aligned.

Note: Before you align the objects, you must ensure that they will not overlap each other in their new positions.

To align objects from the left side

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the first graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Left. The left edges of the selected objects are aligned.

Note: Before you align the objects, you must ensure that they will not overlap each other in their new positions. In the following graphic, for example, the top two sofas overlap because of their original position.

To align objects from the right side

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the first graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Right. The right edges of the selected objects are aligned.

To align the center points of objects horizontally

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the first graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Center Horizontally. The center points of the selected objects are aligned horizontally.

To align the center points of objects vertically

Select the objects that you want to align by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. In this example, you would select the four sofas shown in the first graphic.
From the Modify menu, choose Align and then click Center Vertically. The center points of the selected objects are aligned vertically.

Note: Before you align the objects, you must ensure that they will not overlap each other in their new positions.

Boolean operations

Note: This feature is recommended for advanced users only.

The Boolean Operations series of tools enable you to choose two different sets of objects and then perform one of three actions on them:

Unite Objects: This option enables you to join the two sets of objects together as one, merging their common area so that it is indistinguishable from the original objects.

Intersect Objects: This option enables you to choose two sets of intersecting objects and then delete everything outside of their common area.

Subtract Objects: This option enables you to select two sets of objects, and then subtract the overlapping area of the second set from the first set that you chose.

Selection sets

When using any of the Boolean Operations tools, you must select two sets of objects, Set 1 and Set 2. Here are some guidelines for your selection sets:

The only valid 2D object for Boolean operations is a surface.
Valid 3D objects for Boolean operations include: Risers, Cylinders, Spheres, Cones, Extruded Surfaces, as well as any 3D objects resulting from a 3D x 3D Boolean operation. You cannot perform Boolean operations on library items or venues. To include a venue, you must first break it into surfaces.
Each selection set include only one 2D object or only one 3D object.
You cannot combine 2D and 3D objects in a single selection set.
Each set can include either 2D or 3D objects. You can specify a selection set comprising one or more 2D objects and a selection set with one 3D object in the same Boolean operation.
All operations that involve a 3D object require that Set 1 intersects with Set 2.
For operations that involve only 2D objects, the objects in each selection set do not need to intersect physically; however, the projection of the objects in Set 2 must intersect with those in Set 1 along the plane in which you are currently working. For details, see “Projection and intersection”.
In a Boolean operation involving one or more 2D objects in one selection set and a 3D object in the other selection set, the 3D object must be in the second selection set.

With these rules in mind, the possibilities for selection set combinations are:

one 3d object x one 3d object
one 2d object x one 2d object
one 2d object x one 3d object

Color and texture

Based on the type of object in your selection set, color and texture are treated differently after you perform a Boolean operation.
2D objects maintain their color and texture after a Boolean operation is performed on them; 3D objects maintain only their color (they lose any texture applied to them).
In a Boolean operation involving only 2D objects or only 3D objects, the objects in the second selection set adopt the properties of the objects in the first selection set after the operation is complete.
In a Boolean operation involving only 3D objects, if one or both of the objects has a texture applied, then both objects end up with no texture or color after the operation is complete.
When you perform a Boolean operation on a 3D object, the object is converted into a solid after the operation. Since you cannot apply a texture to solids, it is recommended that you convert it into a custom library object and then apply the texture. For details, see “To create a custom library item”. Alternately, you can convert the object into 2D surfaces before you perform the Boolean operation and then customize it.

Projection and intersection

When performing any of the Boolean Operations procedures on selection sets involving 2D and 3D objects, note the difference between projection and intersection.

Projection: When you are working with only 2D objects, the objects in one selection set need only “project” upon the objects in the other set within the active view; that is, the objects in each set do not have to physically touch, but they must overlap in the view in which you are performing the action.
Intersection: When you are working with only 3D objects or a mixture of 2D and 3D objects, the objects in each selection set must physically touch before you can successfully perform the Boolean Operations action, that is, they must intersect with each other.

About the Boolean Operations feature and View Planes

There are three View Planes or axial planes in your drawing: (XY-plane, XZ-plane, and YZ-plane). Based on the view you are in (Plan, Front, Back, Left, or Right), some of these planes may not be visible. For example, when you are in Plan view, the XZ and YZ planes are invisible.

When you perform any of the Boolean Operations procedures with 2D surfaces in the second selection set, note how the objects appear on the active View Plane. Their appearance will give you an idea of the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get result from the perspective of the active view. By noting the active View Planes, you can perform any of the Boolean operations on surfaces without requiring them to be co-planar.

Examples - 2D parallel objects

In the following graphic, selection set 1 includes a red 2D surface, and selection set 2 includes a yellow 2D surface. Both surfaces were drawn so that they overlap in Plan View, as shown in the upper-left quadrant:

When you perform a Unite procedure with these sets in the Plan view quadrant, the results are successful because you can see that the yellow surface projects onto the red surface in this view (they overlap).

However, when you try to do the same action in the bottom left quadrant (Front View), the operation is unsuccessful because neither surface projects onto the other (they do not overlap in this view).

