Shape Tab

Object properties can be directly edited through the Object Info palette from the Shape tab. Objects can also be edited with the tools on the Basic palette as described in the instructions for each tool.

The Shape tab always displays class and layer information. For most objects, Rotation displays, indicating the object’s orientation. The detailed object information that is also displayed depends on the type of object selected, and can be simple or very extensive depending on the object.

Assigning Objects to Classes and Layers

To assign an object to a class or layer:

1. Select one or more object(s) to assign to the same class and/or layer.

2. Select a class/layer from the list of classes/layers present in the drawing, or create a new class/layer.

When a new class or layer is created from the Object Info palette, any selected objects are assigned to the new class/layer, but the active class/layer does not change to the newly created class/layer.

Classes can be displayed in hierarchical order (up to four levels). To enable or disable hierarchical display, see Session Preferences.

Alternatively, objects can be assigned to classes and layers in the Navigation palette (Vectorworks Design Series required).

1. Select one or more object(s) to assign to a class.

2. Select the Classes tab or Design Layers tab from the Navigation palette.

3. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the class/layer to assign the object(s) to and select Assign to Selection from the context menu.

Object Coordinates and Bounding Box Indicator

The Shape tab can display a selected object’s plane, coordinate, and bounding box information. The information displayed depends on the type of object, the active plane, and whether it is in a rotated plan view (Vectorworks Design Series required) or positioned relative to a working plane.

For 2D objects, the plane to which the object belongs is indicated by the Plane list, and can be changed by selecting another plane from the list. For example, a screen plane object can be turned into a layer plane object by selecting Layer. When a working plane is active, the object can be moved to it. (If a combination of 2D and 3D objects are selected, the Plane list selection applies only to the 2D objects.)

Symbols display the symbol’s name and units (whether world- or page-based). Symbols and solids can be scaled from the Object Info palette (see Scaling Symbols from the Object Info Palette and Scaling Solids Asymmetrically.)

The Box Position indicator displays for certain 2D objects such as lines, walls, rectangles, and ovals. It represents the bounding box of the object, indicates which side is the width and height for objects with width and height, and uses a handle to indicate the fixed point about which the object can be resized. The handle is also the location from which the object coordinates are determined. When an object is rotated, the box position indicator rotates also, indicating the approximate position of the object and, if applicable, the width and height sides. For rectangles, rounded rectangles, and ovals, when the Rotation angle is less than ±45° from 90° or 270°, the Vectorworks software automatically swaps the height and width markers for the Box Position indicator and the values in the Height and Width fields.

Different object coordinates display for an object depending on its plane, position, and plan rotation.

When a Vectorworks Design Series product is installed, the coordinates menu preference also affects the display of coordinates in rotated plan view (see Rotating the Plan).

Some 3D objects, such as 3D polygons, NURBS curves, meshes, 3D symbols, spheres, cones, hemispheres, and 3D loci, can display coordinates relative to the layer plane (X, Y, Z)—also called the user coordinate system—or the active working plane (X’, Y’,Z’), when a working plane is selected. Click the planes button to change the relative coordinate display.

Some symbols are page-based at creation or upon import. These do not display a Box Position indicator in the Object Info palette. (The object can only be resized symmetrically.) The coordinates are relative to the screen plane (X and Y), and 2D/3D symbols also show the Z coordinate for a streamlined workflow between views.

Some objects, such as lines and walls, can display and edit selected object information in either Cartesian or polar mode.

Viewing and Editing Single and Multiple Objects

The Shape tab allows either single or multiple objects to be edited.

To view and edit object information for a single object:

1. Select Window > Palettes > Object Info.

The Object Info palette opens.

2. Click the Shape tab.

3. Select the desired object.

Editable information for that object is displayed.

4. Change the desired information, using the keys as follows:

To view and edit object information for multiple objects:

1. Select Window > Palettes > Object Info.

The Object Info palette opens.

2. Click the Shape tab.

3. Select the desired objects.

4. To edit each object in a selection separately, click Multiple Edit. This switches to Individual Edit mode. Once in Individual Edit mode, use the Next arrow button to move forward through the selected objects and the Previous arrow button to move backward through the selections. Each object highlights briefly as it is selected. To be sure which object is currently selected, click the center circular button to highlight it again. If either arrow appears dimmed, the end of the selected objects in that order has been reached.

Alternatively, select multiple objects of the same type, and then modify them at one time in Multiple Edit mode. When several objects of the same type have been selected, the palette operates in “batch” editing mode. If the parameter settings of the objects are different, the field displays as blank, or a check box displays with an “indeterminate state.” Any parameter edits affect all the selected objects in multiple edit mode.

Some objects have more editable fields than others. If the Object Info palette is not fully extended when an object of this type is selected, scroll options are provided. To scroll up and down, click the scroll arrows, any area of the scroll bar, or click-drag the scroll box (Windows) or scroller (Mac).

Editing Vertex-Based Objects

For vertex-based objects, functionality similar to the Reshape tool is available from the Object Info palette Shape tab, where values can be entered to move vertices (or the entire object) rather than manipulating them graphically with the tool. Similarly, click the buttons to add, delete, change the vertex type, or hide the next edge; the selected vertex is affected.

Use either the Selection tool or the Reshape tool from the Basic palette to select a vertex to edit. With the tool selected, Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on the vertex (if the SmartCursor is enabled, it snaps to each vertex and identifies the vertex type to assist with selection) and select Select Vertex in Object Info Palette from the context menu.

For certain vertex-based objects, you may first need to select the item and select an edit command to enter object editing mode. A colored border around the drawing window indicates editing mode is active (see Object Editing Mode).

The X and Y coordinates of the selected vertex display for editing in the Object Info palette.

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Creating Layers

Creating Classes

The Object Info Palette

Using Arithmetic Expressions

2D Reshape Modes

Data Tab

Render Tab

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