The Set Working Plane Tool lets you change the position and angle
of your Working Plane. You can set the Working Plane to any
location in 3D space that you need in order to accurately place
objects. There are two ways to set the Working Plane using this
tool. The first, and probably most common, is to define a plane
with three points. This method works with rendered objects as well
as wireframe objects. By working with wireframes, it saves you the
time of creating a rendering. It also allows you to reposition
the Working Plane somewhere besides the surface of an object.
The second method defines the Working Plane to a surface of an object. This method requires the object to be rendered and limits the placement of the Working Plane to a rendered object's surface.
Setting, and resetting, your Working Plane helps you take advantage of one of VectorWorks' unique features--the ability to draw in isometric views. You can set the Working Plane using either method in any solid rendering. However, to set the Working Plane to a surface of an object, the object must be rendered in a solid rendering.
Setting the Working Plane with Three Points
When you set the Working Plane with three points, you can define a plane that does not correspond to a particular surface of an object. This provides an added degree of flexibility while drawing. This method places the center of the Working Plane at the first point specified.
Note: This method is intended to precisely place the Working Plane. As such, you should use snap points to set the plane for the greatest accuracy.
To set the Working Plane with three points
The cursor becomes dashed cross-hairs
. The
cursor will change into a hard cross cursor
while setting the three points.
2. Click to set the first point.
This first point corresponds to the center of the Working Plane.
3. Click to set the second point.
This second point corresponds to the i axis.
Once you click on the third snap point, VectorWorks
automatically sets the
Working Plane to the plane that intersects all three points.
Setting the Working Plane to a Rendered Object's Surface
Though limited, this is the most commonly used method of setting the Working Plane for rendered objects. Although setting the Working Plane by three points will also work, it's much faster to use this method when the object is rendered.
To set the Working Plane to a rendered object's surface
You must be in a view other than Top/Plan, a projection other than 2D/Plan, and a rendering mode of either Quick, Solid, Shaded Solid, Solid - No Lines, or Final Shaded Solid.
2. Select the Set Working Plane Tool from the 3D Tools palette.
The cursor becomes a dashed cross-hairs. If the object is rendered in a mode other than QuickDraw 3D or wireframe, the cursor changes into a pointed finger when over the surface of an object.
3. Click on the surface that you want to use for defining the
Working Plane.
VectorWorks resets the Working Plane to the selected surface.
The Working Planes palette serves as the main control point for the working planes. With this palette, you can switch between working planes, name and save a Working Plane, and select existing working planes. When you combine these features with the Set Working Plane Tool and the Align Plane Tool, it's easy to see how VectorWorks can help you draw more accurately by controlling the placement and alignment of objects in 3D space.
Switching Between Working Planes
Unless you've changed it, the Working Planes palette lists the Working Plane as the Ground Plane. As you move the Working Plane in various stages of your drawing, VectorWorks automatically stores the last 10 settings. You can easily switch between these Working Plane settings. Also, you can name a Working Plane and it will be permanently stored as a part of the drawing. To switch between named Working Planes, simply double-click the name of the desired plane in the listing on the Working Planes palette. To switch between the most recent Working Planes, which are not named and were automatically stored, click on the left and right arrows on this palette.
Once you set the Working Plane, you can give it a name and permanently save it as a part of the drawing. When you save a Working Plane, you remove it from the lineup of Working Planes automatically saved by VectorWorks. This means that the left and right arrows will no longer include it during their cycling of the Working Planes and you must double-click the name of the Working Plane in the listing in order to switch to it. See "Switching Between Working Planes" for more information. Named working planes are saved in the order they are added.
To permanently save a Working Plane
The Working Planes palette appears.
2. Select the Working Plane you want to save.
The left and right arrows cycle the Drawing Area through the most recent Working Planes.
The Assign Name dialog box appears.
4. Enter a name for the Working Plane.
VectorWorks gives the Working Plane a default name. You can change this to whatever name you'd like to a limit of 20 characters.
Once you save a Working Plane, you can no longer access it using the arrow buttons. Instead, double-click the plane in the list of available Working Planes.
Deleting and Renaming Working Planes
With the exception of the Ground Plane, any named Working Plane in the drawing can be deleted or renamed. The Ground Plane is the default Working Plane common to all drawings. As such, it can not be deleted or renamed.
The Working Planes palette appears.
The Working Planes palette appears.
2. Select the desired Working Plane from the list.
The Assign Name dialog box appears.
4. Enter a new name for the Working Plane.
The name must be unique and no more than 20 characters.
Because planes are listed in the order that they are originally created, the renamed plane will still be listed in the same spot.
