Rotate-Move-Mirror Control

This chapter provides details for using the Rotate/Move/Mirror parameters to manipulate shapes within a PAM.

You can use the Rotate/Move/Mirror control to rotate, move, and mirror (flip) graphics in a Parameterized Artwork Macro (PAM). Operations are performed in the following order:

• Rotation about a point (default is 0,0)
• X and/or Y offset (move)
• Mirror about the X-axis
• Mirror about the Y-axis

Rotation is performed relative to a point defined in the source layout. The default is the origin (0,0) in the source layout. An arbitrary center for rotation can be defined by the intersection of two selected construction lines.

Mirror about the X-axis and mirror about the Y-axis are performed relative to the X,Y axis that goes through the defined point in the source layout (default is 0,0).

Rotation Angle

You can set the angle of rotation to be in either radians or degrees. The default is degrees.

The parameter you enter in this field enables you to set the selected shape at an angle when you place the shape in a Layout window. Exactly how the shape behaves when you insert it depends on where the shape was positioned relative to the defined center (default is 0,0) when the control was created.

For example (using the default of 0,0):

• If you place the shape at 0,0 when you create the PAM, the Angle offset parameter appears to spin the shape.
  
• If the shape is offset from 0,0 when you create the PAM, the Angle offset parameter produces a different effect.
  

If you are designing a more complicated PAM with several shapes that you want to rotate, and those shapes are in different locations, you could have a problem. It would be impossible to center all of the shapes on 0,0 in their respective locations. There are a number of easy ways to deal with this:

• You can define an alternate center for rotation. This is done by inserting two construction lines in the source layout that intersect. Select these construction lines along with any shapes to be operated on. Their intersection is used as the center (instead of the default of 0,0) for all actions.
• A shape does not have to start in its final position. You can place it at 0,0, apply rotation, then apply a move to relocate the shape to its desired position.
• You can move a shape to 0,0, apply rotation, then move the shape back to its original position.

In any case, after you move a shape into its proper position relative to the other shapes, you can apply any number of stretch, repeat or other operations to it.

Move

The parameters you enter in these fields enable you to move the shape when you place the shape in a Layout window. These parameters move a shape relative to the o riginal shape. Exactly how the shape behaves when you insert it depends on where the shape was positioned relative to the defined center (default is 0,0) when the control was created.

For example (using the default of 0,0):

• If you place the shape at 0,0 when you create the PAM, the X and Y offset parameters move the shape as shown here.
• If the shape is offset from 0,0 when you create the PAM, the X and Y offset parameters produce a different effect.
  
  
  The relative movement is the same, but the absolute position of the shape is determined by the starting position (relative to 0,0).
  

Mirror

The parameter you enter in these fields enable you to mirror the shape when you insert it in a Layout window.

As with the other Rotate/Move/Mirror parameters, exactly how the PAM behaves when you insert it depends on where the shape was positioned relative to the defined center (default is 0,0) when the control was created.

Control Order

You can use a Rotate/Move/Mirror control on shapes either before or after you use other controls. This control can operate on the original shape, or on the results of another control.

For example, you can rotate a shape and then repeat the shape.

or you can repeat a shape and then rotate the results of the repetition.