Paulji

Hi Chris, Yes. When creating a Wire Helix about axis wherever one clicks becomes the origin or base point (of the controls) for the Wire Helix. I'd strongly suggest that this behavior be corrected so that selecting an axis behaves like the other Wire Helix tool options regarding its starting point. The reason is simple. There is really no way to know where you are when you set a Click point on an axis. I've attached a short video to explain. Whenever you select an X, Y, or Z-Axis, the axis highlights. If you select the Z-Axis and move your cursor along that axis, the Input Palette does not change. The Z coordinate remains 0. If you move your cursor along the X or Y axis the Input Palette coordinates reflect the cursor movement however at coordinate 0 the highlighted axis changes to a different axis. If you attempt to use the Input Palette to enter a 0 coordinate for any axis it doesn't execute the command, you are forced to click on the axis. See attached. Click Point of Wire Helix about Axis.mp4 Since the tool prompt only asks: "Select axis of reference plane or a straight segment" one would assume that either by selecting and axis of the reference plane or by selecting a straight segment the operation would be the same for both selections. They are NOT. Selecting any point along a straight segment ... even if you select the last endpoint of the segment (ie. not the initial start point of the segment), the start point of the controls for the wire helix begin at the initial start point of the segment and follow the direction of the segment. So my recommendation is that the Wire Helix tool be changed so that if you select an axis, the start point for the helix be the 0-coordinate the axis selected. When you select the Wire Helix along Path type, wherever you click a point along the path and the Helix controls begin at the first endpoint of the path. The helix wire then follows the path's direction. There should be a consistent operation between Wire Helix about axis type and the Wire Helix along Path type. The manual states: "The axis can be a Cartesian axis or a segment of an object" The Cartesian axis of an custom or arbitrary plane can also be used. The problem with using an arbitrary plane is that only the X and Y axis are indicated. The Z axis is not. See attached. Would it be useful to be able to see the Z-axis? I don't know. In retrospect, if the Wire Helix tool only offered the Wire Helix about Axis type, then the Helix tool should have defined the LENGTH as HEIGHT. This would have been in keeping with the definitions used with the Cylinder and Cone tools. They ask for the Height not Length. Since however the Wire Helix tool includes the Wire Helix along Path type, there is no way to define the HEIGHT of a 3 dimensional complex path. One must ask for LENGTH. It would be helpful if the Manual contained a sketch describing the meaning of LENGTH via a diagram similar to the diagram shown in Kenth Agurell's book, "FormZ Desktop Companion: The Modeler with Renderzone version 4, p.42" See attached. Wow! If anyone knows how I can shrink these images so they don't look like billboards please let me know.

