Rotate Tool

The Rotate tool can rotate 2D and 3D objects in the drawing. However, if both 2D and 3D objects are selected, only the 2D objects are rotated.

When a 2D object is selected, the Rotate tool has no options in the Tool bar. Double-clicking the tool opens the Rotate Object dialog box as described in 2D Custom Rotation.

When a 3D object is selected, the Rotate tool has five rotation options in the Tool bar.

 

Mode	Description
Rotate	Rotates the selected object
Duplicate and Rotate	Creates a duplicate object and rotates it
Standard Rotation	Rotates the object about a defined axis
Alignment Rotation	Rotates the object by aligning it with another object
Rotate in Screen Plane	In conjunction with the other options, rotates the object parallel to the computer screen plane, rather than the working plane Rotate in Screen Plane cannot be used with wall objects. Also, the option has no effect when the drawing is in a view parallel to the screen plane, such as Top or Front.

2D Standard Rotation

 

To rotate a 2D object:

1.	Select the 2D object(s) to rotate.

2.	Click the Rotate tool from the Basic palette.

3.	Click to create a fulcrum line (a temporary handle to rotate the object).

4.	Click to end the fulcrum line.

5.	Move the cursor to rotate the object.

A preview object displays.

6.	Click to set the rotation.

3D Standard Rotation

 

To rotate a 3D object around a specified axis:

1.	Select the 3D object to rotate.

2.	Click the Rotate tool from the Basic palette.

3.	Select Rotate or Duplicate and Rotate from the Tool bar, depending on whether the original or a duplicate object is to be rotated.

4.	Select Standard Rotation from the Tool bar.

5.	By default, the rotation plane is parallel to the working plane. If desired, select Rotate in Screen Plane from the Tool bar to rotate in a plane parallel to the computer screen plane.

6.	Click to create a fulcrum line (a temporary handle to rotate the object).

7.	Click to end the fulcrum line.

8.	Move the cursor to rotate the object to the desired new position.

9.	Click to set the rotation.

The original object or its duplicate is rotated to the new position.

 

3D Rotation by Alignment

 

To rotate a 3D object by aligning it with another object:

1.	Select the 3D object to rotate.

2.	Select the Rotate tool from the Basic palette.

3.	Select Rotate or Duplicate and Rotate from the Tool bar, depending on whether the original or a duplicate object is to be rotated.

4.	Select Alignment Rotation from the Tool bar.

5.	By default, the rotation plane is parallel to the working plane. If desired, select Rotate in Screen Plane from the Tool bar to rotate in a plane parallel to the computer screen plane.

6.	Click to set the first point on the selected object.

7.	Click to set the second point on the selected object.

This defines the edge of the object that will be rotated by alignment and creates a fulcrum line.

8.	Click the desired point to align the object with.

The original object or its duplicate is rotated to the new position.