Reposition Editing Plane

Use Editing Plane commands to change the default editing plane position, either before or after beginning element input. The available commands vary depending on your editing situation.

Note: The Offset and Snap to Story commands are available only before you begin input.

Where To Find Editing Plane Commands

To reposition the editing plane in the 3D window, either before or during editing, use the commands from one of the following places:

Click the square-shaped editing plane “Grip”.

EditingPlaneGripDefault.png 

Right-click to bring up a Context menu, then choose Editing Plane.

BluePickPlane.png 

Access the commands from the Drafting Aids Toolbar.

EditingPlaneToolbar.png 

Access the commands from View > Grid and Editing Plane Options.

Snap Editing Plane to Story

Use this command prior to element input.

To snap the editing plane to a specific level corresponding to a project story:

1.Bring up the Editing Plane commands.

2.Choose Snap to Story.

3.From the appearing dialog box, choose the project story to which you want to move the editing plane.

SnapToStoryCommand.png     SnaptoStoryDialog.png

Offset Editing Plane

Use this command prior to element input.

1.Bring up the Editing Plane commands.

2.Choose Offset.

3.Use the cursor to drag the editing plane to the desired position, or define the offset distance numerically. Notice that a Snap Guide appears marking the story positions, to make it easier to place the editing plane.

OffsetEditingPlane.png 

Other Editing Plane Commands

Choose one of the options for your preferred editing plane orientation (the available options vary depending on the orientation of the current editing plane).

Next Plane: Click this to switch to the next editing plane that makes sense in the editing context.

Pick Plane.

See Pick Plane.

Horizontal: Rotates the editing plane to a horizontal position.

Vertical: Rotates the editing plane to a vertical position.

Offset.

See Offset Editing Plane.

Look to Perpendicular: Sets up the 3D window so that it is perpendicular to the Editing Plane.

Projection to Editing Plane.

See Cursor Projection onto Editing Plane.

Lock to Plane.

See Lock to Plane.

Pick Plane

Once you click this command, the gray rectangle “plane chooser” feedback appears.

PickPlaneFeedback.png 

Do one of the following to pick the desired plane for the editing plane:

Move the cursor onto any plane of an existing element. A rectangle will help you see the plane.

PickPlane1.png 

Click on any three points in space (such as three element hotspots) to define a plane.

Click on an element edge plus another point (in either order) to define a plane.

Cursor Projection onto Editing Plane

By default, as you perform graphical editing, your cursor is moving on the editing plane. If needed, you can redefine the direction of this cursor projection.

To change the cursor projection with respect to the editing plane:

1.Begin the editing operation.

2.From the context menu, select Projection to Editing Plane.

Alternatively, click on the Editing Plane Grip to bring up the same commands.

3.Choose one of the projection options:

ProjectEditPlane1.png 

Vertical

Horizontal

Perpendicular to Editing Plane

Perpendicular to Result Plane

Lock to Plane

Use this command lock input to the existing editing plane before you start creating the new element.

This is useful, for example, if you wish to create an element on the existing editing plane, by tracing the shape of an existing element (e.g. roof) on another plane.

1.Bring up the Editing Plane commands.

2.From the Projection to Editing Plane sub-menu, choose the Lock to Plane toggle.

LocktoPlane.png 

The new element will be placed onto the editing plane, even if your cursor is on another plane.