Duplicate Objects
The Duplicate Objects tool creates multiple instances of the same object along a broken line, or within a closed polygon shape area. For example, you may need to place street lights, phone booths, or bus stops along a section of a road, or place trees in a forest or park. The tool allows the user to set the basic graphic representation of the object and the spacing between the instances.
The output of a Duplicate Object operation is either a group of TerraExplorer objects or a Points layer that can be saved to a local data source (Shapefile format) and loaded as a Streaming or Entire layer.
Duplicate Objects Tool
To use the Duplicate Objects tool:
1. On the Tools tab, in the Draw Tool group, click Duplicate Objects. The Duplicate Objects dialog is displayed.
2. Select the Create as option:
Option |
Description |
Group |
Create a group with objects. |
Layer (Entire) |
Create feature layer under the application AppData. |
Layer (Streaming) |
Create streaming feature layer under the application AppData. |
3. Select the required Object Type, and then enter the other parameter values:
Parameter |
Description |
Object Type |
Type of object: Text/Image Label, 3D Model, Regular Polygon, or one of the 2D or 3D Shapes |
Scale |
Determines the dimensions of the object. |
File Name |
This property is only displayed when the Image Label or 3D Model object type is selected. Browse to the required file. |
Text |
This property is only displayed when the Text Label object type is selected. Type the required label text. |
Segments |
This property is only displayed when the Regular Polygon object type is selected. Type the number of sides required. |
Second Radius |
This property is only displayed when the Ellipse object type is selected. Type the required value. |
Height |
This property is only displayed when the Box Cone, Pyramid, Arrow, or Cylinder object type is selected. Type the required height. |
Spacing |
Type the required distance between every two objects. |
Max Random Offset |
If this property is larger than 0, the objects are placed at random distances from the required location up to the maximum parameter. |
Visibility Distance |
Set the visibility distance of the objects. |
4. Select one of the following methods of designating the placement of the duplicated objects:
Method |
Description |
Follow Line |
Duplicate the object along a line. Click Follow Line. Then in the 3D Window, left-click to place the line waypoints, and right-click to complete the line. |
Fill Area |
Duplicate the selected object inside the drawn polygon. Click Fill Area. Then in the 3D Window, left-click to set the line or polygon waypoint, and right-click to complete it. |
Selected Group |
Duplicate the object along all polylines or polygons in a selected group or layer. Select the required group or layer from the Project Tree and then click Selected Group. Note: Only first level polygons and polylines in an existing group are included. |
From Clipboard |
Duplicate the selected object based on a polyline or polygon clipboard object: § Polyline clipboard object - Object is duplicated along the line. § Polygon clipboard object - Object is duplicated inside the polygon. Click From Clipboard. |
5. In the 3D Window, left-click to place the line or polygon waypoints, and then right-click to complete the line or polygon.
6. If you want to modify additional parameters, in the Project Tree Window, right-click the duplication group and select Properties