About Instancing Objects
The placement of an artifact shape on a design sheet is called instancing. Use the Catalog Explorer or the buttons on the Diagramming tab to instance a shape for an artifact. After you have placed an instance, use the Properties dialog box or the Embedded Parameters area to set its parameters. You can use the Properties dialog box or the Properties tab to edit graphic properties of the instanced shape.
Place another instance of a shape by selecting it and clicking > > . The Select Shape dialog box opens. Select the shape from the list and click OK. You can also copy and paste a shape.
When you select a shape to instance, it appears attached to the pointer. To place the shape instance, right-click, and choose a command from the shortcut menu:
• Turn Left—Rotates the shape counterclockwise by 90°.
• Turn Right—Rotates the shape clockwise by 90°.
• Straight—Sets the shape to the original orientation.
• Set Rotation—Position the pointer over this option to display a submenu that includes the following options:
◦ 0°—Places the shape in its original orientation.
◦ +90°—Rotates the shape counterclockwise by 90°, relative to its original orientation.
◦ -90°—Rotates the shape clockwise by 90°, relative to its original orientation.
◦ 180°—Rotates the shape 180°, relative to its original orientation.
◦ Enter Value—Sets the angle of rotation. Either type the required degree of rotation into the
Angle box and click
, or click twice anywhere in the diagram. You can also use the Probe tools on the shortcut menu to set the angle.
Tip: Press SHIFT+click and drag or rotate the shape before placement without accessing the shortcut menu.
• Magnify—Enlarges the shapes before instancing:
◦ Rigid magnification maintains the aspect ratio.
◦ Differential magnification magnifies each dimension independently.
Click once for Rigid magnification and drag the pointer. Release the shape when the required size is reached. The current scale values are displayed in the
Xfac and
Yfac boxes at the top-right of the graphics window. Click anywhere to accept the magnification or for differential magnification, type a value in the
Xfac and
Yfac boxes and click
.
• MirrorH—Mirrors the shape horizontally.
• MirrorV—Mirrors the shape vertically.
• Drag by Port—Selects a reference datum port to drag the shape for placement:
◦ Next—Selects the next port press (or press CTRL+UP ARROW).
◦ Previous—Selects the previous port (or press CTRL+DOWN ARROW).
◦ Reset—Reverts to the original port.
◦ List—Select the port from a list (or press CTRL+L).
• Multiport—Opens the Existing Portshapes dialog box to select the shape to place another port.
Place Shape. The Select Shape dialog box opens. Select the shape from the list and click OK. You can also copy and paste a shape.