Setz, Thankyou for your response. I like that you use the independent scale tool in a side view to create a helix. I hadn't considered that method. I've given this some additional thought and looked at three methods of creating a helix. In the end, I made two strange discoveries while using the Wire Helix tool. They are highlighted below in red. First, I tried your method of using the independent scale tool. Please let me know if your method differs from what I've described? Method #1 - Rotate (Side View) plus Independent Scale: 1. On XY-Plane create Arc 1: Origin (0,0,0) : X' radius (counterclockwise) to create semi-circle. 2. Select Left View from the Navigation Tools 3. Draw V-Line from Arc's endpoint. Enter desired Height: Z' 4. Select T-Form > Rotate: a. Select Arc. b. Define start point of rotation about YZ-Plane. Snap to endpoint of arc. c. Define angle of Rotation: Snap on Y-axis. Rotate yellow rotation symbol and snap to endpoint of V-Line (Height). 5. Select T-Form > Independent Scale: a. Select entity to scale b. Define start of scale by snapping to the start point of the arc c. Snap to high endpoint of rotated arc. d. Snap to endpoint of V-Line Method #2 - Cylinder plus Derive Segment: 1. On XY-Plane Generate > Cylinder: a. Define Center Point b. Define Radius: X' c. Define Height d. Rotate Controls 180 degrees to create Half Cylinder 2. Select Navigation tools > Look at Face and click side face of Half Cylinder 3a. Draw 1 > V-Line from bottom right to top left of side face. Insert Option ON. 4a. Reshape > Reshape: Push Triangular face through Half Cylinder 5a. Derive > Derive Segment: Select curved segment. OR 3b. Draw 1 > V-Line from bottom right to top left of side face. Insert Option OFF. 4b. Edit > Extend tool: Set Distance. Click both ends of V-Line to extend beyond Cylinder face. 5b. Reference Planes > Define Reference Plane: Click on Half Cylinder face. 6b. Modify > Slice: Select Half Cyliner. Select V-Line. 7b. Delete top or bottom of sliced Half Cyliner. 8b. Derive > Derive Segment: Select curved segment. Method #3 - Wire Helix: 1. Derive 2 > Wire Helix: In Tool Options- Wire Helix: a. Check Wire Helix about Axis ON b. Enter X' Radius. c. Angle: 180 degrees. d. Length pop-up: Set to Total e. Length = Helix Height. NOTE !!: The formula for Length of a Helix = √ (Helix Height)²+(2πr)² ... however the Tool Options equates Length to the Helix Height !! This is quite confusing to me. Perhaps "Length" should be renamed "Height" Any comments on this would be appreciated. 2. Select Z-Axis on the XY-reference plane axis or vertical segment. 3. For some unknown reason the starting base of the Helix is not on the XY-reference plane but is some distance above the reference plane. You must move the starting point of the Helix along the Z-axis to the reference plane with the Move tool. 4. You can check whether the Helix height is correct with the Measure > Measure Distance tool. Set the "Also Measure Perpendicular" in the Tool Options. By far the Wire Helix method is the quickest way to create an accurate helix for a semi-circular ramp. The other methods work fine however they involve more steps than I'd like. I still hold the opinion that a feature added to FormZ where the Move tool could raise an endpoint perpendicular to the Reference Plane while maintaining the arc's curvature would be useful because of its simple and intuitive.

Oops!. Disregard when I wrote "A semi-circle is fairly simple in that your cycles are .5 and you multiply the vertical height you want by 2 to get the Length." That worked only for a specific set of circumstances. My mistake.

I've been somewhat struggling to understand how to create ramps using the Wire Helix tool and the Axial Sweep tool. My difficulty seems to be determining the correct Length of the wire given the Radius and # of Cycles to achieve a certain vertical dimension. Without a formula its more or less a trial and error to obtain the correct vertical dimension. A semi-circle is fairly simple in that your cycles are .5 and you multiply the vertical height you want by 2 to get the Length. What would be really helpful would be if the Tool Options for the Wire Helix had a Total Height option when the Wire Helix was created about Axis. That said, SketchUP has a wonderful feature where you can Move the end of an Arc along an Axis perpendicular to the Reference Plane and easily set the height of the arc. I'd like to recommend that FormZ add a similar feature to the Move tool so that the arc maintains it's curvature and raises an endpoint perpendicular to the Reference Plane. This would make creating a curved helix path for a ramp a breeze. _Drag Arc Perpendicular to Create Helix Path.mp4

Offset Segment allows you to select a segment or spline and offset it on a face. It also lets you offset a segment or spline off a face to another face or out in empty space. The offset however is one offset at a time. It might be useful if you could create a continuous or multiple copy offset.

Chris, Awesome you have that capability.

Hi Chris, It's probably my lack of understanding how one can rotate with the axis perpendicular to the reference plane through the CP, OC, or OO. I thought those axii were the objects axii which can be different from the coordinate system one is using. Secondly, I've incorrectly suggested toggling between perpendicular and parallel to the reference plane. Don't know what I was thinking. What I was envisioning was to be able with a Tap key to rotate the circular compass (I forget the term for that widget) so it re-orientated perpendicular to the active reference plane if desired. I believe SketchUp has that capability.

I'd like to suggest that an option to toggle between the Tool Options - Rotate dialog. There is the option to rotate relative to the Reference Plane. This has three sub-options: Click Point, Object Centroid, Object Origin. I agree that this may be useful in some instances. It would also be quite useful if a toggle between Parallel/Perpendicular to Reference Plane was available perhaps as an option within the Relative to the Reference Plane area of the Tool Options.

