InStep - Help

Translate

This option opens up an input dialog box, prompting the user to supply the vector by which to translate the selected body. Prior to performing a translation, a body should be picked by either selecting the appropriate item in the tree view or in the 3D view.

The translation vector shall contain both magnitude and direction, therefore an input of "1,0,0" would move the selected body by 1 unit along the X axis only. An input of "2,1,3" would move it by a value of 2 units along X, 1 unit along Y and 3 units along Z.

Rotate

Similar to the translate option, this rotates the body in space. Rotations require a rotation point around which the body is rotated. The default value provided for the rotate point option is the center of the body though a different value can be specified. The angles around which the body is to be rotated are provided in terms of angle around the X,Y,Z axis. For example, a value of "10,20,30" would rotate the body first by 10 degrees around the X axis, then by 20 around the Y axis and finally by 30 degrees around the Z axis.

Scale

Similar to the previous items, the selected body can be scaled. Again, the scale is relative to a point (the default defines the center point which is appropriate if the body is to be simply scaled in size and not distorted). The scaling values also allow for a non-uniform scaling of the different components. Alternatively, a single value can be provided to perform a uniform scaling. For example both "2,2,2" and "2" will double the part in size however, a value of "2,0,0" will double the dimensions along X but reduce the Y and Z components to zero, effectively creating a line.

Dynamic Transform

The dynamic transform is useful when several items are present and they simply need to be shifted around or moved otherwise. The Dynamic Transform help menu has more details.