Hi,

I would like to set up a short cut key that constrains movement to one of the main axis when in the 3D view. For example: hold down 'x' while moving an object will constrain it to movement in just the x plain - if that makes sense? Other keys for y and z constraint would be handy too. I couldn't see anything like this in the scripts page.

M:-)

Hi Mark - if you turn on "Straight Snap" on the bottom toolbar it will help you with these kinds of axis-specific moves. When Straight Snap is engaged all you need to do is move your mouse nearby the x-axis line and it will then snap the movement onto that axis, it will show a dashed construction line type display going along that axis when it kicks in.

It works with any of the x, y, or z axis lines, just move your mouse nearby any of them to lock on to them and it works with either movement (like dragging an object) or with drawing tools to draw lines that are along an axis direction.

So anyway that's why there is no script for it, because the Straight snap function already handles this type of stuff, no special scripts or extra keystrokes are really needed for that.

Here is a previous demo and additional explanation:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=3201.2

- Michael

OK - That's cool. I had found the straight snap and use it a lot but sometimes the mouse movement will take an object off line and it will shoot into the distance or behind something. I guess it is easy enough to undo a move or simply keep the mouse button pressed and find the axis guide again.

Thanks anyway.

M

Hi Mark,

> I had found the straight snap and use it a lot but sometimes the mouse movement will
> take an object off line and it will shoot into the distance or behind something.

When that happens it means that either your mouse strayed too far off the straight snap line and it disengaged, or that you had object snap also turned on and your mouse was near an object snap point.

For the first one, if you find that straight snap is disengaging too easily for you, there are some settings you can adjust under Options > Snaps > Straight snap options - one for "Activate distance" and also "Keep active distance". The first one is the distance you need to be in pixels from the line for it to initially turn on. The second one is the distance that you need to stay within for it to keep active once it has initially engaged. If you for example double these values then it would make straight snap basically activate and stay active within a larger distance.

If it's the second problem where you're getting a jump because your mouse is nearby an object snap you can solve that one by turning off object snap in the bottom toolbar.

- Michael