The Drawing Objects article of the FormZ v9 Manual states: "When working in a shaded view (Shaded Work or Shaded Full items in the Display menu), drawing can be performed on the visible faces of existing objects. When the cursor is positioned on a face of an object, a temporary reference plane, called a face reference plane, is automatically defined from the face of the object." When working in Wire Frame Display mode one can draw on another object's face however the process is more complex. Prior to selecting a tool from the Draw 1 or Shapes tool palette one must first select the Define Reference Plane tool. Then click on a face or click two segments (if using the Edit>2 Click Face/Object Selection option). This adds a new named reference plane to the Custom Reference Planes Palette. One is then able to draw on the new reference plane using a drawing tool from the Draw 1 or Shapes tool palette. Obviously, the automatic temporary reference plane created during Shaded Work or Shaded Full display modes is much more convenient. I'd like to request that a temporary "face" reference plane option be added when working in a Wire Frame Display mode.

Inserted entities show visually in Shaded Work mode as thinner lines. Grouped objects also show insertions clearly as thinner lines and independent co-planar segments as heavier lines. In Wire Frame mode there is no visual designation to distinguish whether a segment is inserted or co-planarly independent and on the face of another object. One method to distinguish whether a segment is inserted or independent is to hover one's cursor over it. Hovering over an independent segment highlights separately from the co-planar faces of objects on which they are drawn. This method works okay except when objects are grouped. It is simple to see whether Grouped objects contain inserted or non-inserted segments in Shaded Work mode but not in Wire Frame. It would be nice if there was a thinner designation for inserted segments in Wire Frame mode.

Setz, Excellent Idea!

allanjl, I've noticed the same issue with clipping planes. Sometimes renaming worked .... sometimes it didn't. Sometimes renaming clipping planes worked after closing Formz and re-Opening the file in Formz.

setz, Fabulous idea! I was thinking the Extend Tool Options might have a Dynamic toggle much like the Reshape Tool Options has now. It might look something like the attached. Would you like to make that suggestion on the Forum Suggestions? I would definitely second that motion. Good one.

I just happened upon a Youtube video by Evan Troxel that really helped me understand a clean method of relocating walls connected to non-colinear walls. The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyIyGF_asck The video title is: "Day 2 — Extend tool — Preview of FormZ Fundamentals" Evan pointed out that the Extend tool moves a face a given distance while "...keeping all the edges glued together". In other words, the edges of an object keep their planar orientation. On the other hand, the Reshape tool moves faces in a way that changes the planar orientation of the object's edges. It is for this reason that the Extend tool is superior to the Reshape tool when relocating walls attached to sidewalls. I'll go through the steps. 1. Select the Extend tool from the T-Form palette. 2. Set the desired distance in the Tool Options Extend dialog. (Note: This should be a positive number. Whichever face of the wall you select will grow larger.) 3. Pick the face of the wall. 4. In the Tool Options Extend dialog enter a negative (-) to the previous entered distance. 5. Rotate your view by using a middle mouse keyshortcut for the Set View command. 6. Pick the opposite face of the wall. 7. Using the Move tool move the door the same distance. See attached. Relocate wall_Skewed Side Walls.mp4

Justin, You are correct in that all the walls had been unioned together. Your method worked great. I had to select Frame>Inside only to select only the walls that had to be moved. Thanks.

ZTEK, Thanks for sharing. Very useful information. I also use Keyshortcuts extensively, however, I felt it was more appropriate in the video to show clicking icons. I've revised the video to show the process using key shortcuts. I use Ctrl+Middle Mouse for Set View. One doesn't leave the Pick tool command by using a key shortcut for the Set View. Stretch Wall with Key Shortcuts.mp4

Hi vva, Yes I know. I'm still experimenting. Discovered another way within the Shaded Work mode that works by preselecting faces. 1. Select a component door if necessary with Pick tool (Autopick) . 2. Change topological level to Faces. Pick one side of wall. 3. Set View to opposite side of wall. 4. Select Pick tool again and Shift click opposite side of wall. 5. Select Move tool and adjust as needed. 2020-05-02 21-45-49.mp4

Can anyone tell me what the Add Track command does? and how to use it? It can be found in the Attributes tab of Pick>Inspector when you check the small red dots. Can't seem to find it in the Manual.

