Editing Objects

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Editing Objects Using the Mouse

This section describes how to edit objects in graphics windows. These objects are usually on the Terrain Model Surface. Examples of such objects are the terrain cursor, features, excavation polygons, blast holes, machines etc.

Pop Up Menus (Right Mouse Button)

Carefully click on an object or a group of selected objects with the right mouse button. A context-sensitive editing menu will pop up. Select an item from this menu with the mouse, and continue editing action.

Take care not to move the mouse while clicking the right button, otherwise the "Move Object" menu will appear (see next item).

To Select and Move an Object

•Simply click and hold the left mouse button with the mouse cursor positioned on an unselected object (or on a group of previously selected objects) in a Terrain Graphic Window. The object will highlight.

•Drag the mouse while continuing to hold the left button. The object will move over the terrain.

•Release the mouse button. The object will be at its new position.

Repeat the same action using the right mouse button instead of the left. The result will be the same, with the addition of a pop up menu appearing when the button is released. This menu will offer the choice of moving the object, in some cases copying the object, or canceling the operation.

If the right mouse button is clicked on an object and released without the mouse being moved, a different pop up menu will be shown. This menu allows various context-sensitive editing actions to be performed on each object. The options are chosen according to which object is selected. See the above item.

Selecting and Deselecting Objects

Objects may be selected in a number of different ways. Once selected, an object becomes highlighted and stays this way until it is deselected. Not all objects are selectable in this way. Examples of selectable objects are surface and data features, data points and blast holes.

Ways to select objects:

1.Carefully click the left mouse button with the mouse cursor positioned on the object. Take care not to move the mouse while it is being clicked. Otherwise the object will be selected and moved as above.

2.Use the rectangle and polygon selection options. These are located on the toolbar, and under the Edit menu. Follow the instructions on the status bar. Selection with these tool is additive i.e. objects selected are added to those already selected.

3.Click the left mouse button as in (1) above and also hold down the Shift key while the mouse button is being clicked. Doing this will add the newly selected object to the objects currently selected. (Note: objects already selected may be individually deselected in this way).

Ways to deselect all selected objects:

1.Click the left mouse button with the mouse cursor positioned away from any selected objects. All selected objects will then return to their normal "deselected" state.

2.Use the Edit/Deselect menu item or the Deselect item on the popup menu called up by clicking the right mouse button.

To deselect individual objects:

Click the left mouse button and also hold down the Shift key with the mouse cursor positioned on the object. Doing this will deselect a selected object. (Note: objects may also be individually selected in this way).

Selecting Objects under Crowded Screen Conditions

Under crowded screen conditions selection of a particular object can be difficult. This is due to other nearby objects being selected in its stead. To overcome this use the Ctrl key to eliminate objects from selection.

This works as follows:

•Begin as usual, click and hold with the left mouse button on the desired object. The object will highlight.

•If the wrong object is selected, continue to hold the left mouse button and press the Ctrl key on the keyboard.

•Release left mouse button, continue to hold Ctrl key. The object just selected is excluded from further selection.

•Again click and hold left mouse button on the desired object, with Ctrl key held. Another object will highlight.

•If the correct object is selected, release Ctrl key and continue editing the object.

•If the wrong object is again selected, repeat the above steps until the correct object is selected.

•The same method can be used with the right mouse button to select the correct object for further processing.

How to Edit Features and Polygons

Features and polygons may be moved as described above for all other objects. In addition features and polygons are "special objects" which have their own additional editing functions. These allow:

•Individual movement of points on the features or polygons, so altering the feature/polygon shape.

•Addition of points between existing points on a feature/polygon.

Edit Points Mode

To perform either of these actions, begin by:

•Click and hold left mouse button on the desired feature/polygon. The feature/polygon will highlight.

•Release the mouse button without moving the mouse. The feature/polygon will be redrawn and "handles" will appear at the feature/polygon points. The feature/polygon is then in edit points mode.

•To return to normal editing mode, click in the window away from the selected feature/polygon. The handles will disappear and the feature/polygon will be redrawn normally.

