Editing Objects - Concepts
Objects placed in AGi32 can be edited at any time after they are created. Only one object may be selected during any single Edit session. However, if you are interested in modifying the object surface properties (such as color/reflectance, texture, etc.), the Surface Edit command allows you to select multiple objects at once.
Each individual object type has both common and unique properties. Selecting an object with the Edit Object command will open a dialog specific to that object type.
All object properties displayed in the dialog may be modified. Non-geometric or surface modifications can be made without having to recalculate - Labeling, Description and Wireframe color. Surface modifications will require recalculation. Geometric modifications will also require recalculation and may require recreation, depending on the modification applied. For example, if you change the Height on a Round-Sphere-Object , the object needs to be recreated. When a object is recreated, its surface attributes default to their original parameters. Most importantly, flipped surfaces (surfaces whose normals were modified to face the opposite direction from their original specification) will be lost when the object is recreated. In these cases, simply flip the surfaces back with the Surface Edit command.
The Edit dialogs allow you to change the Geometric and General properties directly. A 3D preview of all object surfaces is shown in the dialog. To edit any of the surface attributes, click the Surface Edit button to show the Surface Edit dialog.
Curved Surfaces
AGi32 approximates curved surfaces with a series of rectangular planar objects (flat objects). The parameter specifying the angular increment used is Initial Curve Increment specified in the Advanced System Settings dialog. Increasing or decreasing this value will not affect the current object. You must recreate the object with the appropriate Add-Object command to change the number of panels in the object arcs.
Note: AGi32 automatically smooths adjacent surfaces composing a dome or arc, for presentation purposes in Render mode. If all that is desired is a smoother appearance, AGi32 provides that automatically. However, if you require more surfaces for calculation or geometric modeling purposes, then the Initial Curve Increment modification is necessary.