Edge Editor

To access this screen:

The Edge Editor lets you modify string design data in a 3D window. Specially, this tool lets you adjust the properties of the straight line segment (the "edge") between string points (vertices).

Pick a string, then review its edge coordinate and orientation data, then edit accordingly and precisely. Data can be selected before or after the screen is opened. If string selection changes whilst the screen is displayed, its contents update automatically.

Strings can be edited on an edge-by-edge basis, or you can choose the point at which a transformation should start and then adjust all subsequent edges along the design string in the same way.

The currently selected string is represented in the main table with one table row representing one edge (an edge is the straight line between two string points).

Each string edge is defined in terms of its Length (Slope, Horizontal, Vertical), its Azimuth and its Gradient (Ratio, Percentage and Degrees).

Selecting a row in the table will highlight the corresponding string edge in the 3D window. Each edge of the target string is represented as a table row. Moving the cursor or stylus over the table rows automatically highlights the associated string segment, for example (click image to expand):

Once an edge is selected, you can change any or all of its edge definitions. Depending on which data is changed, this may affect neighbouring edge information.

To make an edit to any edge property, position the mouse over a row in the table, then edit a field, remembering to press <ENTER> after each change. String data will update automatically in the 3D window as changes are made.

By default, edge properties are calculated from the start to the end of the edge. You can change this using the Reverse Active String toggle. This automatically updates the values in the table to reflect the new direction of measurement.

Note: Edge Editor displays the edge properties of the first selected string. If you have selected multiple string traces (in the same or different objects), only one trace table displays. If you have used box or swipe selection, the string nearest the original cursor position displays.

Edge Editor Toolbar

The Edge Editor toolbar contains the following commands:

Undo the most recent string edit.
Redo the most recently undone string edit.
Toggle whether to shift the remainder of the string relative to the edge being adjusted.
Reverse the direction of the target string, updating the table values.

Shifting Leading Edges

When adjust string edges, you can either adjust only the target edge, or you can shift all 'following' edges (according to the direction of the string) to preserve their comparative shape. This is useful, say, when adjusting one aspect of a ramp string whilst maintaining the same relative gradient of edges that come after it.

Shift Leading Edges can be toggled on or off at any time. If active, all string edges after the adjusted edge will be modified accordingly providing their Propagate status is checked. If inactive, (or if a particular edge's Propagate status is unchecked) no subsequent edge changes are performed.

Edit a String with Edge Editor

To edit the edge(s) of loaded string data:

  1. Create or load string data. Be sure you can see it in a 3D window.

  2. Display the Edge Editor.

  3. Select (only) one string trace (a trace is an independent set of connected vertices).

    The Edge Editor table displays a row for each edge of the target string.

  4. Hover over the table. The highlighted table row is shown on the 3D string data as a pink edge and the start of the edge has a large pink symbol. For example (click the image to expand it):


  5. Decide what effect, if any, the changes to the edge will have on subsequent string edges (taking into account the direction of the string):

    • Uncheck Shift Leading Edges to adjust the current edge and also lengthen or shorten the leading (following) edge to accommodate the change.

    • Check Shift Leading Edges and enable Propagate for all string edges to edit the existing string edge but shift all leading edge(s) to accommodate the change.

    • Check Shift Leading Edges and enable Propagate for selected edges to permit the edge adjustment to impact these edges only.

    Tip: Use Reverse String to reverse the predecessor and successor string edges in the table.

  6. Edit any string edge value in the table (it can be the selected edge or otherwise) by entering new values for:

    • Slope – The 'full' length of the edge in 3D, regardless of edge orientation.

    • Horizontal – The horizontal distance from start to end of the string edge. If the gradient is zero, this will equal the Slope distance.

    • Vertical – The vertical distance separating the start and end of the string edge. This will be zero if the gradient is also zero.

    • Azimuth

    • Ratio 1:N, Percentage and Degrees – The gradient of the string edge in the corresponding gradient convention.

  7. Dismiss Edge Editor using X.

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