8

470 Chapter 7: Creating Copies and Arrays
• To make an array of a hierarchically linked
object, select all the objects in the hierarchy
before you click Array.
Using the Array Dialog
The Array dialog provides two main control areas
where you set the import ant par ameters: Array
Transformation and Array Dimensions.
You can set parameters in any order, but in practice
it’s useful to start with Array Transformation. This
creates the basic building block for the larger array,
as defined by A rray Dimensions.
These topics discuss specific strategies for using
these cont rols:
Creating Linear Arrays (page 1–472)
Creating Circular and Spiral Arrays (page 1–474)
See also
Array Dialog (p age 1–435)
Array Transformation
This area lists the active coordinate system
and t ransform center. It’s where you set the
transforms that define the f irst row of the array.
Youdecidehereonthedistance,rotation,orscale
of individual elements, and along what axes.
You then repeat this row in other dimensions to
produce the finished array.
Move, Rotate, and Scale Transforms
You set Move, Rot ate, and Scale parameters along
anyofthethreeaxesofthecurrentcoordinate
system.
• Move is set in cur rent units. Use a negative
valuetocreatethearrayinthenegative
direction of the axis.
• Rotate is set in degrees. Use a negative va lue to
create the array in a clockwise direction around
the axis.
• Scale is set as a percentage. 100 percent is full
size. Settings b elow 100 decrease the size, and
above 100 increase it.
Incremental and Totals
For each transform, you have the choice of whether
to apply the transforms successively to each newly
created element in the array or to the overall array.
Forexample,ifyousetIncremental>X>Moveto
120.0 and Array Dimensions > 1D > Count to 3,
the result is an array of three objects, each of whose
transform centers is 120.0 units apart. However,
if you set Totals > X > Move to 120.0 instead, the
three elements are spaced 40.0 units apart for a
total ar r ay length of 120.0 units.
• Click arrows on either side of the transform
labels to choose between Incremental or Totals.
Incremental and Totals settings are toggles for each
transform. When you set a value on one side, the
other side is unavailable. However, the unavailable
value updates to show the equivalent setting.
Incremental: Parameters set on this side apply to
individual objects in the array. Here are examples:
• An Incrementa l Move X sett ing of 25 specifies
aspacingof25unitsontheXaxisbetween
centers of arrayed objects.
• An Incremental Rotate Z setting of 30 specifies
a progressive rotation of 30 degrees on the Z
axis for each object in t he array. In the finished