Shift key in chaining

[Programinator]

I was reading in the help menu about holding down the shift key while chaining. It is suppose to make it quicker somehow but i could not tell the difference.

 

What exactly is it suppose to do when the shift key is held down.

[cobra95kev]

I use the shift key when selecting entities and it will select all connected entities in that chain.

 

Is that what you mean?

[Thad]

Holding down shift will select the entire chain. Holding down shift, then selecting the first entity, then the last, will select a partial chain.

 

If the chain is only one entity, you won't see any difference when using shift to select. Also, unless you have plane mask set in the "All" option, you'll get hung up on branch points. That's where AI Utility comes in handy.

 

Thad

[CNCme]

Good Day,

 

The shift key is used during general selection

which defaults to single and window.

By depressing the shift key it will allow connected entities to be selected using chain,

without changing the default selection type

( single and window )

 

Tony G

CNCme Engineering

X Beta Site

SO Almost Employed Senior Programmer

N.E Massachusetts - Southern New Hampshire

_________________________________________

End mills and tooling are like The "AMMO"

And coolant and chips are like the enemy

Under your boots as you advance in the

Manufacturing Battle

-------------------------------------------------

[3R!< W3NG3R]

Just to clarify shawn, this is used in pre-selection only. And like Thad said, it works best with the plane mask enabled.

[Thad]

quote:

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this is used in pre-selection only

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I'm glad you mentioned that, Eric, I was thinking along the lines of selecting chains to change color, levels, Xform, etc, not toolpath chaining.

 

If you want to bring the chain manager up to select things for non-toolpath purposes (which isn't currently an option in MC), use AI Utility. Then you'll have the Cplane/3D option when selecting.

 

Thad

[Programinator]

I am talking about chaining for toolpath purposes only.

 

Does it mater if your in c-plane or 3d?

 

I tried holding the shift key and clicking the first and last entity but that didnt work.

 

It seems like it just works the same as if you were not holding the shift key down.

 

[3R!< W3NG3R]

Shawn, you are a little misinformed. For toolpaths, you use the chaining dialog box and shift will do nothing. For partial chains here, click on the partial chain button in the dialog box. You cannot pre chain for toolpaths either.

[Steve Landkamer]

Below is what I put in our Tech Tip back in June in our customer newsletter: http://www.cadcamsolutions.net/enews/2007/...07.htm#Tech-Tip

 

To select entities using the Chain selection method, hold down the Shift key and select a single entity that is part of a chain of other entities. Alternatively, you can choose Chain from the Selection Methods drop-down list and click an entity that is connected to other entities. For example, clicking one side of a rectangle selects all four sides and clicking one line that is connected to another selects both lines.

 

To select entities using the Partial Chain selection method, hold down the Shift key and select a single entity that is part of a chain of other entities. This first selection also specifies the chaining direction, so be careful where you click. Keeping the Shift key down, select the last entity in the chain.

 

To select entities using the Vector selection method, hold down the Alt key, click the first point of the intended vector, and continue clicking points to draw lines through each of the entities you want to select. You can double click the last point or intersect the vector lines and let go of the Alt key to complete the vector selection. Alternatively, you can choose Vector from the Selection Methods drop-down list and draw a vector line through all the entities you want to select.

 

To select multiple entities using the Area selection method, hold down the Shift key and click inside the outermost entity, but outside the inside entities. Alternatively, you can choose Area from the Selection Methods drop-down list and click inside the outermost entity, but outside the inside entities. Note: Make sure that your cursor is not close enough to an entity to highlight it before you click.

[CNCme]

Good Day,

 

Thad

What is the "AI utility" ????

 

 

Tony G

CNCme Engineering

X Beta Site

SO Almost Employed Senior Programmer

N.E Massachusetts - Southern New Hampshire

_________________________________________

End mills and tooling are like The "AMMO"

And coolant and chips are like the enemy

Under your boots as you advance in the

Manufacturing Battle

-------------------------------------------------

[Thad]

quote:

---

What is the "AI utility" ????

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It's a chook created by Takashi Sato here at the forum. Do a search and download the latest version. I'm in a hurry or I'd give you a link.

 

Thad