9

Tape Helper 25
Selection
You can select a tape-measure object from either
end, or from the middle. When you click the
connecting line, b oth ends of the tape object
become selected so you can move them as one.
Note that the same is tr ue of t arget cameras and
lights.
Note: Line selection is available only when clicking
w ith the mouse. Region select ion doesn’t work
for this.
Tip: TheLengthreadoutofthetapeobjectis
displayed in the Modify panel only w hen you select
thetapeendoftheobject(asopposedtothetarget
or link line). You can lock the Length display by
activating the Pin Stack button while the tape end
is selected, and then proceed to adjust any part of
the tape object or any other object in your scene.
See also
MeasureDistanceTool(page2–15)
Pr ocedur es
To measure a distance:
1.
Click Tape and drag from one point to create
the tape, and then drag to a second point and
release the mouse button to create the target.
Thedistancebetweentapeandtargetappears
intheLengthfield.ThenumberintheLength
field is gray to indicate that this is a read-only
measurement.
Note: To snap the tape ends to object vertices,
edges and so on, turn on Snap (page 2–35) with
the appropriate snap settings act ivated.
2. Move either end to a new location. The line
between stretches to t he new distance, shown
in the Length field.
Note: For accurate results when moving a tape
endpoint with Snap, you must turn on Pivot
in the Snap Settings panel as well as the types
of sub-object you want to snap to; see Snaps
(page 2–41).Thisisbecausetheendpointsare
actua lly pivots.
To set a distance:
• TurnonSpecifyLengthintheParameters
rollout, enter a length, and then create the tape.
The connector line is the length you specified,
althou gh you can still set the t arget to any
offset by dragg ing. You can reorient this line as
required.
Note: Clearing Specify Length will adjust the
connector line length to meet the target and the
new length appears in the Length field.
Interfa ce
Parameters rollout
Lengt h—Specifiesthelengthofthetapeobject.
YoumustselecttheSpecifyLengthcheckboxto
enable this option.
Specify Length—A ctivates the Length parameter
setting. Otherwise the tape object’s length wil l be
specified by clicking and dragging in the viewport.