Discussion on placement

[drmacro]

...
Let us imagine I envision a broader scope so to say.
Expressing myself differently, this Move-tool I was whishing for would then be functional for anything, not only solids.
It est, it shall remember the original position for anything the user whish to move.

This macro addresses a particular need for imported geometry which, turns out, has some particular peculiarities.

As to more global things...and, no snark intended.

How many moves should your tool remember? 1, 2, 10?

I have always seen the movement of things to be a bit convoluted in FreeCAD.

A simple addition to the Transform dialog to allow the user to specify absolute or relative values would be a major step toward parity with other systems. (I suppose it could be argued that this is provided by Edit>Placement...)

Remembering moves would probably seen as a boon to some, but, superfluous to others. I'm not convinced either way.

[edwilliams16]

Now I have Undo working, it does remember was it was before the Macro was applied.

It will currently move a variety of Shapes to the origin - not just Solid but Shell, Compound and CompSolid (whatever they are!)
If there are other suitable objects, let me know. I have little experience importing stuff other than STLs.

[Pauvres_honteux]

How many moves should your tool remember? 1, 2, 10?

One is all it takes. If one needs moore remembered steps one can always fire up the macro again.

It will currently move a variety of Shapes to the origin - not just Solid but Shell, Compound and CompSolid (whatever they are!)
If there are other suitable objects, let me know. I have little experience importing stuff other than STLs.

There you go, it was possible! Brilliant work!
Perhaps points, lines, curves as well?
Don't know what category planes and surfaces belongs to? Shell?

[edwilliams16]

Perhaps points, lines, curves as well?
Don't know what category planes and surfaces belongs to? Shell?

If you want to provide some (simple) example files with objects you'd like to move, and which point on them you'd like to move to the origin, I can see if they are compatible with my approach. Anything I invent would be artificial.

[Pauvres_honteux]

... provide some (simple) example files with objects you'd like to move, and which point on them you'd like to move to the origin ...

Okey, let's start with the humble point:

Moving_a_cone_with_the_help_of_a_point.png (69.21 KiB) Viewed 1598 times

The aim here is to move an imported cone, arbitrary placed in space, with respect to another point (here: Coordinate_system_Zero). And fortunately the creator sent a point (here: Cone_center_point) centered at one end of it. If it had not been there from the beginning we would have to create one.

I imagine the user will make some kind of compound of the cone and the circle-centered point so they can somehow move together. Or if it is possible to incorporate that compound-making into your macro? Don't know if it must be persistent or if it can be just temporarily created and used?

Anyway, I further imagine one start your macro, then mark the compound (or if you incorporate it, the cone and point) then click on the target point and then click Apply.

[easyw-fc]

I imagine the user will make some kind of compound of the cone and the circle-centered point so they can somehow move together.

if you put it in a Part container, you can use my Aligner of Manipulator WB to rearrange the placement

[Pauvres_honteux]

... you can use my Aligner of Manipulator WB to rearrange the placement.

Perhaps you and edwilliams16 should coorporate to make the ultimate one-stop-shop and be-all-rule-them-all Move-tool then?
Us users would build temples with alters and start sacrificing to your honor if you coorporate with each other.

[drmacro]

I imagine the user will make some kind of compound of the cone and the circle-centered point so they can somehow move together.

if you put it in a Part container, you can use my Aligner of Manipulator WB to rearrange the placement

This whole discussion was predicated on the fact that an stl (and other import formats) go back to their original location if moved before being put in a Body.

Unless I am misinformed, you can't put a Std_Part into a Body.

So, the Manipulator workbench is great for Part workbench objects.

(And I guess my discussion of this in the Manipulator WB thread has been dismissed... )

[adrianinsaval]

The aim here is to move an imported cone, arbitrary placed in space, with respect to another point (here: Coordinate_system_Zero). And fortunately the creator sent a point (here: Cone_center_point) centered at one end of it. If it had not been there from the beginning we would have to create one.

I imagine the user will make some kind of compound of the cone and the circle-centered point so they can somehow move together. Or if it is possible to incorporate that compound-making into your macro? Don't know if it must be persistent or if it can be just temporarily created and used?

Anyway, I further imagine one start your macro, then mark the compound (or if you incorporate it, the cone and point) then click on the target point and then click Apply.

I'm curious to know what is the Placement Dialog missing to do this? maybe I didn't understand your intention

[Pauvres_honteux]

I'm curious to know what is the Placement Dialog missing to do this?

I forgot the most important detail: when the Move is performed, the helping geometry shall be released from the object of intrest (in this example, the cone) in such a way one can then remove/delete the helping geometry (in this case, a point) without affecting the subject of interests new placement.

To elaborate a bit more on this topic "Placement of imported geometry" I'd say my experience tells me ALL geometry from other CAD-system are hovering far out in deep space when imported. Further the imported geometry always lacks any kind of reference points and/or axis. Therfor I have always been forced to add some helping geometry to the imported geometry to be able to snap it to an axis system I have absolute control over.

I would go even further, and suggest you guys cooperate and allow all the Feature #4268 - Multi-Geometry Modal Selection and Deselection, in such a way that the user first attaches his/hers points/axis/planes in/on some smart places relative to the imported geometry, then start your Move tool and "box-select" the whole lot whereas everything gets automagicly treated as a single "thingie". Thereafter the user just picks start and end geometry in such a way the transformation doesn't become ambigous.

I currently haven't got any ideas on how to select start then end placement arguments. But as few clicks as possible wouldn't be wrong.