More about Translation

Translate Definition Dialog Box

In the Translate Definition dialog box, you can define a translation using these options:

Vector Definition

Vector Definition provides three options:

• Direction, Distance: The distance is a scalar value that is moved along the directional vector. This vector may be supplied as a line or plane. If a plane is provided, the normal to the plane is used as the directional vector.
• Point to point: The direction is specified by the vector between a start and end point. The distance to translate along this vector is the computed distance between the two points.
• Coordinates: Rather than selecting a point, the XYZ coordinates of the start and end points may be specified. By default, the point coordinates are at the origin. These coordinates form point locations. The direction is specified by the vector between the start and end coordinates. The distance to translate along this vector is the computed distance between the coordinate points.

Direction

You can select a line to take its orientation as the translation direction or a plane to take its normal as the translation direction.

You can also specify the direction by means of contextual commands available from the box:

• Insert Wireframe > Create Line: See Generative Shape Design User's Guide: Creating Wireframe Geometry: Creating Lines.
• Insert Wireframe > Create Plane: See Generative Shape Design User's Guide: Creating Wireframe Geometry: Creating Planes.

  If you create any of these elements, the application then displays the corresponding icon in front of the box. Clicking this icon enables you to edit the element.

• Insert Wireframe > X Axis: The X axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.
• Insert Wireframe > Y Axis: The Y axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.
• Insert Wireframe > Z Axis: The Z axis of the current coordinate system origin (0,0,0) becomes the direction.