Maintain the insertion point whilst stretching the total length

[rustific41657]

Anyone
I have attached a picture of what i am trying to do. I would like to maintain the insertion point whilst stretching the total length. this length would be selected from a lookup list.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thankyou
Russell Hier

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

See if the following blog posting by Mark Douglas offers any help...

How do I keep my BASE POINT centered? (http://mdouglas.blogs.com/in_the_dynamic_interface/2005/07/how_do_i_keep_m.html)

Have a good one, Mike

[Rico]

Anyone
I have attached a picture of what i am trying to do. I would like to maintain the insertion point whilst stretching the total length. this length would be selected from a lookup list.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thankyou
Russell Hier
You can do two things for that.

1) You can stretch either side of your window at .5 distance multiplier each

OR

2) you can stretch one side and have a move action off of your main length distance for your basepoint with a .5 distance multiplier.

[pbrumberg]

Someone set me straight here, because I see an easy way to do this. But being that no one else has pointed it out I'm a bit confused as to why it doesn't work for this situation - call me dense.

Why not use a linear stretch pair with a midpoint base location? Then the sides move equally away from the centered basepoint leaving the original basepoint - well - centered!

[Rico]

2) you can stretch one side and have a move action off of your main length distance for your basepoint with a .5 distance multiplier.Further to this ....

If you link actions for the core linear parameter and turn off one grip (your choice which one) you can stretch the entire object equally from both sides using one grip only and have the core basepoint remain unmoved.

Add a lookup to this and you can add preset stretch points on top of the functionality you already have.

[Rico]

Someone set me straight here, because I see an easy way to do this. But being that no one else has pointed it out I'm a bit confused as to why it doesn't work for this situation - call me dense.

Why not use a linear stretch pair with a midpoint base location? Then the sides move equally away from the centered basepoint leaving the original basepoint - well - centered!
You don't NEED to use 2 linear parameters. If you set up your main parameter and have stretch actions (1 at an angle of 0 with a distance multiplier of .5 - and one with an angle of 180 with a distance multiplier of .5) you can acheive that and use 1 less parameter.

[pbrumberg]

You don't NEED to use 2 linear parameters. If you set up your main parameter and have stretch actions (1 at an angle of 0 with a distance multiplier of .5 - and one with an angle of 180 with a distance multiplier of .5) you can acheive that and use 1 less parameter.

I wasn't suggesting to use 2 linear parameters. The stretch pair uses only one parameter. It's one of the pre-set parameter/action sets on the tool pallette. In fact - I was just using something similar in the attached headed stud block (though the grips are turned off because I'm using a lookup). If you edit the block and turn the grips on you'll see what I was saying above.

[Rico]

I wasn't suggesting to use 2 linear parameters. The stretch pair uses only one parameter. It's one of the pre-set parameter/action sets on the tool pallette.sorry. stretch pair to me means two linear parameters. terminology mix up.

then it looks like we're saying the same thing. ;)

[pbrumberg]

uh - perhaps we are saying the same thing then. A lot of those preset action/parameter sets on the pallette are pretty useful.

[Rico]

uh - perhaps we are saying the same thing then. A lot of those preset action/parameter sets on the pallette are pretty useful.
Here's a drawing which contains the 3 ways that I know of to make this block happen.

Personally, I prefer doing it like "test3"

[Rico]

You can do two things for that.

1) You can stretch either side of your window at .5 distance multiplier each

OR

2) you can stretch one side and have a move action off of your main length distance for your basepoint with a .5 distance multiplier.
So I guess we can add another option ....

3) two linear parameters each with it's own stretch with the startpoints based on the midpoint of the drawing object.

[Rico]

uh - perhaps we are saying the same thing then. A lot of those preset action/parameter sets on the pallette are pretty useful.
I generally try to stay away from them. I'm a completist. I wanna know where everything is, why it's there and what it's doing ... doing everything up from scratch generally allows me to better understand my own DBs and helps me figure out the troubleshooting aspect of DBs.

But to each his reach. My method is not better than anyone's. It's just the way I prefer to do things.

[Chris.N]

I generally try to stay away from them. I'm a completist. I wanna know where everything is, why it's there and what it's doing ... doing everything up from scratch generally allows me to better understand my own DBs and helps me figure out the troubleshooting aspect of DBs.

But to each his reach. My method is not better than anyone's. It's just the way I prefer to do things.actually, i agree w/ Rico on this. i got disenfranchised with the 'preloaded' parameters to actions tab right after diving into DB's and haven't used them. i had too many problems with not being able to figure problems out while using those, and assembling the actions to the parameters the long way has been the easiest way to troubleshoot wonky behavior.

[Chris.N]

but, in addition to that, the nice thing about the preloads are, you can get a great idea on the basic combinations that are available to the DB's

[Rico]

actually, i agree w/ Rico on this. i got disenfranchised with the 'preloaded' parameters to actions tab right after diving into DB's and haven't used them. i had too many problems with not being able to figure problems out while using those, and assembling the actions to the parameters the long way has been the easiest way to troubleshoot wonky behavior.
ooooh .... disenfranchised. well aren't we the fancy pants ....

I guess the one thing you always wanna work towards with DBs is making things as simple as possible so that 6 months down the line, when you realize you wanna make a change to the block, you CAN make those changes with as little headbanging as possible. That's why I'm always trying to reduce the # of actions and parameters.

Stretching is a funny thing cuz you can make it complicated - but it doesn't need to be.

[Chris.N]

ooooh .... disenfranchised. well aren't we the fancy pants ....

I guess the one thing you always wanna work towards with DBs is making things as simple as possible so that 6 months down the line, when you realize you wanna make a change to the block, you CAN make those changes with as little headbanging as possible. That's why I'm always trying to reduce the # of actions and parameters.

Stretching is a funny thing cuz you can make it complicated - but it doesn't need to be.yes, yes we are! ;)

that's what i stress in my own processes, and also when helping others... keep it simple.

[pbrumberg]

I like simple, but for someone just getting into d-blocks those preloaded action/parameter sets are really helpful to get you going. I can build without using them now, but I wouldn't ever have gotten this far without a base to start from - just suggesting that they are useful for those people just starting to use d-blocks.

D-blocks seem so simple, and yet there are so many intricacies that make them difficult to completely understand sometimes.

[Rico]

I like simple, but for someone just getting into d-blocks those preloaded action/parameter sets are really helpful to get you going. I can build without using them now, but I wouldn't ever have gotten this far without a base to start from - just suggesting that they are useful for those people just starting to use d-blocks.

D-blocks seem so simple, and yet there are so many intricacies that make them difficult to completely understand sometimes.
Yeah, they can be pretty hard to grasp. Me and Chris had a good understanding when we started but it wasn't until we started sharing and challenging each other that we started to really get somewhere. We've helpoed each other and given each other interesting ideas on how to do this DB thing efficiently and creatively.

Would I be right there, Nibbe?