Michael, et al,

Attached is a file containing outline letters (green) projected onto a flat plane using the letters (magenta) hovering above the plane. Using the Transform>Move tool, with Straight Snap and Object Snap selected, click on the lower right corner of the flat plane and move it orthogonally in a straight line. The projected letters (green) disappear. Or, do they disappear? See the image sequence below. The two objects that disappeared are back in image 5.

The hovering letters were outlines made from surface objects (the letters) originally a part of a domed object.

Leonard
(Mac OS 10.6.8)

Hi Leonard, there you're seeing the "History update" function in action.

History updating is a mechanism where some objects remember what objects were input into the command that created them, and then when those input objects are edited the command is automatically re-run to recalculate a new updated result.

So in this case here when you move the plane you are triggering a history update and the projection is getting calculated again, and if the projection then completely misses the moved plane that is what will make those objects disappear.

Sometimes this history update mechanism can be kind of confusing when it kicks in when you were not aware of it being set up, maybe it should be off by default for Project instead of on by default.

But you can turn it on or off yourself by selecting the curves that are getting updated (the ones that are disappearing), and then run the Edit > History command and click the "Disable update" button. That will disable history updating for those curves and then they will no longer get recalculated when you edit the objects that were used as inputs into the projection.

- Michael

Same for me on a PC ;)
Crossing post : Michael find the trick ;)

Hi Michael, thanks for your response. Terrific as always.

In part, I understand and would understand more if the projected curves reappeared on the plane they were projected to at the end of moving that plane, i.e., at the conclusion of its update and re-calculation. Are you saying the history function, because I moved the plane, assumes that I do not want the curves therefore, they are to disappear or be deleted?

Leonard

Hi Leonard,

> Are you saying the history function, because I moved the
> plane, assumes that I do not want the curves therefore,
> they are to disappear or be deleted?

Only if you move it in such a way that the projection actually misses the plane and so does not produce any output objects at all.

If you do that it is the equivalent of deleting the objects.

- Michael

Michael, maybe some sense is sinking in on this end.

I needed to flatten my wonky curves before booling a domed object so, the flat plane the curves were projected to was a surrogate. Projection's *default setup* seems intended for use with the final surface - not temps - BUT, your "Disable update" button retains the curves and allows me to replace the temp surface with the target surface.

If this is not correct, "oh well" (sigh), but your "Disable button" did-the-trick!

Thanks.

Leonard

Hi nycL45,
"""""""""""I needed to flatten my wonky curves before booling a domed object"""""""""""

If you go to the front view and select your text, you can grab the "edit frame" and drag it vertically and there will be a "Flat Snap".... Great for flattening out wonky curves....

Hi Leonard, yup I think you've got it - basically the history mechanism is set up so that you could edit the original curve or the surface it is projected on to and see the projection update. It's possible for that update mechanism to get in the way but if it does you can disable it with that Edit > History command.

But like Burr mentions if you want to flatten something it's quicker to go to a side view and use the edit frame - here's a demo video:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=3378.4

- Michael

Edit Frame - I missed that one but will try it out. Checked out the demo video - that's brilliantly painless!

Thanks BurrMan and Michael.

Leonard