Positioning Control Points

You can position the control points precisely while you are moving them.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a 3D shape containing two surfaces.

Snap to a Position

You can snap the control points to a precise position when manipulating control points.

  1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Control Points .
    Tip: Double-click a datum element in the work area or in the tree to modify its control points. This also works in a parallel command session (PCS) context.
  2. Select two surfaces.
  3. In the Support area, select a support.
  4. In the Filters area, click Points only .
  5. Select snapping and the snap type.
    1. In the App Options panel, click Handles Snap (Alt+Ctrl+S) .
    2. Click the Snap On Cpt auto-detection type.
  6. Select the control point you want to move.
    The control point is highlighted.

  7. Move the cursor over the second control point.
    The second control point is highlighted.

    A dashed line connects the two points indicating that the control point will be translated along the support.



  8. Click the second control point.
    The first control point is translated along the support and snapped onto the orthogonal projection to the second control point.

  9. Repeat the steps above but holding Ctrl while you move the cursor over the second control point.
    The second control point is highlighted.

    A solid line connects the two points indicating that the control point will ignore the support and will instead be positioned precisely at the location of the second control point.



  10. Holding Ctrl, click the second control point.
    The first control point is snapped precisely at the location of the second control point.

Keep a Position

You can record the current position of a control point in the tree.

  1. Select a surface.
  2. Place the cursor over a control point, right-click, and do one of the following:.
    • Select Keep this point to record the position of this control point.
    • Select Keep all points to record the position of all the control point
    If you selected Keep this point, a point is created at the position of the control point and in the tree.

Edit a Position

You can specify the position of a control point by entering X,Y, and Z coordinates.

  1. Select a surface.
  2. Place the cursor over a control point, right-click, and select Edit position.


  3. Set the Z coordinate.
    The control point moves accordingly.

  4. Click OK in the Edit position dialog box.

Note: If several elements are selected, the context menu options apply only to the element containing the selected control point. Options from the Control Points dialog box apply to all the selected elements.