Node Editing Mode

The Node Editing tool can be selected from the Editing window or by pressing the Keyboard shortcut N to toggle between Selection and Node Editing modes.

Vectors Selected

Bezier node editing

Watch this video to see this in action:

When the Node Editing tool is active the cursor changes to a Black Arrow indicating that individual points (nodes) and their connecting spans can be edited. Nodes can be interactively moved by clicking and dragging the left mouse button on a node to select and move the node to a new position.

The shape of lines, arcs and Bezier (curve) spans can be edited by clicking and dragging on the nodes or control points to move them. Multiple nodes and control points can be selected and moved by using the multiple selection options such as the Shift key and dragging to make a selection.

The shape of individual spans can also be edited by dragging the span itself using the left mouse button.

Holding down the Ctrl key while dragging an arc or Bezier span will move the entire span rather than change its shape.

The start and end directions of Bezier curves can be fixed when being dragged directly, by toggling on Keep Bezier Tangency mode.

If you right click on nodes or spans a context sensitive popup menu will be displayed which allows you to insert or delete points and nodes, cut the vector, move the start point, etc.

Node editing vectors is a very powerful way to be able to make changes to the vectors in your part.

Mirror mode

Within the right click context menu, there are also two options: Mirror Horizontal / Vertical. With these checked you will see a dashed magenta mirror line appear, dividing the shape in the selected direction:

In normal operation when two or more nodes on opposite sides of a shape

are selected together whilst holding Shift ; dragging one point will lead

to all selected points being moved in the same direction. With mirror mode

selected the opposing nodes will move in the opposite direction away from each other. This will only be in the direction selected, so in Horizontal it would be in X and in Vertical in Y.

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.

When in the 3D View, node editing will display some additional information when dragging nodes from one position to another.

The X and Y relative move distances will be displayed, showing where the node started and where it is currently.

When the node is released by the mouse, you can type in the exact relative move values you wish to use.

The X value is selected first automatically.

Enter the desired X value, press Tab and then enter the desired Y value, followed by Enter to complete the action.

Clicking a line span will select both ends and allow you to move that line in X and Y as one object.

The Length of the line span can also be typed in on the field.

This length is measured starting from the first node of the selected span.

Nodes are counted in order from the first node marked with the direction arrow.

Each handle of the Bezier curve can be moved and have their relative position adjusted by the fields just like individual nodes.

Unlike Lines, clicking and dragging on the Bezier span will instead dynamically allow you to drag the curve while the ends are locked in position. The Bezier curve handles will dynamically adjust to create the new curve as you drag.

With the Arc curve, clicking and dragging will allow you to dynamically change the Radius of the Arc.

You can also enter in the X Y coordinate values for this centre arc handle, with absolute values.

If a value is entered which would put the arc beyond its maximum Radius, then it will automatically stop at its maximum arc.