Creating an Object
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Creating an Object
Object Source Files
When you place an object in a model, the system records the addressee of the object in the model file. The address is the filename and directory path of the original source file that contains all the data defining the object. If you edit the source file, the changes are immediately reflected in all the models in which the object has been placed.
For example, suppose that you place an object representing a table in several models. If you later edit the object source file and add chairs around the table, the chairs are displayed in all the models as well.
The name of an object is the name of the source file.
IMPORTANT After you place an object in a model, do not move the source file out of the directory or delete it from the system. If you do so, the placed object will be missing from the model display.
Creating an Object
To create an object, simply design and save it as an ARC+ model. You may use any of the ARC+ entities, tools, and commands, and you may include other placed objects in the object you are creating.
If you intend to position, orient, or scale the object when you place it in another model, it is recommended to:
Set the origin point (0,0,0) at a convenient reference point of the design, e.g., the center or a corner
Set the X and Y axes along convenient reference lines, e.g., parallel to edges of the design
Design the object in a convenient reference size, e.g., 1 meter along each edge
When you place the object in a model, you can then set the position of its origin point, the direction of its axes relative to the xyz axes of the model, and scale factors to multiply the overall size of the object in the xyz dimensions (see Placing an object with rotation and scale, \plrot command).
Alternatively, you can design the object in its intended final location (xyz coordinates) in a larger project design. You can then place it in the larger model using the Placing an object in its original position and size (\fxplc) command.
You can also create an object source file by assembling it from selected entities that you have drawn in a model. This converts the selected entities into a placed object in the model, with an external source file that you can place in other models as well (see Assembling entities into a placed object, \asmbl command).
Where to Store the Source File
It is recommended to store the object source file either in your project directory (the same directory as the project) or in library directories (subdirectories of the system arcalib directory, see Adding objects to libraries).
If the object is stored in another directory, you can copy its source file to the project or library directory. The copied file is independent of the original. If you edit the original, the copy of the file and all models in which this copy has been placed remain unchanged.
Editing an Object
Because only the address of a placed object is stored in your model file, you cannot edit the components of the object directly in the model. You can delete, replace, or move a placed object in your model. You can copy a placed object using the Copying entities (\copy command, see Editing and manipulation). The copy is a second placed object linked to the same source file. When you place the object, you can rescale its overall size and rotate its orientation.
If you wish to modify the component entities of an object, then open its source file and edit it like any other ARC+ model. If the object is stored in a library, open and save it using the Library manager (\libedit) command. If the object is not stored in a library, then you can open and save it with the normal Opening (\open) and Saving (\save) commands, (see Files).
An alternative way to edit a placed object is to explode it to ordinary entities in your model (see Exploding a placed object to its component entities, \explod command). You can then edit the entities and reassemble them into an object source file (see Assembling entities into a placed object, \asmbl command).
Attributes of Placed Objects
Like any other entity, a placed object is inserted in the current working layer of ARC+, regardless of the original layers of the object’s components (see Layers).
By default, placed objects are displayed with their original color, line type, and line width. You can change these attributes with the Line attributes (\ualin and \uline, see Editing and manipulation if you wish). If you do this within your model, all lines of the placed object are changed to the new attributes. If you wish to change the attributes of only some lines of the object, open and edit the object source file.