Positioning Objects Relative to Each Other

You can snap objects into position taking advantage of geometric elements including local and global axis systems directly or with the robot in combination with various tools. To help you positioning two objects relatively to each other you can examine the selection, auto scrolling, filter the geometry selection, and snap cumulatively geometries.

This task shows you how to:

Use the Examine Selection
Use Auto Scrolling
Use the Geometry Selection Filter Bar
Snap Cumulatively Geometries

Before you begin: A model's representation is open.

Use the Examine Selection

You can examine an object to better understand how to position it. This is helpful to select a face of a parts which is not visible with the current viewpoint without modifying the viewpoint.

Click Examine Selection in the context toolbar. Alternatively, you can press the spacebar.

The selection is set to full opacity while the rest of the model is set to semi-transparent opacity. Four blue arrows are displayed on the top, bottom, right and left of the viewer.
To rotate the object either:
- Click a blue arrow or
- Use the keyboard arrows.
Use the level selector to identify the move levels.
The name of the current move level is permanently displayed unless you hover another bar of the level selector.
Click anywhere in the background to exit the examine mode.

Use Auto Scrolling

You can benefit from auto scrolling to optimize the viewpoint while dragging.

Drag components on screen and reach the boundaries of the viewer.
Four blue arrows are displayed in the center of the screen and the arrows corresponding to the direction of the current scroll are highlighted in orange.
To stop the auto-scrolling, move the cursor back to the viewer.

Use the Geometry Selection Filter Bar

You can filter the geometry selection to facilitate snapping operations regardless the method used to move the object. In this example the Robot is used.

From the Edit Structure section of the action bar, click Manipulate .

Optional: To filter the geometry selection, select one of the following options in the filter bar.

Option	Description
Point	Highlights points you can select directly (either an existing point on the model, or any point you click on the model).
Center/Point	Highlights the coordinates of the center point of a circle, or a sphere, or the coordinates of the selected point. You can only select center points.
Axis* System	Highlights the X, Y, and Z direction coordinates of local axis systems. You can only select axis systems.
Line	Colors lines in blue. You can only select lines.
Plane*	Colors in blue the area of a planar surface. You can only select planar surfaces.
Cylinder/Cone*	Colors in blue a cylinder or a cone. You can only select cylinders or cones.
Surface	You can select any kind of a surface.
Product*	Displays the volume of the bounding box containing the selected item. You can only select whole products. A level selector is available to select objects at a specific level.

Notes:

By default, the filters are not visible until you click the Manipulate command from the action bar or drag the Robot.
*By default, axis system, plane, cylinder and product options are turned on. To refine your selection, choose the most appropriate option.
All options are cumulative options that can be combined.
By default, only axis system, plane, cylinder/cone and product filters are active.
For all the filters except the Surface and Product filter, the high quality representation of the selected geometry is loaded in the session.

Drag the Robot onto a component according to the geometry filter applied. The position and orientation of the Robot depends on the target component.

Selected Option	Robot's Behavior
Point	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the point, while it is oriented according to the axis system of the assembly component containing the point.
Center/Point	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the point. If the Robot is dropped on a circle, its Z axis is oriented along the normal of the selected circle plane. If the Robot is dropped on a sphere, its Z axis is oriented according to the axis system containing the sphere. The X axis is oriented based on the axis system of the assembly component containing the snapped element.
Axis* System	The Robot is coincident with the selected local axis system.
Line	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the selection point, while its Z axis is oriented along the line.
Plane*	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the selection point, while its Z axis is oriented along the surface normal.
Cylinder/Cone*	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the orthogonal projection of the selection point on the cylinder/cone axis, while its Z axis is oriented along the cylinder/cone axis.
Product*	The origin of the Robot is snapped on the selection point, while its orientation is made coincident with the global axis system of the selected assembly component.

Drop the Robot.
- The part or geometry on which it is dropped is selected.
- A snapping in position and or in orientation is performed.
- A box is displayed corresponding to the move level of the selected component.

Snap Cumulatively Geometries

You can move a component by cumulating several snapping operations of its geometries in real time.

Drag an object.
The selected geometry is identified according to the current state of the geometry selection filter. The selection appears in blue while the rest of the model is set to semi-transparent opacity. For more
Drop the component if the snapping positioning is correct.
Snapping operations for an object are cumulated until:
- Another component is moved (dragging its geometry).
- An axis is snapped (dragging an axis or a whole component).
- The whole move operation is ended (by saving the modified positions, cancelling or interrupting the move session).
- The Robot is used to move a multiselection of components (even if this multiselection includes the object for which current snapping requests are defined).