Basic Object Operations

In this article:

• Creating an Object
• Selecting an Object
• Editing an Object
• Adding 3D Models 

In TerraExplorer you can add and edit graphic entities, each with its own styling properties. Objects include: labels, lines, polygons, 2D/ 3D shapes, 3D models, and buildings.
More about: Object operations > 

Creating an Object

1. Objects tab > Click the object you want to create.
   
2. Click and draw the object in the 3D Window. Right-click to finish. For 2D and 3D shapes, left-click to finish.

Selecting an Object

After selecting a single object, a yellow frame surrounds the object and the object’s property sheet opens. When selecting multiple objects, a yellow frame surrounds each of the selected objects and the Multi Edit property sheet opens.

Selecting a Single Object

• From Project Tree: In Project Tree, right-click object > from the shortcut menu, select Properties.
  OR
• From 3D Window: On Home tab, click Select > In 3D Window, select object.

Selecting Multiple Objects

• From Project Tree: In Project Tree, select the required objects (Use SHIFT and CTRL to select sequential and non-sequential tree items) > right-click > from the shortcut menu, select Properties.
• From 3D Window: On Home tab, click Select > Press and hold the CTRL key > In 3D Window, select each of the objects you want > In 3D Window, right-click and select Properties.
• From 3D Window (all objects in a selected area): On Home tab > Select > Area Selection > In 3D Window, draw area polygon by clicking (at least three points) and right-click to finish > In 3D Window, right-click and select Properties.

Editing an Object

1. Project Tree > Right-click object and select Properties.
2. On the top of the property sheet, click Edit Object  to edit the entire object. Then:
   •   To change the object’s altitude. Drag to required height.
   •   To move the object. Drag to required location.
   •   To move the object based on where the mouse is pointing (rather than according to XYZ offset).Drag to required location.
   •   To set position based on mouse and snap the object to another object. Drag to required location.
3. To edit object nodes (of polylines, 2D polygons, and 3D polygons), click Edit Nodes . Then:
   •   To move a node. Then click required node and drag to new location.
   •   To change node’s altitude. Then click required node and drag to new height.
   •   To move a node based on where the mouse is pointing (rather than according to XYZ offset). Then click required node and drag to new location.
   •   To set position based on mouse and snap the object to another object. Then click required node and drag to new location.
   • To delete a node, point to the node, right-click, and select Delete Node.
   • To add a node, point to one of the object’s lines, and click anywhere a red node appears.
4. Set properties such as color, altitude, timespan, tooltip, and texture in the object’s property sheet.

Adding 3D Models 

1. Objects tab > Click 3D Model.
2. In dialog, browse to the required file to load.
3. In the 3D Window, click mouse to define position of model’s pivot point on terrain.
4. Adjust the model’s position and size in the 3D Window or from property sheet. 
5. Using the property sheet, set the parameters of the 3D object.
6. Drag any of the three arrow resizers in/ out to adjust any of the model’s dimensions.