- Over the last few Impact releases, the arrow/cursor keys (aka Nudge tools) have begun to control many basic tool options.
- The latest batch of tools to adopt this functionality include:
Drawing tools:
Multiple Lines & Arcs – in the Arc Start End Radius mode, the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Radius value on the Edit Bar.
Line Axes - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Line Length value on the Edit Bar.
Line Vertical & Line Horizontal - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Line Length value on the Edit Bar.
Bisect 2 Points - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Line Length value on the Edit Bar.
Line Angle Point - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Line Length value on the Edit Bar.
Line Offset – when used interactively, the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Fillet Radius value on the Edit Bar.
Perpendicular Offset - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Line Length value on the Edit Bar.
Line 2 Point Offset – in non-interactive mode the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Offset Distance value (left/right arrows) and the Number of Offsets (up/down arrows) on the Edit Bar.
In interactive mode the Nudge affects the Number of Offsets only.
Rectangle - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Width (left/right arrows) & Height (up/down arrows) values on the Edit Bar.
Polygon - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Number of sides (for the polygon) and the Diameter (of the polygon) on the Edit Bar. The left/right arrows control the diameter, whilst the up/down arrows control the number of sides.
Circle 2 Points - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Radius value on the Edit Bar.
Circle Radius Point Centre - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Radius value on the Edit Bar.
Ellipse - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Width (left/right arrows) & Height (up/down arrows) distance values on the Edit Bar.
Dimension Tools:
Dimension tools - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Width (left/right arrows) & Height (up/down arrows) values of the Dimension Text on the Edit Bar. If a True Type/Open Font is used, the left/right arrows have no effect, as the text width is scaled proportionally to the height.
Edit Tools:
Trim Fillet – in non-interactive mode, the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Fillet Radius value on the Edit Bar.
Trim Chamfer – in non-interactive mode, the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Length 1 (left/right arrows) and Length 2 (up/down arrows) values on the Edit Bar.
Trim Extend - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Extend Length value on the Edit Bar.
Trim Split - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Number of Sections value on the Edit Bar.
Transform Tools:
Bend – the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Bend Offset value on the Edit Bar.
Stretch Entities – in non-interactive mode, with no selection made, the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the X Offset (left/right arrows) and Y Offset (up/down arrows) values on the Edit Bar.
In non-interactive mode, with a selection made, the Nudge can be used to interactively stretch the entities, modifying the X Offset (left/right arrows) and Y Offset (up/down arrows) values.
Array Tools:
Array and Rectangular Array – the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Number of Copies that the array creates on the Edit Bar.
Polar Array - the Nudge can be used to interactively modify the Number in R value (left/right arrows) and Number in A value (up/down arrows) on the Edit Bar.
General Nudge functionality:
- Significantly the Nudge functionality is no longer dependent upon the viewed orientation (inside/outside or print-face/die-face). Using the Select & Drag tool as an example, a nudge via the left arrow/cursor key will move selected geometry from right-to-left regardless of the viewed orientation.
NOTE: Certain caveats apply – such as the selected geometry being contained within a block, which may have been rotated.