Redo not working when I put in custom transform attribute

[maclee7]

I am not sure if I am posting in the right section, very new to Maya... struggling with getting Redo to work. I am trying to copy a selection around a circle using a specific rotational value that I am adding in the rotation attributes section. When I do it manually the Redo Shift-D (using a Mac) works and I can easily copy it all around, but when I put the value in to get the exact rotation the Shift-D no longer works and I can't copy it around the circle. I have tried many other things like Control-Shift-D, using the top menu and picking Edit Redo, nothing works. 

Does anybody else have this issue? What am I doing wrong. I can't seem to figure it out. 

Thanks for any help! 

Lee

[sean.heasley]

Hi @maclee7 and welcome to the community!

I may need a screenshot to see exactly how you're trying to duplicate but here's an example for duplicating in a circle

First place the gizmo by pressing the 'D' key.(here I place it at 0,0).

Then decide how many you want so here a circle is 360 degrees and I want 10 copies so 360/10 = 36

 

 Let me know if this solves your issue!

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue, or reply with additional details if the problem persists.

Kudos are greatly appreciated. Everyone likes a thumbs up!

[maclee7]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me! So I did manage to find a work around, but it is a bit tricky. 

When I click on the object that I want to rotate and copy, if I press E and rotate it manually then I am able to Shift-D to copy that rotation around the circle, but if I put the actual rotation number in the settings like 13.3333 for example, then the Shift-D doesn't work and I can't replicate it. So what I do is I manually rotate it until the number becomes 13.3333 and then I can Shift-D. Maybe this is how it is done, but it would be easier if I could type the exact number in and then replicate from there instead of using my mouse to rotate it. 

Lee

[mspeer]

Hi!

Why not doing it easy?

Use Duplicate Special "Options".

Set a value for rotation then:

A) hit Duplicate Special and then use use Shift-D (works as long as you don't change focus), or

B) hit Apply as often as needed, or

C) enter the number of copies and hit "Duplicate Special" or "Apply".

[maclee7]

Yes I tried that but it says error there is no item to duplicate, but I didn’t do anything since adding in the rotation number… So basically I click on the item, on the right hand side under settings I put in the rotation of 13.333 then I either press command + shift + D or dropdown edit Duplicate Special or Duplicate with Transform and nothing happens. I just don’t understand what I am doing wrong with such a simple task. Do you think maybe because I have the student edition not all the options are active?

[maclee7]

Yes I tried that but it says error there is no item to duplicate, but I didn’t do anything since adding in the rotation number… So basically I click on the item, on the right hand side under settings I put in the rotation of 13.333 then I either press command + shift + D or dropdown edit Duplicate Special or Duplicate with Transform and nothing happens. I just don’t understand what I am doing wrong with such a simple task. Do you think maybe because I have the student edition not all the options are active?

[mspeer]

Hi!

There is nothing named "settings", so i'm not sure what you do, but you can't enter the rotation value before opening the tool (options-) window.

If you follow my instruction it should work.

Please upload screenshots (or a movie ) for every step you do and if possible add the scene-file.

[maclee7]

Hi mspeer, sorry that I wasn’t able to explain it properly maybe these screenshots will help explain.

So when I select the object and rotate manually with the mouse as below:



I am able to press shift-D and copy it around the axis



However, when I put in the number manually, see red arrow below



The redo command no longer allows me to continue the copy around the axis. It says error there is nothing to redo.

This is a bit frustrating because when I manually rotate I can’t get it to the exact spot I want which is why I want to put the rotation degrees in manually in the Transform Attributes, but then I have to recalculate it each time and add the degrees on each other to get them to continue on the circle which isn’t efficient.

Maybe the redo function isn’t activated when you put in manual attributes? Or maybe I am doing something wrong… I feel like this is such a simple thing I am struggling with!

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

Lee

[sean.heasley]

Hi @maclee7

There's no screenshots in your post, can you post them again?

If you're responding by email the pictures may not show so please be sure to go to the forums and insert them here 🙂

[maclee7]

Okay sorry about that! 

So when I select the object and rotate manually with the mouse as below:

I am able to press shift-D and copy it around the axis

However, when I put in the number manually, see red arrow below

The redo command no longer allows me to continue the copy around the axis. It says error there is nothing to redo. 

This is a bit frustrating because when I manually rotate I can’t get it to the exact spot I want which is why I want to put the rotation degrees in manually in the Transform Attributes, but then I have to recalculate it each time and add the degrees on each other to get them to continue on the circle which isn’t efficient. 

Maybe the redo function isn’t activated when you put in manual attributes? Or maybe I am doing something wrong… I feel like this is such a simple thing I am struggling with! 

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. 

Lee

[sean.heasley]

Ah ok, so I think I know what the issue is.

Once you have the initial mesh set up how you want it, be sure to go to Edit->Freeze Transformations.

Then if you duplicate it and rotate say 90 degrees and hit shift D it should duplicate how you want it to.

[maclee7]

Okay great! I can get it to reproduce and Redo now by going to the Edit and duplicate with transformation setting, however the Shift+D shortcut still doesn't work... Almost there! lol

[maclee7]

Actually sorry, the Shif+D shortcut does duplicate the object but not with the rotation. 

[sean.heasley]

Ok I'm not sure how shift D isn't working for you so I'll break it down to make sure we're on the same page 😛

1.) After mesh and pivot are set up go to Modify->Freeze Transformations

2.) Press 'Shift+D' to duplicate

3.) Rotate mesh X amount of units you want

4.) Press 'Shift+D' again until you have the amount needed

Let me know if steps work for you!

[sean.heasley]

Here's some screenshots as well

Freeze transformations

Press 'Shift+D' then rotate 90 degrees.

Press Shift+D two more times. Notice that it says 180 degrees so we can clearly say that it properly duplicated and added 90 degrees to each duplicate.

[maclee7]

Okay well I have to say this is a very frustrating thing, I wonder if somehow I disabled my keyboard shortcut? I did exactly what you said and I am able to redo the transformation but only when I use the dropdown menu as the Shift+D doesn't make it happen. 

Either way, at least I can get it to work even without the shortcut it isn't a huge deal to use the top menu it's not like I am doing it 100 times! 

Thanks for your help, I would have never thought to use the Freeze Transformation tool to make this happen. 

Lee

[sean.heasley]

No problem and if you want to get the hotkey back, try deleting your settings/preferences.

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

@maclee7 you are not doing what i suggested.

You only need one tool, just click on the options icon to open the options window for Duplicate Special, that's all:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2017/ENU/?guid=GUID-579BED6D-6DE4-4074-BCC8-2A8E813B8AE4

http://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2017/ENU/?guid=GUID-961B262B-F882-452C-B6A9-1B7F3AD8E0FE

you may also search the web for Duplicate Special Options (you will also find some videos)

[maclee7]

Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate. it. Opening the Special Duplicate Options Panel is what I needed. 

lee