User Guide
User Guide
User Guide

Rotate

Use it!

Used to rotate and stretch an element(s). Elements can be rotated individually, as a selected group, or within the fence. When About Element Center is turned on, selected elements are rotated about their (individual) center points.

Tool SettingEffect
Method

Sets the method used to rotate and stretch an element.

  • Active Angle
    • — the element(s) are rotated by the Active Angle, which can be keyed in.
  • 2 Points
    • — the angle of rotation is defined by entering two data points.
  • 3 points
    • — the angle of rotation is defined by three data points.
Copies

If on, the element(s) are copied and the copy(s) are rotated; the original(s) are not manipulated.

When copying and rotating an element with tags, only the element is rotated. If you want the tags also to be rotated, you must first select the tags along with the base element and then choose the Rotate tool.

Use Fence

If on, the fence contents are rotated. The option menu sets the Fence (Selection) Mode.

Stretch Cells

If on, the fence contents are rotated and stretched, when Fence (Selection) Mode is Stretch.

About Element Center

If on, in Extended Information section of tool settings, the selected element(s) is rotated about its center point instead of a selected point. Elements may be selected individually, or you can select multiple elements to rotate in a selection set or using the fence. Where multiple elements are selected they all will be rotated about their own center points.

To rotate an element(s)
  1. Select or fence the element(s).

  2. Select the Rotate tool.

  3. Enter a data point to define the pivot point.
    If Method is set to Active Angle, the element(s) are rotated by the Active Angle; repeat to rotate the element(s) again. Otherwise, continue with step 4.

  4. If Method is set to 2 Points, enter a data point to define the angle of rotation graphically.
    or
    If Method is set to 3 points, enter a data point to define the start of rotation.
    If Method is set to 2 Points, the element(s) are rotated; repeat to rotate the element(s) again. Otherwise, continue with step 5.

  5. Enter a data point to define the angle of rotation graphically.

Alternative Method — To rotate an element(s)
  1. Select the Rotate tool.

  2. Identify the element.

  3. Follow steps 3–5 above.

    Rotate tool. Top: with Method set to 2 Points. Middle: with Method set to Active Angle and Active Angle set to 30°. Bottom: with Method set to 3 points.

      

To rotate and stretch elements in a fence
  1. Using the Place Fence tool, place a fence around an element or group of elements.

  2. Select the Rotate tool.
    The Rotate settings window opens.

  3. From the Use Fence option menu, choose Stretch.
    The Use Fence check box activates, and the Stretch Cells check box also activates.

  4. On the Method option menu, choose Active Angle and type a value in the angle field.

  5. Enter a data point to define the pivot point.
    The element(s) are rotated and stretched by the Active Angle.

    Rotating and stretching elements in a fence using the Rotate tool. Enter a data point (1) to define the pivot point about which the element(s) are rotated and stretched.

      

To graphically rotate and stretch elements in a fence
  1. Using the Place Fence tool, place a fence around an element or group of elements.

  2. Select the Rotate tool.
    The Rotate settings window opens.

  3. From the Use Fence option menu, choose Stretch.
    The Use Fence check box activates, and the Stretch Cells check box also activates.

  4. On the Method option menu, choose 2 Points.
    (If you choose 3 Points, go to step 7).

  5. Enter a data point to define the pivot point.

  6. Enter a data point to graphically define the angle of rotation.
    Skip to step 10.

  7. If Method is set to 3 Points, enter a data point to define the pivot point.

  8. Enter a data point to define the start of rotation.

  9. Enter a data point to graphically define the angle of rotation.

  10. The element(s) are graphically rotated and stretched; repeat to rotate and stretch the element(s) again.

    Graphically rotating and stretching elements in a fence (2 Points). Enter a data point (1) to define the pivot point. Enter a data point (2) to graphically define the rotation angle.

      

    Graphically rotating and stretching elements in a fence (3 Points). Enter a data point (1) to define the pivot point. Enter a data point (2) to define the start of rotation. Enter a data point (3) to graphically define the rotation angle.

      

To rotate an element by the Active Angle about its center
  1. Select the Rotate tool.

  2. Set Method to Active Angle and set the required angle.

  3. Turn on About Element Center (in the Extended Information section of the tool settings).

  4. Identify the element to be rotated.
    The rotation is displayed dynamically.

  5. Accept to complete the rotation.

    With Method set to Active Angle and About Element Center turned on:

    Left: Identify the element (1) — a cell in the illustration

    Center: The rotation displays dynamically

    Right: Accept (2) to complete the rotation about the center of the element

      

To rotate a group of elements by the Active Angle about their centers
  1. Select the elements with the Element Selection tool, PowerSelector, or by placing the fence around them.

  2. Select the Rotate tool.

  3. Set Method to Active Angle and set the required angle.

  4. Turn on About Element Center (in the Extended Information section of the tool settings).

  5. Enter a data point to complete the rotation.

    Left: Selecting the elements to rotate with a fence.

    Right: After rotating elements about their centers.

      

Key-in: ROTATE ICON


or

Key-in: [FENCE] [ROTATE | SPIN] [COPY | ORIGINAL | POINTS] [COPY | ORIGINAL]

If Use Fence is on and the rotation is repeated, any element(s) inside the moved fence are copied along with the original fence contents. It is usually easier to use the Construct Array tool with Array Type set to Polar to make multiple rotated copies.