Edit bar options: Interactive, R, A, Retain Orientation, Number in R, Number in A, Total Sweep, Selection.
This tool is used to create multiple copies of the selected entities, either offset relatively from a base point, rotated around a base point, or both at the same time.
Before activating the tool, select the entities to be transformed. Alternatively, if you start the tool without any selected entities you will be first asked to identify a single entity to be transformed.
The outcome of whether the transformed entities are selected or not is determined by the Selection option. Select New, Select None, Select Original, Select All and Select Last.
Some of the edit bar options require further explanation.
R
This is the offset distance from the base point to successive copies. If the Number in R is 1, then this can be any non-zero value.
A
This is the rotation angle about the base point for successive copies.
Retain Orientation
When this option is switched on the entities themselves will not be rotated, only their positions.
Number in R
This is the resulting number of offset groups of entities including the original. You can interactively adjust this value using the Left/Right keyboard arrow keys.
Number in A
This is the resulting number of rotated groups of entities including the original. You can interactively adjust this value using the Up/Down keyboard arrow keys.
Total Sweep
When this option is switched on (it is only available when Number in A is greater than one) the rotation offset, A, defines the complete sweep. This is then divided by Number in A to give the angle of each successive rotation. When it is switched off the rotation offset, A, defines the angle of each successive rotation.
If the Retain Orientation option is switched on, you will first be asked to Identify the retained base point. This is the point about which the selected entities will be rotated in the opposite direction so as to maintain their orientation.
If the Interactive option is switched off, you should enter the required offset distance and rotation value.
You will then be asked to Identify the base point. This is the point about which the selected entities will be rotated, and from which they will be offset. If you started the tool without any selected entities then the first point you pick must be on the entity to be transformed.
If the Interactive option is switched on, you will now be asked to Identify the point to specify the rotate angle. The angle from the base point to this point (where the horizontal is zero) defines the rotate angle. The distance from the base point to this point defines the offset distance.
The entities will now be copied to their new positions.
Examples
The drawings below show some examples, starting with the original shape that is going to be transformed.
Original
Example 1
Using these edit bar values, and identifying the bottom left corner of the shape as the base point.
Example 2
The base point is now outside the shape, below and to the left.
Example 3
The bottom left corner can be used as the retained base point, with the base point as above.
Here, you can see that the shape has retained its orientation.
Example 4
Using the same base point.
Example 5
Now, with some different geometry.
Using these edit bar values and identifying the centre of the circle gives this result:-
Example 6
This is another example showing the effect of Retain orientation.
When asked to identify the retained base point, click the centre of the cross within the small circle.
When asked to identify the base point, click the centre of the cross within the large circle.
This is the result:-
Example 7
This example helps to create a simple gasket.
The base point is the centre of the concentric circles.
