Action Plane

Source file: action-plane-group.htm

The action plane provides a means for placing points in 3D space and is a convenient plane on which to perform 2D functions.

The action plane's default position is the XY plane (Z=0), but it can be manipulated and placed around a scene, floated in space at different angles or fixed to strategic reference points on a surface.

	Set Set the action plane position and orientation.
	Visibility (Shift+A) Display or hide the action plane.
	Manipulator (Shift+C) Toggle the action plane manipulator widget.
	View From View the action plane from one of the six orthogonal directions.
	Previous Action Plane (Shift+B) Go the previous action plane view in the list.
	Next Action Plane (Shift+F) Go the next action plane view in the list.
	Saved Planes Save action planes, recall an action plane, and manage saved action planes.
	Quick Section Create a section through data about the action plane.
	Section Mode Switch between section modes.
	Section Manager (Shift+/) Manage section parameters.

You can adjust the action plane's appearance in PointModeller preferences on the View window > General tab.

Set the action plane

You can place the action plane in several ways with the Set tools, using various reference points or planes. To view an action plane you must click the Visibility button.

	Two Points in Plan Create a vertical action plane through two points that you select.
	Three Points Create an action plane that includes all three selected points. Tip:  Press A and pick a point in the view window to move the action plane to that point.
	From Plane Create an action plane by selecting a plane, surface or facet in view.
	From Selection Create an action plane from a selection of objects or primitives. Make the selection first.

• To set an action plane using the Two Points in Plan tool:

  1. View your data in a new view window.

  2. On the View ribbon tab, in the Action Plane group, select Two Points in Plan from the Set drop-down list.

  3. Click in the view window along the axis of the required action plane to set its starting point.

  4. Click again in the view window along the axis of the required action plane to set its end point. This will set a vertical action plane along that axis.

  5. Click Visibility or press Shift+A to display the action plane.

Note:  The action plane is not limited to the displayed grid; it extends to infinity in all directions.

Similarly you can place the action plane using one of the other options.

Move the action plane

You can reposition the action plane per your requirements with the Move to commands, also found on the Set drop-down.

	Move to Axes Shift the plane to the axes origin without changing its orientation.
	Move to Point (A+pick) Move the action plane to pass through a selected point without changing its orientation. Tip:  Press A and pick a point in the view window to move the action plane to that point.
	Move to Elevation Make the action plane horizontal, passing through a selected point.
	Move to Northing Make the action plane perpendicular to the north direction, passing through a selected point.
	Move to Easting Make the action plane perpendicular to the east direction, passing through a selected point.
	Horizontal to Current Plane Turn the action plane perpendicular to its current orientation about a horizontal axis.
	Vertical to Current Plane Turn the action plane perpendicular to its current orientation about a vertical axis.
	XY Put the action plane on the XY-plane of the view window's standard axes.
	YZ Put the action plane on the YZ-plane of the view window's standard axes.
	XZ Put the action plane on the XZ-plane of the view window's standard axes.
	Orient from View Place the action plane perpendicular to camera view direction or the user's viewpoint.

Operate the action plane manipulator

The action plane manipulator is a widget for manually moving and rotating the action plane .

On the View tab, in the Action Plane group, click on Manipulator, or press Shift+C.

Initially a white sphere appears, which follows the mouse around on the action plane. Click on the desired location to activate. The translate and rotate widget will appear, allowing adjustments. Drag the manipulator's rings and axis to reposition and re-orient the action plane.

Note:  The action plane can only be translated along its normal (i.e. in the direction of the manipulator's axis).

Tip:  Click on the white sphere or click on the button again to close the manipulator.

Predefined views

Predefined views enable you to view standard orientations with respect to the current placement of the action plane.

On the view window toolbar or the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the View From drop-down list, select one of the available views. To view the action plane from the front, you can also press Home.

Save, manage and restore action plane

Save any action plane position with a reference name, then recall it later as required.

Saving an action plane

Save an action plane as follows:

1. Load the required objects in a view window.

2. Do one of the following:

   • On the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the Saved Planes drop-down list select Save Action Plane.

     Or

   • Right-click in the view window to open he context menu, then hover over Saved Action Planes and click Save Action Plane.

3. Saved planes are listed under the Saved Planes menu. Planes saved in this manner are named XY, XY 2, XY 3 etc.

   

Loading a saved action plane

Load a saved action plane as follows:

1. Do one of the following:

   • On the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the Saved Planes drop-down list select an action plane.

