Numerical Editor

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Numerical Editor.jpg

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Menu Path: Editors/Options > Numerical Editor

Description

The Numerical Editor allows you to read exact values of different parameters as well as modify the selection by inputting numerical values. The Numerical Editor works in either world coordinates (based around the work grid origin) or manipulator coordinates (based around the manipulator's current orientation), depending on which option is selected.

Options

Position

The position of the selection with respect to the manipulator. In world coordinates, entering new X, Y, or Z values in the position fields will cause the manipulator to be moved to those coordinates, taking the selected geometry with it. In local coordinates, these values determine the relative amount the manipulator (and selection) should be moved in each direction. For example, entering a value of 1 in the X field while in local coordinates will cause the selection to move along the manipulator's X direction 1 unit each time you press Enter.

Rotation

Input only. In local coordinates, entering a value in degrees in the X, Y, or Z field will cause the selection to be rotated around the manipulator's X, Y, or Z axis. In world coordinates, rotation still happens around the manipulator, but instead the world's X, Y, and Z axes are used.

Scale

Input only. As with rotation, scaling in either coordinate system still occurs around the manipulator. In world coordinates the world axes are used to determine the direction of the scale, while in local coordinates the manipulator's axes are used.

Size

Contains the size of the selection in each axis direction. Adjusting these values will scale your selection to the input size. As with rotation, scaling in either coordinate system still occurs around the manipulator. In world coordinates the world axes are used to determine the direction of the scale, while in local coordinates the manipulator's axes are used.

Distance

The distance field allows you to read and edit the distance between the selected components. The distance is determined as the length of a line drawn between all of the selected components, in the order they were selected. In vertex selection mode, this is simply from one vertex to the next. In edge selection mode, the distance is the closest distance between the two edges if they were infinite lines. In face mode, the distance is measured as that of a line starting at the center dot of the first selected face, projected along the face's normal vector until it intersects the plane of the second face. If two faces are parallel, it will give the distance between the planes of the two faces. When the distance is changed, the first selected component remains in its original position, and other components are updated so that the length of the line drawn between them is equal to the new distance. The operation is most straightforward when only two components are selected.

Angle

The angle field shows the angle between the currently selected components where appropriate. For faces, this is the angle formed where the planes of two selected faces would intersect. For edges, this is the angle formed by the vectors represented by the two selected edges (if the edges share a vertex, this vertex will be the pivot of the angle). For vertices, this is the angle formed by a path drawn from the first vertex selected to the second to the third.

Coordinates

The coordinate system used for reading and adjusting to input in the numerical editor: world coordinates (based around the work grid origin) or manipulator coordinates (based around the manipulator's current orientation).

Notes

  • You can choose between the metric and English systems of measurement in the General Settings dialog.