Interactive Selection Mode

The Interactive Move, Rotate, Scale Selection tools can be used to quickly and easily modify vectors and components.

Watch this video to see this in action:

Clicking twice on one of the selected objects and the interactive scaling, movement and rotation handles are displayed in the same way as selecting this icon. Lines, Arcs and Bezier spans will be displayed as dotted magenta lines and text and grouped objects will be displayed as solid magenta lines:

Transform Handles

When in this mode the mouse is used to click on one of the handles which has appeared on the selected Vector/s. Each Transform handle is used for a specific editing operation as detailed here in the 2D View:

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold +Alt Move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (Hold +Alt Scaling non-proportionally, +Shift Scale around the centre)
  • Edges (White) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold +Shift Scaling proportionally)
  • Corner (Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold +Alt Rotate in 15° increments) about the Rotation Center.

To deselect objects,

  • Click the white background unless Shift is pressed.
  • Press Esc
  • Right click menu ► Unselect All

In the 3D View, the Transform Handles are:

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold +Alt Move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (Hold +Alt Scaling non-proportionally, +Shift Scale around the centre)
  • Edges (Black) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold +Shift Scaling proportionally)
  • Rotation Arrow (Top Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold +Alt Rotate in 15° increments)

When you select a Transform Handle, it will activate the appropriate Edit Box for that Handle.

If you need an exact value for a Transformation, click into this box and type in the desired value, followed by Enter to accept the new value.

Usable In Both Views

This tool can be used in both the 2D and 3D View.

2D View offers a more direct way to view your vectors while the 3D view offers more flexibility to work with Vectors in 3D Designs and to make use of the Edit Boxes.

When in the 2D view, a number of the forms tools will be driven by options in the form only.

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt and move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (Hold Alt for scaling non-proportionally, Shift to scale around the centre)
  • Edges (White) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
  • Corner (Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to Rotate in 15° increments) about the Rotation Center.

In the 3D view, there is an expanded number of handles to directly edit the vector within the view, without needing to use the creation form on the left.

In the 3D View, the Handles are:

  • Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt to Move the selected objects in one axis)
  • Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
  • Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (HoldAlt for scaling non-proportionally, orShift to scale around the centre)
  • Edges (Black) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
  • Rotation Arrow (Top Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to rotate in 15° increments)
  • White circles are properties unique to this tool to allow direct mouse editing of values in the tool form from within the view.

When you select a Transform Handle, it will activate the appropriate Edit Box for that Handle.

If you need an exact value for a field while dragging it, release the mouse button and type in the desired value, followed by Enter to accept the new value.