You also can change the way a Working Plane displays in your Drawing Area. At the bottom of the Working Planes palette are three buttons. These three buttons control how the Working Plane is viewed and how it interacts with certain tools and commands.
Aligning Objects on a Working Plane
One easy way to align two or more objects precisely to each other in 3D space is to align both of them to your Working Plane. This lets you move and rotate them relative to each other, all the while maintaining their precise alignment. You can align either rendered objects or wireframe objects.
To align an object to a Working Plane
2. Click the Align Plane Tool on the 3D Tools palette.
3. Click a location on the object you want to align with the origin of the Working Plane.
4. Click a second point on the object to define the x axis.
The line between the first and second points defines the x axis.
5. Click a third point on the object to define the y axis.
The line between the first and third points defines the y axis.
The object realigns itself to the Working Plane as defined by these points. It can now be moved along the Working Plane as desired and additional objects can also be aligned in the same manner. If you discover after you've realigned the object that the wrong surface is aligned to the Working Plane, you can use the 3D Mirror Tool to flip it, or you can use the 3D Rotate View Tool to rotate it. Both of these tools are found on the 3D Tools palette. See "Mirror" and "Rotate 3D View" , respectively, for more details.
There are two different ways you can move the Working Plane. You can use the mouse and the handles along the i, j, or k axes, or you can use the Move Working Plane command. The Move Working Plane command allows for exact placement of the Working Plane.
To move the Working Plane using the handles and mouse
You must be in a view other than Top/Plan to use the handles and mouse to move the Working Plane.
2. Select the 3D Selection Tool from the 3D Tools palette.
3. Position the cursor directly over the desired handle.
Placing the cursor directly over one of the outside handles will flip the plane along the corresponding axis, indicated by a small letter next to the cursor.
Placing the cursor directly over the center handle moves the entire plane in x, y space, indicated by the small letters next to the cursor. Pressing the Control key (Windows) or Option key (Macintosh) with the cursor near the handle moves the origin along the k axis, indicated by the small letter next to the cursor.
Pressing the Control (Windows) or Option (Macintosh) key while directly over the center handle moves the plane along the z axis, indicated by the small letter next to the cursor. Pressing the key with the cursor near the handle moves the origin along the k axis, indicated by the small letter next to the cursor.
To move the Working Plane with the Move Working Plane command
You can only use the Move Working Plane command when you are in a 3D projection mode.
2. Select Move Working Plane from the View menu.
The Move Working Plane dialog box appears.
There are two radio button selections here: x, y, z and i, j, k, corresponding to how the Working Plane is moved. The dialog box repopulates according to the choice made. If you select x, y, z, the Working Plane is moved in relation to the Ground Plane. For example, if the Working Plane is set at a 45 degree angle and you enter a value of 10 feet in the z axis text box, the Working Plane is moved straight up 10 feet.
If you select i, j, k, then the Working Plane is moved in relation to itself. Continuing the above example, entering 10 feet in the z axis text box will move the Working Plane 10 feet along the z axis, which would not be straight up in this case.
3. Click the Working Plane radio button.
The Working Plane offset controls become active.
4. Enter values for each desired offset control.
The offsets are for the i, j, and k axes. Entering a value in the boxes moves the Working Plane that distance along the specified axis. For example, entering a value of 1.5" in both the I Offset and J Offset boxes moves the working 1.5" along both the i and j axes.
You are returned to the Drawing Area and the Working Plane is moved according to the values entered.
The Rotate Working Plane command gives you the most precise way to rotate a Working Plane. Using degrees, minutes, and seconds, you can rotate the plane with absolute precision.
Note: The degree of accuracy of the values you can enter (degrees, minutes, and/or seconds) depend on your Units setting. See "Units" for more information on setting the units.
To rotate the Working Plane using the Rotate Working Plane command
The Rotate Working Plane dialog box appears.
2. Enter a value for the Rotation Angle text box.
3. Select a radio button for the rotation axis.
Options here include X, Y, and Z for rotating about a Ground Plane axis and I, J, and K for rotating about a Working Plane axis.
To rotate the Working Plane using the handles and mouse
You must be in a view other than Top/Plan to use the handles and mouse to rotate the Working Plane.
2. Select the 3D Selection Tool from the 3D Tools palette.
3. Position the cursor near the desired handle.
Placing the cursor near one of the outside handles will rotate the plane along the corresponding perpendicular axis, indicated by a small letter and a rotation arrow next to the cursor.
Placing the cursor near the center handle rotates the representation of the plane along the i, j space.
4. Click to begin rotating the plane.
The Working Plane will snap to standard preset angles when it's rotated close to them. These angles are 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees.
Note: You can quickly set the Working Plane using the Data Display Bar by tabbing across to the desired field and entering a value.