Intersect with Context

johnpa · 30 Aug 2009, 18:05

I am trying to understand when to use the three flavors of the Intersect commands found in the right click context menu. I understand Intersect with Model and Intersect with Selection but I can't figure out when or how you would use Intersect with Context. It is only visible in when you are editing a group or component. I have tried to set up a demo model to figure this out but haven't come up with what combination of surfaces, groups and components.

Does anyone out there have an explanation for when this command would be used and what exactly it does?

Thanks

JP

remus · 30 Aug 2009, 18:15

I think it basically means 'intersect with everything in the current group/component', although im prepared to be corrected having only found this out through messing around.

Gaieus · 31 Aug 2009, 06:47

That's it. Imagine a group also "touching" or "merging in" some other, outside geometry you don't want the inside geometry to interfere with. So you can go on editing the group, even making intersections inside without having to worry about it's geometry getting intersected with outside geometry as well. Only intersects within the editing context.

johnpa · 1 Sept 2009, 15:31

Thanks for the response. What you are saying makes sense. I just needed to get my head around the concept of context.

Is there anyway to make two different groups, components, or a group and a component intersect with each other without exploding them and then running the intersect command? I know BoolTools will do this but wanted to see if there was a way to do it with native SU.

JP

Gaieus · 2 Sept 2009, 05:50

No, unless you enter into a group's context > copy (or cut) everything, > exit > enter the other group's context > paste (or paste in place) but then although not with exploded geometry but you end up with the raw geometry being in the same context. But BoolTools will do the same after all - it will "unite" the two groups, too (and of course, additionally, do the "clean-up" after the intersection).

Intersection (the intersection lines appearing) always happen in the context you are in. If you "poke" a group into another one and run intersection without entering either, the lines will appear outside of both groups and in fact, neither will be affected (their geometry will remain intact). If you are "inside" either, the lines will appear (and cut the geometry) in that context.

johnpa · 3 Sept 2009, 12:54

Gai,

Thanks for the clarification. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I am one of those people that likes to understand why and how something works.

Regards,

JP

Gaieus · 4 Sept 2009, 08:42

@johnpa said:

I am one of those people that likes to understand why and how something works.

That's exactly how one can really learn the program (and avoid running into seemingly not understandable issues)