Mirror

The Mirror function allows you to move or copy elements by mirror.

Note:

• To move or copy features by mirror inside a body, use the Mirror function in the Pattern section of the ribbon in the Solids tab.

Access

• In the Designer tab, click the icon in the Standard section of the ribbon.
• Type mirror in the Quick Search field and select Mirror from the result list.
• You may also use the Ctrl + M shortcut key. This key is defined by default but another key combination may have been selected. Refer to Shortcut keys for further information.

This opens the Mirror - Options tab which is displayed along with the ribbon containing the Options, Filters and Selection sections. In addition, the Mirror elements dialog box is displayed. See dialog box.

Procedure

In the following steps, confirmation by Right Mouse click may be required if Multi-select is active in the Selection options.

1. Using the Object selection filters, select the entities to mirror.
2. Using the Point selection filters, define the application point of the mirror.
3. Using the Direction options, select the mirror axis.

A preview is displayed with respect to the selected options.

4. Validate, either by a Right Mouse click or by clicking the icon in the dialog box.

Notes:

• You may use the [W] key of your keyboard to enable/disable the wireframe preview when bodies are moved.
• If the Move elements mode is active, you may use the [H] key of your keyboard to hide/show the original elements.

Dialog Box Options

The following options are available in the Mirror elements dialog box:

Top Toolbar

These two icons at the top of the dialog box allow you to Apply the current values or to Cancel the current function.

Preview generation is Automatic if this option is active in the dialog box menu accessed by clicking on the icon. If this option is not active, click on the icon. If preview generation is not possible, the icon is greyed out.

Elements to mirror

This field lists the identifiers of the selected elements.

Clicking on the icon switches back into the selection mode allowing you to modify your selection by selecting/unselecting elements in the graphic area. You may click the icon and then click Reset selection to reset your whole selection. If you want to delete elements within your selection, select the required elements and then click the icon above the list field. You may use the [Ctrl] + [A] shortcut to select all of the elements. Use the icon (or Right Mouse click) to Validate your selection. The icon (or [Esc]) cancels the selection mode. 

Mirror plane point

This option allows you to select the application point of the mirror.

Clicking on the icon switches back into the point selection mode allowing you to select another point in the graphic area.

Mirror plane direction

This option allows you to select the direction of the mirror plane.

Clicking on the icon switches into the axis/vector selection mode allowing you to select another direction in the graphic area, using the direction options, if required.

For both: Use the icon (or Right Mouse click) to Validate your selection. The icon (or [Esc]) cancels the selection mode. 

Options

In the following examples, the following elements were selected:

Mode:	This section allows you to define the mirror creation mode.
Move elements	Activate this option if you want to move the mirrored elements to a new location. This is shown in the following example where the selected entities are moved by 2D mirror according to the red point and direction arrow:
Copy elements	Activate this option if you want to make a mirror copy leaving the initially selected elements in place. This is shown in the following example where the selected entities are copied by 2D mirror according to the red point and direction arrow:
Type:	This section allows you to define the mirror type.
Mirror 2D	Select this option to apply a mirror with respect to a selected or user defined axis. In the following example, a 2D mirror copy is made according to the user defined axis indicated by the red arrow:
Mirror 3D	Select this option to apply a mirror in space. In this case, the mirror is made on a plane in the direction of the selected axis. In the following example, 3D mirror copy is made according to the user defined axis indicated by the red arrow:
Two directions	Activate this option to apply the mirror in a single step in two directions as shown in the following illustration where a two direction mirror was applied according to the red point and axis:
Create instance	This function is only available in Copy elements mode. If enabled, an association is created between the original elements and the copy. Any geometric modification made to one of them will also be applied to the copies. This is shown in the following example:
Retain attributes	This function is only available in Copy elements mode. If enabled, the created elements will have the same attributes (colour, line style and layer) as the initially selected ones. If this option is not active, the currently active attributes are applied. The following example shows the selected elements with the mirror plane point and direction: Result after final function validation if the Retain attributes option is disabled:

Information Field

The field at the bottom of the dialog box displays information about missing data, errors or actions.