   • Right-click in the view window hover over Saved Action Planes then select an action plane from the list.

   • On the View tab, in the Camera group, click Previous Action Plane to cycle through views in reverse order or Next Action Plane to cycle through views in the forward order.

2. The action plane will move to the loaded position.

Managing saved action planes

Manage saved action planes as follows:

1. Load the required objects in a view window.

2. Do one of the following to open the action plane manager.

   • On the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the Saved Planes drop-down list select Manager....

     Or

   • Right-click in the view window hover over Saved Action Planes then select Manager....

3. Enter a name for the saved action plane in the Name field.

4. Click the button to save the plane. The new action plane object will be added to the Saved Action Planes name list.

5. Click the button to remove the selected plane from the list.

6. Action planes can be imported or exported using the and buttons. Clicking the buttons brings up a browser window where the required location can be determined.

   Planes are saved with the extension .pln.

   

Tip:  Click Previous Action Plane (or press Shift+B) to cycle through previous action planes in reverse order, or Next Action Plane (or press Shift+F) to cycle through more recent action planes in forward order.

Sectioning

View data in sections to inspect an area of interest more easily.

Quick Section

The Quick Section tools enable you to quickly create action planes then create a section.

On the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the Quick Section drop-down list select one of the options.

	Quick Section Two Points in Plan (Ctrl+/) Pick two points to set a vertical action plane, then apply section mode. Note:  Quick Section Two Points in Plan (Ctrl+/) is also available from the Position and Filter tab, in the View group, as Quick Section.
	Quick Section Three Points Pick three points to set the action plane, then apply section mode.
	Quick Section From Plane Set an action plane using an existing plane, then apply section mode.
	Quick Section From Selection Set an action plane best fitting the selection, then apply section mode.
	Quick Section Move to Elevation Set a horizontal action plane at an elevation, then apply section mode.
	Quick Section Move to Northing Set a vertical action plane at a northing, then apply section mode.
	Quick Section Move to Easting Set a vertical action plane at an easting, then apply section mode.

XY Slice

The XY Slice tool allows you to quickly slice objects in a horizontal plane. The plane’s elevation is from the middle of the view's extents and the default slice thickness is 10 cm or  0.328 ft.

On the Position and Filter tab, in the View group, click XY Slice.

Section view mode

Section View mode enables you to view only a section or strip within the view window, with respect to the action plane. You can view section in front of, behind, or straddling the action plane. Advanced options provide more control on the strip sizing and increments.

You can use sections to check registration errors and to compare objects, such as as-built surface and design surfaces, more easily by hiding obstructing data.

To view a section:

1. Select the object.

2. On the Position and Filter tab, go to the View group or on the View tab, go to the Action Plane group. From the Section Mode drop-down list, select a section view:
   



• Back Side to view a section on the back side of the action plane.
• Front Side to view a section on the front side of the action plane.
• Strip to view a section straddling the action plane.

Section Manager

The section manager provides more precise adjustment of settings for each of the section modes.

Select Section Manager... from the view window toolbar, the View tab, or the Position and Filter tab in the Section Mode drop-down. Alternatively, press Shift+/.

Select a Mode to adjust from: Front Side, Back Side, Strip, or None. Adjust the Total width of the action plane. This is dependent on the selected mode type. For the Strip mode, the Total width will be divided equally between the Back and Front sections. For Front and Back modes, you can only change the front and back widths respectively. Force sections of block models or surfaces to always have zero widths using the Zero width section buttons. Assign a custom incremental step width, or use the Total width value. When you click the step Backward or Forward, the action plane will always shift by that set amount. Under Sectioned objects, select the objects to be sectioned: Drag an object into the Search field or type key characters to limit what is visible in the list below. Select the required objects from the list. Click to clear the field.

Sectioning Overview

Note:  This feature is only accessible from the view window toolbar.

When working with sections, it is easy to lose perspective and become disoriented with the view. The sectioning overview feature maintains a frame of reference by placing a thumbnail of the view window in the top right corner.

To activate the Sectioning Overview, click the button on the view window toolbar.

The thumbnail has the following characteristics:

• Displayed in plan view (looking down the Z axis).

• Oriented with north-up.

• Shows all visible data, per the visibility editor.

• Includes a representation of the action plane in actual orientation.

• Axes are displayed or hidden per the view window.

• Highlights any selections made in the view window.