Discovering Symbol Behavior and Handles - Intergraph Smart 3D - Help - Hexagon

SmartSketch Drawing Editor Help

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Intergraph Smart 3D
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SmartSketch Drawing Editor
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Smart 3D Version
13
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11

Symbols can display different types of behavior depending on how the symbol was created. When you drag a symbol into a document, you can check out different characteristics of the symbol to see what it can do.

Depending on how the symbol was created, some symbols automatically ungroup into individual elements in the document when you place the symbol. For example, if you place a symbol that contains a circle and a rectangle in a document, the symbol immediately ungroups. The parts of the symbol, the circle and rectangle, act as a separate circle and rectangle, not a symbol.

Labels

Some symbols have a label that appears as a question mark under the symbol. To change the text in the label, you can double-click the question mark. When the Attribute Viewer appears, you can then edit the text in the Value column and press Enter.

Commands on the Shortcut Menu

While the symbol is selected, right-click and look at the shortcut menu. Some symbols have special commands on the shortcut menu that run custom processes for the symbol. If the shortcut menu has Help, you can access a Help file that displays special information about the symbol.

Commands on the shortcut menu can also activate different representations of the same symbol. For example, you can access different representations of the same valve symbol, with a flanged globe, a welded globe, and so forth.

Drop Points

You can move the symbol around in the document with the Select Tool. You can discover special behaviors by dragging the symbol over an element or another symbol.

Some symbols automatically connect to other symbols. These symbols were created with drop points for symbol-to-symbol connections. When you click a drag point on a symbol and drag it over another symbol, the drop points appear as red dots. A bull's eye appears when you exactly align the drag point and drop point. You can then attach the symbol to the other at a precision point.

SSK_AVI_DROPPTSYM1

ToolTips

If you pass the pointer over the drop points on a symbol, you might see ToolTips. These ToolTips display special information about different parts or points on the symbol. For example, the serial number for networking diagramming equipment can appear in a ToolTip.

Custom Processes

Some symbols actually run special processes when you drag them, double-click them, or perform other actions. If you select the symbol and click the right mouse button, you might also see special custom commands for the symbol on the shortcut menu.

Displaying Attributes on an Element

Some symbols can display attributes that are assigned to an element. When you drag the symbol to the element with attributes, the symbol automatically displays the values of those attributes.

Handles

When you select a symbol, different handles appear on the symbol.

Some symbols have several different kinds of handles:

  • Black boxes on the outside corners of the range box lines represent scale handles (A). You can drag a scale handle to resize the entire symbol.

  • Yellow boxes in the middle of the range box lines represent standard parametric handles (B). You can drag a parametric handle to resize part of the symbol.

  • A green plus sign represents a mirror handle (C). You can drag a mirror handle to create a copy of the symbol directly horizontal or vertical to the original symbol.

  • A large green circle represents a rotate handle (D). You can drag this handle to rotate the entire symbol. Specific increments are displayed by the pointer while you rotate the symbol.

  • A series of small green circles represents drag points (E). You can use these points to attach the symbol at a precise point to another symbol or element.

  • A small green lock represents a lock handle (F). You can click the lock handle to unlock the symbol. Unlocking allows you to move a symbol away from the element to which the symbol was associated.

SHARED Tip A lock handle appears only if you drag the symbol to an element with one of the drag points on the symbol.

See Also

Mechanism Modeling
Placing Symbols
Create a Symbol
Attach a Symbol to Another Symbol with Drop Points
Attach a Connector to an Object
Connect Two Objects
Place a Symbol
Associate a Symbol with an Element