Tip:

To overcome this limitation, in the case noted above, you could extrude the surface in selection set 2 into a 3D solid, ensuring that the solid touches the surface in selection set 1. In some cases, it is much easier to perform a Boolean operation with 2D surfaces in the first selection set and a 3D solid in the second set because the operation is View Plane independent. For example, when you are cutting windows in walls, it is usually best to use 2D surfaces for both the windows and walls because you can project the image of the windows onto the walls (for details, see “To cut holes in walls with the Subtract tool”). However, if you have an odd-shaped building like a Pentagon, it would be impossible to align the walls with the View Plane. In this case, therefore, it would be easier to use cylinders for the shape of the windows and intersect them with the walls wherever you want a window to appear, before performing the Subtract procedure.

Examples - 2D non-parallel objects

If the surfaces in each of the selection sets are not parallel, the results of a Boolean operation can differ according to the active View Plane. In the following graphic, the red surfaces comprise selection set 1 and the yellow surface is selection set 2. Note that the yellow surface is rotated so that it is not parallel to any of the surfaces in set 1.

In this case, when you perform a Subtract operation in Plan view, the results are predictable: a hole the size of the yellow surface appears on the selected red surface, as shown below. Note that the hole is not perfectly circular, but rather take on the exact shape of the angled circle as it appears in Plan view.

When you perform the same action in Front view, the operation fails because none of the surfaces in set 1 or set 2 is co-planar in this view.

However, when you switch to Right view and perform a Subtract, a hole appears only on the back surface (the one onto which the circle projects in this view), as shown below.

Example - 2D object and 3D solid

Note that if you convert the circular surface into a 3D solid, then you must ensure that it physically intersects with at least one of the 2D surfaces in set 1 before you can successfully perform a Boolean Operations procedure, as shown below; it is not enough for the object to project upon one of the surfaces. For details on projection and intersection, see “Projection and intersection”.

When you perform a Subtract action on these sets in Plan view, the results are as follows:

Examples of each Boolean Operations procedure

The following graphic shows the two object sets that will be used as examples in each of the procedures in this section.

Set 1 consists of the red cylinder and set 2 consists of the aqua cylinder:

Uniting objects

This option enables you to join two sets of intersecting objects together as one, merging their common area. Note that when you unite objects, the second set of objects adopts the properties of the first set that you chose (i.e., its color, texture, and so on).

Note: If you are uniting a 2D object like a surface with a 3D object like a riser, the 2D object must be in the first selection set and the 3D object in the second. After you perform this operation, the 3D object adopts the properties of the 2D object, becoming a flat surface with the same color and texture as the 2D object.

The following graphic shows how the two sets of objects are united to become one object. Note how the second object set (the aqua cylinder) takes on the properties of set 1, becoming red.

Note: When you perform a Boolean operation on a 3D object, the object is converted into a solid after the operation. Since you cannot apply a texture to solids, it is recommended that you convert it into a custom library object and then apply the texture. For details, see “To create a custom library item”. Alternately, you can convert the object into 2D surfaces before you perform the Boolean operation and then customize it.

To unite objects with the Boolean Operations feature

Note that you can only select one 2D object in each selection set; you cannot select multiple 3D objects in a selection set.

In one of the 2D wireframe views, select the first object or objects that you want to join with the second object or objects.
From the Modify menu, choose Boolean Operations and then click Unite Objects.
Click to select the second object set that you want to join with first set.
Right-click and choose Finish Unite.

Result: Based on the complexity of your selections, you may have to wait a few moments for the calculations to finish and the objects to be united.

Intersecting objects

This option enables you to choose two sets of overlapping or intersecting objects and then delete everything outside of their common area. Note that when you intersect objects, the intersection that remains behind maintains the properties of the objects in the first selection set.

The following graphic shows the result of intersecting the red and aqua cylinders. Note how the remaining portion is red, just like the cylinder in set 1.

To intersect objects with the Boolean Operations feature

Note that you can only select one 2D object in each selection set; you cannot select multiple 3D objects in a selection set.

In one of the 2D wireframe views, select the first object or objects that you want to intersect with the second object or objects.
From the Modify menu, choose Boolean Operations and then click Intersect Objects.
Click to select the second object set that you want to intersect with first set.
Right-click and choose Finish Intersect.

Result: Based on the complexity of your selections, you may have to wait a few moments for the calculations to finish and the objects to be intersected.

Subtracting objects

This option enables you to select two sets of objects, and then subtract the overlapping area of the second set from the first set that you chose.

This feature is particularly useful for cutting a hole in a surface to create a window. Note, however, that if you are cutting a hole in a wall to create a window, it is easiest to work only with 2D objects in each selection set since they do not have to physically touch. Instead, the “window” shapes need only to project onto the walls in the active view. For details, see “Projection and intersection”. For details on cutting holes into walls, see “To cut holes in walls with the Subtract tool”.

The following graphic shows the result of subtracting the aqua cylinder from the red cylinder.

To subtract objects with the Boolean Operations feature

Note that you can only select one 2D object in each selection set; you cannot select multiple 3D objects in a selection set.

