topic Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem in AutoCAD Forum

'Copy' subcommand problem

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 11:13:06 GMT

There's an image that I attached to this post, I think it would be better to take a glance at it and the read my problem.

When I try to stretch an array using the square grip at the top of polar array everything works fine except one thing, the 'Copy' subcommand isn't recognized as a command when I type 'c' or 'copy' and press enter despite the command palette showing that 'Base point', 'Copy', 'Undo' and 'Exit' are the valid subcommands that I can access by 'B', 'C', 'U' and 'E' respectively.

1) How can I stretch my array (stretching the radius of the polar array without changing size of array items themselves) and still have the original array ?

2) Why does the 'Copy' subcommand failing even when the command palette showing it's one of my options?

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Edwin.Rense — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 11:23:31 GMT

When you select the polar array, simply change the value for 'rows' in the Ribbon. this wil add an extra 'ring' of objects.
Change the value 'between' to set the distance.

I think the Copy option here is working as designed and does nothing.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Kent1Cooper — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:34:15 GMT

@Edwin.Rense wrote:

....

I think the Copy option here is working as designed and does nothing.

An option can't be designed to do nothing! @Anonymous is correct that in this, the Copy option does not work in the same way as in other grip-editing. For example, draw a Line, select it and pick on one of the endpoint grips, choose the Copy option, and you can make more Lines with the other end in common, but the original Line remains. It's the same with anything if you pick any grip, hit Enter for the Move mode, choose the Copy option, and you make additional copies, but the original object remains. That is not true in grip-editing a polar Array object with the radius grip. I would consider it a bug in the program.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Edwin.Rense — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:53:09 GMT

True, but we all know sometimes things don't work as expected.

Maybe it is a bug that there is nothing happening, but maybe with the 'new' functionality for array it is left over from the old days and has been decommissioned, but not disabled for this function.

Anyway, the need for the Copy option is no longer by using the ribbon settings.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Kent1Cooper — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:56:32 GMT

@Edwin.Rense wrote:

.... the need for the Copy option is no longer by using the ribbon settings.

Not necessarily. One might want several Copies but not at equal row spacing.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Edwin.Rense — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 13:36:46 GMT

But then, whats the point of using an array?
The basic fundamentals are equal objects at equal spacing.

Btw. the rectangular array does also have the 'copy' function but reverts back to move.

The hoover functions of the grips show complete other options.

The function 'Copy' does work i have found out.
Only you have to first pick the new basepoint and than you choose copy and pick a destination point to create a copy of the complete array.

It seems it was not meant to copy parts of the array but the array itself.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:31:16 GMT

I think @Kent1Cooper is right and this is a bug, is there any way to report this bug in order to notify the developers team?

Meanwhile, I think @Edwin.Rense solution is closest thing that I can do to fix this problem at some extents until this bug is fixed

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Kent1Cooper — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:53:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

.... is there any way to report this bug in order to notify the developers team? ....

Go to the >Product Feedback page<.

EDIT: You know there's something wrong with the programming of it when it doesn't even accept its own listed options, much less work with them in the way you expect. Selecting a polar Array object, and picking on its radius grip [the square one], it goes into:

** STRETCH RADIUS **
Specify radius or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]: C

Point or option keyword required.

Specify radius or [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit]:
Command: *Cancel*

I did not type in that C, but picked on Copy in the options in the prompt line. But the same happens if I type it.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Kent1Cooper — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 17:09:09 GMT

@Edwin.Rense wrote:

But then, whats the point of using an array?....

The Array is still appropriate for each ring of objects. I did the left side here by making copies in place and then adjusting each one's radius. They're not equally spaced in radius, so the total can't be a single Array object, but each ring is an Array object, so there is still a point in using an Array.

The Circles on the right were made from a starting Circle, grip-editing with a quadrant-point grip, using the Copy option, chosen from exactly the same options offered [Base point/Copy/Undo/eXit] as when trying to do the same with the Array to make copies at different radii. But though the prompts imply the possibility, the left side cannot be done that way.

Re: 'Copy' subcommand problem

Edwin.Rense — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 06:31:08 GMT

I agree, however the Copy function for both the circle and the array gives the same result. It creates a new entity.

Circle copy creates a new circle with an new diameter, and the polar array creates a new polar array with a new diameter.

Therefor the function does exactly the same for both objects.

The OP wants the copy function to have a different outcome. which is not possible.

Your solution is a good workaround to create the offset difference.

I have fiddled around with this and have found a way to keep all within one array with different offset:

This can only be done after creating the array with the edit function.

I have a circle which is arrayed. (6 in circumference, 4 in row)

Create a new object, in this case the exact same circle on the distance you want it to 'move' (for me 20).

Select the array

Click the 'Replace Item' button

select the newly created object -> <Enter>

Select the centerpoint of the array

Select each item you want to replace with the new object (with the distance from the center)

Exit the Array modify

The replaced items now have a different offset but it still remains one array.