The redraw color depends on the Work Color selected in the Terrain Appearance Window. It is drawn in XOR graphics mode, so the actual color depends on both the color of the feature/polygon and on the Work Color.

Using the right mouse button instead of the left will offer options, including feature rotation.

To Move Feature/Polygon Points Using Handles

Highlighted handles are available for selecting and moving using the usual "click and drag" functionality.

To do this:

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oSelect the feature/polygon to be in edit points mode as described above.

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oClick and hold left mouse button on the desired handle in the feature/polygon. The handle will highlight.

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oDrag the mouse while continuing to hold the left button. The handle will move over the terrain and the feature/polygon segments connected to it will be redrawn continuously in their new positions.

oRelease the mouse button. The feature/polygon will keep in its new shape.

As usual, use of the right mouse button instead of the left will offer options at the end of the movement.

To Add Extra Points to a Feature/Polygon

oSelect the feature/polygon to be in edit points mode as described above.

oClick the left mouse button on the feature/polygon segment where point is inserted while holding down the Ctrl key. The new point will appear.

oRelease Ctrl key and continue to hold the left mouse button.

oMove the mouse with left button held down to move the new point, if desired.

oRelease the left button to fix the point at its new position.

As usual, this action can also be performed with the right mouse button to obtain an option menu at the end of the action.

To Graphically Create Features and Polygons

A feature is created by selecting the appropriate menu or toolbar item (e.g. Terrain/Create Features, or Excavate/fill / Draw inner polygon). Feature points connected by feature segments are then added with the mouse using the usual "point and click" method, with the right mouse button finishing the feature:

oMove the cursor to the start position of the new feature.

oClick the left mouse button to fix the first feature point.

oMove the mouse from this point to the next feature point. A "rubber band" line moves from this fixed point to the cursor position. This line is drawn on the terrain surface and shows the next feature segment.

oClick the left mouse button to fix the next feature point.

oRepeat the move and click operation for each needed segment.

oClick the right mouse button to finish the feature or polygon. This will link a polygon back to its starting point.

While creating a feature or polygon, the following keys are active:

Del or Backspace key – remove the last feature point.

Esc key – Cancel current feature, or cancel feature creation.

Using "Snap to" When Graphically Creating Features and Polygons

Pieces of other features and polygons can be included in a feature or polygon being created. This is done using "snap to" functionality described below. Examples of uses for this are:

oDrawing part of an inner excavation polygon along a terrain contour

oDrawing a dump line along a dragline dump radius

To Include Section of Existing Feature in a New Feature

This also applies to polygons.

oStart creating a feature or polygon as described above.

oMove the terrain cursor close to the feature whose section is to be included in the new feature. The terrain cursor should be placed on the start of the included section.

oPress and hold the Ctrl key

oClick the left mouse button while holding the Ctrl key. The cursor will move (i.e."snap") to the nearest point on the existing feature. This will only happen if the cursor is "close enough" to the existing feature.

oRelease the Ctrl key

oMove the mouse. The cursor will be bound to the "snapped to" feature. A section of this feature will highlight.

oClick the left mouse button to leave the feature. The feature section between mouse clicks will become part of the new feature.

oContinue moving and clicking to complete the feature.

Using "Snap to" Under Crowded Screen Conditions

Under crowded screen conditions selection of a particular feature to "snap to" can be difficult. This is due to other nearby features being selected in its stead. To overcome this use the Ctrl key to eliminate objects from selection. This is similar to the method of selecting objects under crowded screen conditions described above.

oBegin using "snap to" as described above. If the wrong snapped to feature is selected:

oPress and hold the Ctrl key again (the first Ctrl press was to select the "snap to" feature)

oClick the left mouse button with the Ctrl key held down i.e. this will be a second click with the Ctrl key held down.

oThe cursor will be released from the current "snapped to" feature.

oNow this released feature will not be available for "snap to".

oClick the left mouse button with the Ctrl key held down. This will snap to the "next nearest" feature.

oIf this feature is the correct one, select the feature section as above with the left mouse button (no Ctrl key).

oOtherwise eliminate this feature too using the Ctrl key with mouse click as above.