In the Drawing Wireframe tab, select the first object that you want to keep in your drawing (the second set of objects will be subtracted from this set).
From the Modify menu, choose Boolean Operations and then click Subtract Objects.
Click to select the second object set that you want to subtract from the first set.
Right-click and choose Finish Subtract.

Result: Based on the complexity of your selections, you may have to wait a few moments for the calculations to finish and the objects to be subtracted.

To cut holes in walls with the Subtract tool

In this procedure, you use the Boolean Operations > Subtract tool to cut a line of round windows into a wall of your venue.

In the Drawing Quad tab, draw a venue (for example, a room).
Click the venue to select it, and then right-click and choose Modify> Break > Solids into Surfaces.

Note: Since the window shapes are a series of 2D surfaces, it is best to convert the 3D venue into a 2D surface as well. This way, the window shapes only have to project onto the “walls” in the same plane. If the venue is a 3D object, then the windows would have to physically touch them (intersect) before you perform the Subtract operation. For details, see “Projection and intersection”.

Click to highlight the Front view quadrant.
Click the Circle tool, and then click OK to accept the default size of 4’.
In the Front view quadrant, click to place the circle half-way up the wall, at one end of the room, as shown below:

With the circle still selected, right-click and choose Modify> Convert > Circles into Surfaces.
Type 20 and click OK. (The higher the number of points, the smoother the outline of the circle.)
With the circle still selected, click Modify > Clone > Linear.
In the Front view quadrant, click the extreme right-hand wall to pick the destination point.
Type 3 for the Number in row and 20 for the Interval, and then click OK.

Result: The circular surfaces are arrayed along the length of the room.

In the Plan view quadrant, click the wall outline to select it, and then click Modify> Boolean Operations > Subtract Objects.
Click a circular surface, and then right-click and select Finish Subtract.
Repeat step 11 and 12 for the next circular surface.

Result: The circular windows are “cut” into the wall of the venue, as shown in the following graphic:

Consolidate Mesh

This feature helps increase performance in Virtual Views by enabling you to consolidate complex objects comprising multiple polygons/”sub-objects” into objects that behave as a single entity. Consolidating meshes is essentially the same as creating new (custom) Library Items. However, while both methods make Vivien “see” the object as a single entity, when you use the Consolidate Mesh command, you don’t actually create a new Library Item, and the amount of increase in file size depends on the items that are selected.

To determine which objects in your scene to consolidate, it is recommended that you enable the new Object Bounding Box feature on the View Options tab. Once you do so, objects that appear with a high number of bounding boxes are all candidates for consolidation.

Notes:

It is not recommended to include library items from the WYSIWYG/Vivien library as part of the selection which mesh consolidation will be performed on.
If you consolidate an object to which a texture has been applied, the texture may not behave correctly because the object’s underlying geometry will be different. To maintain proper texturing AND have the file perform well for pre-visualization, it is recommended that you create a copy of the final file. Optimize the copy, and then use the optimized file for pre-programming purposes and the original file for screenshots and/or renderings.

To use the Consolidate Mesh feature

Note: Boolean Operations cannot be performed on objects that have been Consolidated.

In a wireframe view, select the object that you want to consolidate.
From the Modify menu, choose Consolidate Mesh.

Result: A dialog box appears, asking for Mesh Consolidation to continue for all other objects and skip the Library objects.

Click Yes to proceed with the operation and excluding the Library objects.

Result: A dialog box appears, confirming that the operation is complete, and displaying the number of polygons that have been removed from the file.

Click OK. The item is now consolidated into an abject that behaves as a single entity.

Trimming lines

The Trim tool can be used to remove sections of drawn lines that intersect a referenced object (arc, circle or line) drawn on the same plane. Trimming will remove all of the selected line segment, stopping at where it intersects with the referenced object.

To trim a line

In the drawing wireframe, select the reference object.
From the Modify menu, choose Trim.

The Trim button.

Tip: The keyboard shortcut to access the Trim tool is CTRL+T.

Click on a segment of line you want to remove that intersects the referenced object.

Result: The selected line segment will be removed, from where the line intersects the reference object to where the line ends or intersects the object again.

Continue trimming lines as needed.
To end trimming line, right-click and choose Finish Trim or Abort Trim. Alternately, the ESC key can be pressed.

Extending lines

The Extend tool can be used to lengthen straight lines until they touch a referenced object (arc, circle or line) drawn on the same plane.

Note: Lines can only be extended if they are able to intersect the reference object when extended. If they will not intersect, the line will not extend.

To extend a line

In the drawing, select the reference object (line, arc or circle).
From the Modify menu, choose Extend.

The Extend button.

Tip: The keyboard shortcut to access the extend tool is CTRL+SHIFT+T.

Click on a line that you want to extend to the reference object.

Result: If the selected line can intersect the reference object, it will extend until it has done so. If the line can not intersect the object, it does not extend. The selected line will intersect all other objects in its path to reach the reference object. If the line can intersect the reference object on both ends, both line ends will extend until they intersect the reference object.

Continue extending lines as needed.
To end extending lines, right-click and choose Finish Extend or Abort Trim. Alternately, the ESC key can be pressed.