Editing Object Surfaces

VectorWorks has four commands for editing object surfaces: Intersect Surface, Add Surface, Combine into Surface, and Clip Surface. Use these commands with the following objects (see the Design Series User’s Guide for information about the Design Series objects).

 

VectorWorks Fundamentals Objects

 

2D primitive objects that can be filled and are not grouped (arcs, polygons, polylines, ovals, circles, rectangles)

Revision clouds

Floors

Roof faces

Pillars

VectorWorks Design Series Objects

 

Property lines	Redlines
Massing models	Stipples
Site modifiers	Seating layouts
Spaces	Hardscapes

If a combination of 2D and 2D/3D hybrid objects (such as floors or pillars) will be used in an operation, the view must be set to Top/Plan.

Intersect Surface

The Intersect Surface command provides an easy way to create a new object that is the exact size and shape of the overlapping area of two objects.

To intersect surfaces:

1.	Select the two overlapping objects to use to create a third object.

The new object’s properties are based on the object on the bottom of the stack of objects. If the bottom object is a 2D primitive (such as a rectangle or circle), the new object will have its attributes. If the bottom object is something other than a 2D primitive (such as a floor or pillar), the new object will be the same type, with the same properties. If necessary, use the Send command to stack the objects to produce the desired attributes or object type.

2.	Select Modify > Intersect Surface.

VectorWorks places the new object directly on top of the two original intersecting objects. To see the new object, select it and drag it to the side.

Add Surface

The Add Surface command creates a single object from two or more objects, as long as all of the following are true:

The objects are not symbols.

The objects touch or overlap each other.

The objects are not locked or grouped.

Note that any open polygons will be converted to closed polygons.

To add surfaces:

1.	Select the two or more objects to be combined.

The new object’s properties are based on the object on the bottom of the stack of objects. If the bottom object is a 2D primitive (such as a rectangle or circle), the new object will have its attributes. If the bottom object is something other than a 2D primitive (such as a floor or pillar), the new object will be the same type, with the same properties. If necessary, use the Send command to stack the objects to produce the desired attributes or object type.

2.	Select Modify > Add Surface.

Combine into Surface

The Combine into Surface command creates a new object that is formed from a group of objects. The objects must currently intersect and form a closed polygon or polyline shape. Depending on the types of objects selected and the location of the mouse click, you can create several different polygons or polylines from the same selection of objects. For example, with this set of three objects, the following polygon can be created:

To combine surfaces:

1.	Select the two or more closed objects to use to create a new polygon or polyline.

2.	Select Modify > Combine into Surface.

The cursor changes into a paint bucket.

3.	Place the paint bucket inside the area to be combined and click.

VectorWorks creates a single polygon or polyline object from the selected objects. The new object uses the current attributes.

Clip Surface

The Clip Surface command trims the bottom object in a selection so that any areas overlapped by the top object are cut out of it. Multiple objects can be used as clipping objects in one operation. Symbols and grouped objects cannot be clipped or be used as clipping objects.

If there is a stack of more than two overlapping objects, then each object under the clipping object (the top object in the stack) will be clipped.

There are two important things to remember about this command:

If the object to be clipped is an open polygon, it is automatically converted to a closed polygon before it is clipped.

Depending on the objects selected, the command may change the bottom object’s type; for example, if a hole is clipped into a rectangle, the “clipped” rectangle is automatically changed into a polyline.

To clip a surface:

1.	Ensure that the object to clip is the bottom object.

If necessary, change the objects’ order with the Send command (see Changing Object Stacking Order).

2.	Select the objects to clip.

3.	Select Modify > Clip Surface.

The bottom object is clipped; the clipping object can be deleted if it is no longer needed.