Copy with Rotation
- Last UpdatedAug 14, 2025
- 5 minute read
Create copies of part of the model, each copy can be rotated and offset relative to the previous one.
To specify the offsets as being the same as those between two existing design items, use Select the required functionality from the Rotation Axes pane of the Copy and Rotate window, when prompted, pick the two points between which the offset is to be measured. The calculated distances is entered in the Offset X,Y,Z text boxes automatically.
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Object |
The Object drop-down menu allows you to specify the element to be copied. The choices are:
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To |
The To drop-down menu allows you to specify where the copies are to be stored in the database. The choices are:
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Number Copies |
Enter the Number of Copies required in the text field. |
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Angle |
Enter the Angle (in degrees), the angle setting is determined relative to the Rotation Axis. |
The Offset must be specified in terms of the local X,Y,Z coordinates of the geometric primitives that make up the structural items, rather than the E,N,U coordinates used to position items within the overall design model. In this case, by default, X=E, Y=N and Z=U. The axes are displayed automatically in the graphical view as a guide.
Select the Lock check box to lock the selected coordinates.
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Rotation Axis |
The Rotation Axis is displayed in the 3D graphical view as a guide. |
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Direction |
The Direction gives the axis in which the object rotates. The distance the rotated object is from the center of the axis is determined by the figure in the East/North/Up text boxes. Select Lock check box to lock the selected direction. |
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Origin |
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Format |
Sets default coordinates refer to Coordinates for further information. |
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WRT |
The With Respect To (WRT) field can be used to define an element from which the coordinates are derived.
The name of the required element can be modified explicitly; other options are also available:
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To specify the axis by reference to existing design items, use the Cursor menu options.
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Element |
Prompts you to pick an element to which the position can be related to the required position. Use the Cursor Defaults setting to specify which point along a linear element (typically a Section) is to define the position. |
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Design Point |
Prompts you to pick any design point (a p-point or construction pin) which is located at the required position. |
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Pline |
Prompts you to pick a pline which passes through the required position. Use the Cursor Defaults setting to specify which point along the pline is to define the position (the pline is here considered to extend from the POSS to the POSE of the SCTN to which it refers). |
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Edge |
Prompts you to pick a panel edge which passes through the required position. Use the Cursor Defaults setting to specify which point along the edge is to define the position. |
Select Cursor > Defaults to display the Cursor Defaults window, which allows you to set the way pointer picks are interpreted when you pick a position in a graphical view.
The Pick Options pane specifies how a pick along a linear item (section, pline, edge) is to be interpreted as a position. Select the following choices:
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Snap |
The position is at whichever end of the item is nearest to the cursor. (The text-box next to this option is not applicable in the current context.) |
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Proportional |
Enter a proportion (between 0 and 1) in the adjacent text-box. The derived position is at this proportion of the item’s length from the end nearest to the cursor. |
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Distance |
Enter a distance in the adjacent text-box. The derived position is at this distance from the end nearest to the cursor towards the cursor position (so that a negative distance gives a position beyond the end). |
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Exact |
The position is exactly at the picked point. |
Note:
When you pick a point on a section, the derived position is always on the line between
the Start Position and End Position, regardless of the cursor position in the cross-sectional
profile.
The Pick Qualifier pane specifies how many picks you use to identify the position, and how a single position is to be constructed from multiple picks. The choices are:
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Single Pick |
The position is determined by the Pick Options setting for a single pick. |
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Mid-point of two picks |
Each of two picks is interpreted as determined by the Pick Options setting and then the mid-point of the two is constructed to give the final position. |
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Centroid of multi-picks |
Each of two or more picks is interpreted as determined by the Pick Options setting and then the centroid of the points is constructed to give the final position (Cancel the prompt when you have finished picking). |
Note:
The new cursor defaults remain in force for all subsequent picking operations until
you reset them.
Select Intersection menu options to define a position by picking two directional items using the cursor in a graphical view.
The derived position is at the intersection of the two items or, if they do not actually intersect, at a point on the first picked item which corresponds to the projection of the second item onto the first.
The menu and submenu options allows you specify any combination of the following types of directional item:
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Element |
Prompts you to pick any element which has its principal axis pointing through or towards the required position. |
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Design Point |
Prompts you to pick any design point (a p-point or construction pin) which is aligned through or towards the required position. |
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Pline |
Prompts you to pick any pline which is aligned through or towards the required position. |
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Edge |
Prompts you to pick any panel edge which is aligned through or towards the required position. |
Click Apply to create the rotated copy and, when prompted, confirm that you want to retain the copy. Use the same procedure to rotate copy and reflect a second member to create a third member.
Note:
When copying individual columns or beams, any connections and joints present in the
original elements are automatically removed from the new elements. When copying an
entire framework, connections and joints defined between sections in the new framework
are not removed.