Set Reshape Element Mode

Activate the Reshaper tool and enter "reshape mode" using by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

In reshape mode, click on an area, line or point object and modify it in one of several ways. If you have difficulties using any of the methods, try using the method in a different view. A Properties of Object form will display with a number of Drawing Control options. The controls are assumed to be self-explanatory. Choose an option to assist in completing the object reshape operations described below.

• Reshaping Area Objects

  • Move an Area Object by Dragging.

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on the area object; a series of selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at all corners of the area object.

  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the area object to a new location.

  The area object retains its original shape; it is simply relocated.

  Note: When an area object is moved by dragging, the corner points of the area object are disconnected from any other objects to which they might have been connected. Thus reshaping the area object in this manner affects only the area object, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

  • Reshape an Area Object by Dragging a Corner.

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on one of the corner points of the area object.

  3. While holding down the left mouse button drag the corner point to a new location.

  The other corner points remain in their original locations; the area object takes on a different shape.

  Note: When the corner point of an area object is moved by dragging, the corner point is disconnected from any other objects to which it might have been connected. Thus reshaping the area object in this manner affects only the area object, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

  • Reshape an Area Object by Specifying Coordinates. Right click on one of the corner points of the area object. This accesses a form that can be used to modify the global X, Y and Z coordinates of the corner point. The other corner points remain in their original locations; the area object takes on a different shape.

  Note: When the corner point of an area object is moved by specifying coordinates, the corner point is disconnected from any other objects to which it might have been connected. Thus, reshaping the area object in this manner affects only  the area object, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

• Reshaping Line Objects

  • Move a Line Object by Dragging.

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on the line object. Selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at the ends of the line object.

  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the line to a new location.

  The line object retains its original length; it is simply relocated.

  Note: When a line object is moved by dragging, the end points of the line object are disconnected from any other objects to which they may have been connected. Thus reshaping the line object in this manner only affects the line object, not any of the surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

  • Reshape a Line Object by Dragging.

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on the line object. Selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at the ends of the line object.

  3. Left click on one of selection handles on the end points of the line object.

  4. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the end point to a new location.

  The other end point remains in its original location; the length or orientation of the line object changes.

  Note: When the end point of a line object is moved by dragging, the end point is disconnected from any other objects to which it may have been connected. Thus reshaping the line object in this manner only affects the line object not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

  • Reshape a Line Object by Specifying Coordinates.

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on the line object. Selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at the ends of the line object.  

  3. Right click on one of the end points of the line object (not the line object itself) to access the Move Coordinates form

  4. On the Move Coordinates form, modify the global X,  Y and Z coordinates of the end point.

  The other end point remains in its original location; the length of the line object changes.

  Note: When the end point of a line object is moved by specifying coordinates, the end point is disconnected from any other objects to which it may have been connected. Thus reshaping the line object in this manner only affects the line object, not any surrounding elements to which it may be connected.

• Reshaping Point Objects  

  • Move a Point Object by Dragging

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Left click on the point object. A selection handle (square that is the opposite color from the background color) appears on the point object.

  3. While holding down the left mouse button, drag the point to a new location.

  When a point object is moved by dragging, all of the objects connected to the point also move; they are either reoriented or resized, or both. Unlike area and line objects, the point object does not disconnect from the objects to which it is attached when it is reshaped/moved.

  • Move a Point Object by Specifying Coordinates

  1. Right click on the point object to access the Point Information form.

  2. On the Location Tab of the Point Information form, modify the global X or Y coordinates of the point.

  When a point object is moved by specifying coordinates, all of the objects connected to the point also move; they are either reoriented or resized, or both. Unlike area and line objects, the point object does not disconnect from the objects to which it is attached when it is reshaped/moved.

• Reshaping Dimension Lines

  Use the reshaper tool to move a dimension line to a new location. A dimension line can not be lengthen or shorten, even using the reshaper tool.

  Relocate a dimension line as follows:

  1. Set the Reshape Element Mode by clicking the Advanced > Draw  > Reshape Object command.

  2. Click on the line so that the selection handles (squares that are the opposite color from the background color) appear at the ends of the dimension line.

  3. Left click on the dimension line.  

  4. While holding down the left mouse button, drag it to a new location.

  The dimension line retains its original length; it is simply relocated. The leader lines are automatically adjusted as needed.

Deactivate the Reshaper tool and exit reshape mode using one of the following methods:

• Click the Advanced > Draw > Pointer command.  .

• Press the Esc key on your keyboard.

• Choose one of the drawing options from the Draw menu or the toolbar.

• Click on one of the select items in the Select menu.

• Run an analysis.