Usb Key Copy Tool

[Margaret Sieverding]

Iam having difficulties with using the copy tool when on move(the object is a component). It just does not do it. i can copy when click+CRTL and the buttons on top.

Am using sketchup web on Chrome (have also tried safari+deleting cookies) with OS X El captain.

Also tried changing the shortcut to others but no avail so have left it at Shift+C

Just to clarify this for newbies, the toggle using the Option key on Mac and Alt on PC is activated by a click (a press AND a release) of the key after selecting the Move Tool or the Rotate Tool. You will notice that it is a toggle if you click it again. After each click the small + sign indicating that it is in Copy Mode will disappear or reappear. Click for ON, click for OFF.

(I also use Cmd/Ctrl C, Cmd/Ctrl V (which is set to copy paste in place) then use the 'move' work flow above, usually I use this when I want a copy of the object from a specific point to another using the smart snaps and guides)

When you have the Move by Points tool active on a Mac if you then hold the Command key down you can then select an object (multiple objects if you hold the Shift key down as well) and on release of the Command key you will be returned to the Move by Points tool.

I'm all for a more intuitive interface myself. Perhaps you should be able to toggle through the basic (first) modes of a tool just by hitting its original shortcut multiple times (in this case the D key). I also think hitting tab with various tools should always access any amount associated with a tool as the first field that appears (in this case the number of duplicates). The U and I interface is so clunky and those particular keys are on the mouse hand side of the keyboard if you're right handed (yes, I know you can move them, but there's only so many left hand only short cut keys available). I try to keep my hand on the mouse as much as possible when drawing.

These tools actually do prompt you currently to do so, at the bottom right of the drawing area, a message appears stating you can hold Alt to select an object while keeping the currently active tool active. Is this what you mean?

I will say that the notification bar is not very noticeable. I like that it doesn't get in the way, but I think it could do more to catch the eye, especially since a lot of UI quirks that Vectorworks has are listed there, but missed by many new users where aren't aware of it.

I recently submitted a request for a history for this alert area that would let users click on it to see recent error/warning notifications, what tool triggered them and if they click for more details they be taken to more info about the tool or command they just tried to use.

I'm not sure from your description if you're using the Move by Points tool or the Move command. The keyboard shortcut for the first is Shift-M. They keyboard shortcut for the second is Command-M on a Mac. Probably Control-M on a PC.

Shift-MM brings up the preferences for the move by points tool. (Make sure you are in the first mode in the mode bar.) Type in the number of duplicates. There will be checkboxes for retain original and leave original selected. (Command-I and Command-L).

Then start drawing a line for the direction of the duplication. After the first click, hit Tab. A floating menu will appear. Keep hitting tab until you get the field you want. Type in a value. Tab to the another field. Type in a value. Hit Enter or left click when you are done.

As yet another approach, you can use the Duplicate Array function to do what you want, using the Linear Array mode. [I usually don't use this because I like to leave my Duplicate Array settings configured for Circular Arrays which I use quite often].

Thanks Michael, that certainly gets me pointed in the right general direction.

Coming from an Engineering background, I want to keep track of how much I am moving things, so I'm using the Move by Points tool. To me, it seems so much more logical than the Ctrl-M version.

Shift-MM is a neat little trick that's new to me, so thanks for that, however the real light-bulb, or if you prefer d'oh, moment is Tab-ing through the fields in the floating menu. That is what I'd been missing ...

Thanks for the tips, they are starting to filter into the grey matter slowly but surely ...

After using various 2D and 3D packages over the years, I think that being able to perform the same operations in a number of ways is a good measure of the flexibility of a bit of software, so I'm please to see that VWX doesn't constrain the user too much.

That double pumping the keyboard shortcut to bring up a the preferences works on just about every tool that has preferences. Especially useful are the shortcuts to the Snapping preferences (AA, SS, DD, FF, QQ, WW, EE, RR).

And you can always Tab to get the heads up window. Even before you start drawing. For example: Invoke Rectangle Tool > Tab lets you pick exact coordinates for the first vertex. Then you can keep typing in delta X, delta Y, length, or angle values for the next vertex.

Yet more light-bulbs are illuminating, thanks ...

However, when it comes to keyboard shortcuts, once I get a little more familiar with VWX, I'm going to have to do something about them. Whilst they might be "normal" for Mac users, for a born and bred PC user, they're like a mutant hybrid of a card-sharp's prestidigitation and a Vulcan death grip ...

... I mean seriously, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-A when I'm staring at dozen function keys that are sitting there all forlorn ...

I definitely encourage that. My custom workspace keyboard shortcuts barely resembles the default shortcuts (which I think are mostly terrible). At some point I should post my workspace on here - my drafting speed has increased exponentially since creating it.

This is because I'm less likely to smack a keystroke pairing accidentally, and the two character abbreviations can be a little more helpful as to their function. The exception to that is when I'm mapping a single keystroke to a mouse button, in which case, I might end up with something like Ctrl-f12, but I only ever access via the mouse button.

Im not even sure if this is the right question to ask. I have some parts to make that are very similar. They are as shown and opposites but with some other differences as well. What I am trying to do is copy tool path that i used to create the original part and just re-define some z-depths and change some hole locations to fit the different dash numbers. Ive tried to both create a new machine group for each dash number and copy the tool path to the different group and ive also just copied it to another toolpath group although I liked it better separated in to machine groups (look more organized although not necessary). Every time i get the path copied and re-defined (mostly z depths changed) when I close the part file and open it later the path is all dirty with missing geometry. Anyway, enough of the book. What is the proper procedure to copy path and insert in to other machine groups and/or toolpath groups?

What version are you running? Are your parts solids? There is a known bug in X when you copy operations. The copies tend to revert back to some of the original geometry. This drove me nuts for awhile.

Create a separate copy of your "as shown" file. Rename it to the opposite hand part number. Now turn on just your solid/surface model and use bounding box to create a center point. Then create a vertical or horizontal line (depending on how you want to mirror the part) using that center point.

Then turn on all your solid/toolpath geometry (turn off anything that isn't moving like your stock and fixture geometry). Now select the mirror line and press the "invert selection" button on the general selection toolbar. Now choose Xform - Mirror and choose the option to mirror about the line.

Why do I use this method? Doesn't Mastercam have Transform toolpaths that do this? The answer is "yes", but I've found them to be un-reliable at best. The other thing that ends up happening usually, is that your setup locations can get screwed up. Not to mention trying to mirror toolplanes for a 5 axis part (that gets ugly real fast). The main reason I use this method is that it is 100% reliable. Once you mirror the geometry and make your changes, nothing is going to revert or do something ugly on you. I also tend to generate surfaces for my machining operations because they mirror much better than a solid when used in a toolpath.

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