Translating Elements

You may either perform a simple translation (by moving elements) or create several copies of 2D elements.

The app provides a powerful command for translating elements. Translating elements also means re-computing distance, angle and/or length constraint values, if needed. However, note that, only non-fixed elements are updated.

This task shows you how to:

Translate Elements Keeping Internal or External Constraints
Translate Elements Keeping the Original Constraints Mode

Before you begin: Create the required 2D elements and internal and external constraints on them.

Translate Elements Keeping Internal or External Constraints

You can translate elements keeping internal or external constraints.

From the Sketch section of the action bar, click Translate .
In the Translate dialog box, in the Instances box, enter the number of instances to be created.
Keep Duplicate check box selected.
By default, the Duplicate check box is selected, which means that the 2D elements you select are copied. If you clear Duplicate check box, the element is moved.
Under Keep constraints, select the appropriate check boxes to indicate the types of constraints to be preserved in the translated geometry.
Following check boxes are available under Keep constraints:
- Internal
- External
- Mode
Note: The Mode option preserves the original constraints applied to the selected elements.
Select the elements to be translated using the trap selection.
You can either select one 2D element or select the entire 2D geometry by trapping it using the pointer as shown below.
Click to indicate the translation vector starting point.
You can define the translation length in the work area, using the pointer. For more precise results, enter a specific value for the translation length in the Translate dialog box.
Enter the required value in the Length box and press Enter.

Tip: You can use SmartPick to keep lines horizontal.
Click to indicate the translation vector ending point.

A context toolbar appears showing available constraints.

The selected elements are translated. You can notice that the internal constraints are preserved in the translated element (four tangency constraints), whereas the external constraint (an offset constraint) is not.
Optional: Click the required constraint in the context toolbar.
The translated geometry is constrained accordingly.
Click anywhere in the work area.

The selected geometry is translated with internal constraints.

Translate Elements Keeping the Original Constraints Mode

You can translate elements keeping the original constraints mode.

Before you begin:

Create a rectangle and create an internal and an external constraint on it.

Click Translate .
In the Translate dialog box, select Duplicate, Internal, External check boxes.
This creates a duplicate geometry retaining the internal and external constraints.
Note: Apart from the Duplicate check box, the Keep internal constraints, Keep external constraints, and Keep original constraints mode check boxes are cleared, by default.
However, after you execute this command, your preferences are stored and saved for the next usage.
Select Keep original constraints mode.
Select an element using the trap selection and click to indicate translation vector starting point.
Click to indicate translation vector ending point.
A context toolbar appears showing available constraints.

The translation is performed. You can notice that the internal and external constraints are preserved in the translated element.
Click anywhere in the work area.
The selected geometry is translated keeping the original constraints mode.

The constraints defined in the original geometry are driving constraints. These constraints are copied to the translated geometry as is (because the Original constraints mode check box is selected).

Note: If you clear the Original constraints mode check box, the geometry is translated without preserving the original constraints mode (driving/driven) as shown below.

The constraints defined in the original geometry are driving constraints. These constraints are not copied in the translated geometry (because the Original constraints mode check box is cleared) which shows reference constraints.