Groups/components
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i often create geometry; a cube for example; then copy it and rotate... once i have too many i wish i would have made it a component instead! my question is: how can i make one of my cubes into a component and get the rest of them updated to be copies of this component as well. is it possible?
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Make a cube, select it (all of it), then right click it and select "make component". Now windows > component and select the component, then add it to the model. When you "edit component", the changes will be reflected in all of components.
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thankyou, but i think you missunderstand me.
if i have 10 cubes in my scene, each one is copy of the first, now i want 10 cube components to replace the ones i have.
do you understand what i'm trying?
PS i'm just hoping but i realize it probably won't work.
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@honoluludesktop said:
unless what you are trying to do change the individual cubes in the model into a single component after the fact.
yes, but i want the individual cubes to be individual components not all one component.
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Sorry, must be too early in the morning here, I didn't get it
Is what you are trying to do, is to change the behavior of the individual cubes in the model into that of a component after the fact. Wow, are all the cubes the same? That would be a neat trick. -
Try this, I made it work in one instance. Select one cube and make it into <Component#1>, or what ever the current name is. Then select another cube, and when you are prompted for a component name, use <Component#1>. The system prompts you for approval, acknowledge, and the first selection is converted to the second, both named <Component#1>. I think.
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yes that worked, thanks. now i wish there was a way to do it for multiple instances at once.
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If only I'd known.
Apply To will do what you want. Make the first cube a component. If it's a group already, just right click on it and choose Make Component. Make the rest of the cubes components in the same way. Then, right click on the first and choose Component Definitions>Get Definition. Select all of the others, right click and choose Component Definitions>Apply Definition. Presto!
I almost never make groups when I am drawing. Even if the thing I'm drawing is the only one in the model, I make it a component. Invariably I'll want it to be a component at some point and it's easier to make it a component from the get go.
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SHUT UP!
thats it i'm just calling you next time Dave.
whats your number?
PS maybe you can riddle me this: if i group something the make it a component=no dialog, if i triple click geom. then make a component, dialog?
One other thing is it better to right click a component and save as OR... drag it from in model components to component library?
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Just throw up the signal on the clouds. I'll see it.
re: no dialog box. Maybe it's punishment for not making a component in the first place.
You can make some adjustments in the Entity Info box but if you want to assign other attributes such as cutting openings or Face Me, you'll need to explode the group and then Make it a component.As to which is better? I guess I would do the click and drag thing. Probably fewer key strokes. Epecially if you have a number of components to save from the model.
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thanks, i'm glad i could entertain you with my struggles.
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@dave r said:
...You can make some adjustments in the Entity Info box but if you want to assign other attributes such as cutting openings or Face Me, you'll need to explode the group and then Make it a component...
Or in the component browser > Right click on a component "In model" > Go to Properties. This willopen the component dialog missing when turning a group into a component.
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