Can anyone explain to me what the clone and unclone tools do? I've looked in the User Manual and cannot find any information. It might be available in other commands other than the new Rectangular Array? As far as I can tell the Key Shortcuts list does not include a command called Make Clone, Clone, or Unclone. I've seen somewhere an Unclone icon but don't remember where to find it or what is does. Thanks.

It would be nice if one could stretch 3D walls easily. This is something that architects often have to do. In the absence of a "stretch command" the following steps work fine. One cannot stretch a wall while in the Shaded Work mode. This is because of the fact that Pick Area selection does not select segments "hidden" in Shaded Work mode (as far as I can tell). Step 1: Select the Pick tool. In the Tools Options, set Topological level to Segments. Select Inside Only from the Frame pulldown. OR select the Pick Area tool. In the Tool Options, set Topological Level to Segments, pick a shape, deselect Pick Crossing. Step 2: Activate the Wire Frame Display mode. Step 3: Click-drag-release to form a marquee around only those segments of the wall you wish to stretch. Step 4: Select the Move tool. Move the wall segments as required. Step 5: Change to Shaded Work Display or other display modes as desired. See attached short mp4 video. 2020-05-01 18-58-10.mp4

When I re-loaded the _Arch_Key shortcuts_Formz-9.sct that I uploaded I get a strange error message. My apologies. Attached is another file to replace it. No error messages occur. ARCH_KEY SHORTCUTS_FORMZ V9.sct

Noticed a few errors. Reposting and added the ODS file. _Arch_Key Shortcuts_FormZ 9 Pro.ods _ARCH_ShortCuts_FormZ-9.sct ARCH_KEY SHORTCUTS_FORMZ 9 PRO.pdf

Attached are my architectural Key Shortcuts for FormZ 9 and Draft Layout. I hope this may be useful. If anyone would like the .ODS spreadsheet let me know, I think it may be too large to attache here. _ARCH_Layout Short Cuts.sct _ARCH_ShortCuts_FormZ-9.sct ARCH_KEY SHORTCUTS_DRAFT LAYOUT.pdf ARCH_KEY SHORTCUTS_FORMZ 9 PRO.pdf

There are two icons labeled as "Image Fit". (See attached). The one on the left side is equivalent to Place Image Fit in the Layout 9 User Manual. I cannot find a description of the Image Fit located on the very right side of the Content palette ("Image Fit-2"). The User manual does not describe this command. The prompts for Image Fit-2 indicates that it "Deletes selected entities". Preselecting entities are deactivated whenever I activate the Image Fit-2 command. Can anyone explain how to use the Image Fit-2 command?

I've not used FormZ Drafting much in the past as I would generally export 3D models into other software programs. Now, after seriously examining the Edit commands available for segments and entities drawn using the Draw 1 pop-out and the 2D Wall command of the Derive pop-out, it's a little disappointing that these tools (ie. Break, Break with Line, Close, Trim, Extend, Extend To, Connect Ends, Connect Lines/Wires, Join, Fit Fillet/Bevel, Remove Point, Insert Point, Insert Segment, Draw Tangent, Draw Perpendicular) ONLY APPLY to segments and not 2D Walls. I believe it would be a huge improvement to LAYOUT if 2D Walls could be edited similar to a program like ACAD. Example: The Extend to command would be great if it could extend 2D walls and automatically healed or cleaned up The Join or Trim commands would be great if 2D walls could be joined to their ends and automatically cleaned up (healed). I understand one can use Offset Outline and Offset Segment from the Derive pop-out and individually clean up walls with some effort but wouldn't it be nice to limit that tedium?