Hi Val, thanks for the feedback,
> So far I don't see any use in the axis snap, as far as i can tell it can
> only snap to axis extended from the origin,
Yup, that's all it is. But these are pretty strategic areas to snap on to for several kinds of simple symmetrical shapes.
For example if you watch the video tutorial here:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=975.1 - there are 3 times in that tutorial where I create construction lines in order to snap on to these axis lines.
With the new axis snap there isn't any need to create any construction lines for building that shape, the snap points are just immediately available when you move to that area.
Here are some simple example shapes where Axis snap is useful.
Profiles in the front view for creating a revolve:
Profile in the Top view for mirroring and extruding into a base shape for a mouse:
It should also make it easier to grab points for some operations that commonly use an axis line like mirror or revolve - instead of going to the origin point which may be congested with other objects, you can just find any open spot along an axis now.
> in 3D view it only works in x and y axis no z axis.
Yes, this is intentional because it is very unusual to need to snap to the z axis in the 3D view while drawing a profile curve. It just doesn't come up very often. I worry about adding too many snaps automatically because each one takes away some freedom of movement for more fine tuned placement. The z axis in the 3d view kind of cuts across a section of the x/y plane, so automatically snapping there would prevent you from picking certain points on the x/y plane. If you need to snap there you can always drag out a construction line to do it.
> So, I would definitely want an option to turn it off.
I've attached here a patch to the UI that you can install to get the option. Unzip the attached ObjectSnapMenu.zip, and copy the ObjectSnapMenu.htm file over top of the old version in the C:\Program Files\MoI beta Sep-4-2007\ui folder.
Now if you go to the menu that pops up over the "Object Snap" button on the bottom toolbar, there will be a new "Axis" entry near the top of the menu underneath Origin.
> I think it would be nice to include an option to delete the last line,
That's definitely a good idea. I will have to wait until after V1 to add this though (because it would effect the docs). In the meantime with that latest patch it is possible to write some script macros that target construction lines, so now you can set up this keyboard shortcut which will remove the last added construction line:
code:
script:var gd = moi.geometryDatabase; var clines = gd.getObjects().getConstructionLines(); if ( clines.length > 0 ) gd.removeObject( clines.item(clines.length-1) );
- Michael
