3D Studio 3.0 Help File: Lofter Command Columns
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    >INDEX
>1000 ( Shapes/Get/Shaper )
Shapes/Get/Shaper imports the assigned shape in the 2D Shaper 
and places it on the current path level.
>1010 ( Shapes/Get/Disk )
Shapes/Get/Disk imports a shape from disk and places it on the 
current path level.
>1020 ( Shapes/Get/Level )
Shapes/Get/Level copies a shape from another level on the path 
to the current level.  Click directly on the path level 
that contains the shape you want to copy.
>1030 ( Shapes/Put/Shaper )
Shapes/Put/Shaper copies the shape on the current path level 
and sends it to the 2D Shaper.  It places the shape copy, along 
with its hook, at the 0,0 origin of the 2D Shaper and makes it 
the assigned shape.
>1040 ( Shapes/Put/Disk )
Shapes/Put/Disk lets you copy the shape on the current path 
level, name it, and then save it to disk in a .shp file.
>1050 ( Shapes/Put/Level )
Shapes/Put/Level copies the shape on the current path level to 
another level.  Click directly on the level where you want to 
place the copy.
>1055 ( Shapes/Pick )
Shapes/Pick lets you change the current level on the path.  The 
current level appears as a small white tick mark.  Click directly 
on the level you want to make current. 
>1060 ( Shapes/Move )
Shapes/Move moves the shape on the current level of the 
path.  It doesn't let you move the shape "along" the path.  This 
command works only in the Shape viewport.
>1070 ( Shapes/Rotate )
Shapes/Rotate rotates the shape on the current level about the 
path.  This command works only in the Shape viewport.
>1075 ( Shapes/Scale )
Shapes/Scale scales the current shape to and from the path level 
on which the shape lies.  This command works only in 
the Shape viewport.
>1110 ( Shapes/Compare )
Shapes/Compare displays the shapes from two or more path 
levels in the Shape viewport so you can align their first 
vertices.  (Unaligned vertices result in twisted mesh objects.)  
The first vertex of the shape on the current level is black; the 
first vertex of the compared shape is green. 
>1111 ( Shapes/Center )
Shapes/Center centers the shape on the current level around its 
path step. 
>1112 ( Shapes/Align/Left )
Shapes/Align/Left aligns the left edge of the current shape with 
the center of a circular path for surface-of-revolution objects.
>1113 ( Shapes/Align/Right )
Shapes/Align/Right aligns the right edge of the current shape 
with the center of a circular path for surface-of-revolution 
objects.
>1100 ( Shapes/Delete )
Shapes/Delete deletes the shape on the current path level after 
first prompting you for confirmation.
>1115 ( Shapes/Steps )
Shapes/Steps sets the step value for all shapes.
>1400 ( Path/Get/Shaper )
Path/Get/Shaper replaces the current path with the assigned 
shape in the 2D Shaper, as long as the shape is made up of only 
one polygon.  3D Studio positions the assigned shape on the X/Z 
plane of the Top viewport.  The first vertex in the shape 
becomes the start vertex of the path, and the step value of the 
imported shape becomes the step value of the path.  
>1405 ( Path/Get/Disk )
Path/Get/Disk replaces the current path with a path stored 
in a .lft file or with a polyline stored in a .dxf file on disk. 
>1410 ( Path/Put )
Path/Put sends a copy of the path to the 2D Shaper and makes it 
the assigned shape.  Although it's a three-dimensional spline in 
the 3D Lofter, 3D Studio forces it into two dimensions in the 2D 
Shaper.
>1420 ( Path/Move Vertex )
Path/Move Vertex lets you move a vertex in the path and, 
optionally, alter its spline value.  If you move one end vertex 
over the other, 3D Studio gives you the option to close the path.
>1425 ( Path/Move Path )
Path/Move Path moves the entire path to a new location in 
3D space.  The shapes maintain their original position relative 
to the path, and 3D Studio updates all other viewports 
accordingly.
>1430 ( Path/Insert Vertex )
Path/Insert Vertex adds a vertex to the path anywhere 
between the start and end vertices, or after the end vertex.  
Inserting a vertex creates another segment, thus increasing the 
total number of path steps.
>1437 ( Path/2D Scale )
Path/2D Scale scales the path to or from its start vertex along 
the plane of the active viewport.  The status line displays the 
percentage of scale.
>1438 ( Path/3D Scale )
Path/3D Scale scales the path along all three dimensions to or 
from its start vertex.  It scales the path equally in all three 
dimensions.
>1432 ( Path/Skew )
Path/Skew skews the path about its start vertex on a plane 
parallel with the current viewport.  The status line displays the 
offset of the skew in units.
>1433 ( Path/Mirror )
Path/Mirror "flips" the path about its start vertex.  The direction 
of the flip depends on the cursor you use.  The four-arrow cursor 
flips the path along both axes; the horizontal cursor flips 
horizontally; and the vertical cursor flips vertically.
>1434 ( Path/Refine )
Path/Refine inserts a vertex anywhere in the path without 
altering its curvature.  Adding a vertex creates another segment, 
thus increasing the total number of path steps.
>1435 ( Path/SurfRev )
Path/SurfRev creates a circular path with which you can replace 
the current path.
>1440 ( Path/Helix )
Path/Helix creates a spiral-shaped path with which you can 
replace the current path.
>1445 ( Path/Rotate )
Path/Rotate rotates the path in 3D space about its start 
vertex.  The status line displays the angle of rotation from the 
path's previous position.
>1450 ( Path/Default Angle )
Path/Default Angle resets the path to its default angle after first 
prompting you for confirmation.
>1455 ( Path/Straighten )
Path/Straighten straightens an open path along the Z axis, 
unless you rotated the path using Path/Rotate, in which case it 
aligns the path perpendicular to the base of the original path.
>1460 ( Path/Default Path )
Path/Default Path replaces the current path with the default path 
after first prompting you.
>1465 ( Path/Open )
Path/Open opens a closed path by deleting one of its segments.  
The two end vertices become the start and end vertex of the new, 
open path, and 3D Studio renumbers the path levels accordingly.
>1470 ( Path/Delete Vertex )
Path/Delete Vertex deletes a vertex from the path, as long 
as the path contains at least three vertices.
>1475 ( Path/Steps )
Path/Steps sets the number of steps in each path segment (not 
the total number of steps along the path). 
>1240 ( Deform/Scale/Move )
Deform/Scale/Move lets you move a vertex on the blue spline of 
the Scale deformation grid and, optionally, alter its spline value.  
Scale deformation alters the scale of each cross section on the 
path, based on the position of the blue spline. 
>1241 ( Deform/Scale/Insert )
Deform/Scale/Insert lets you specify scale values at various 
locations on the Scale deformation grid by inserting vertices on 
its blue spline and adjusting their spline values. The vertices
you add do not affect the number of vertices on the path. Unlike
Deform/Scale/Refine, Insert changes the curvature of the
deformaton spline. 
>1248 ( Deform/Scale/Refine )
Deform/Scale/Refine inserts vertices on the blue spline of the 
Scale deformation grid without altering its curvature.
Caution: You cannot undo this command. You can delete the
vertices using Deform/Scale/Delete, but this alters the
curvature of the spline.
>1242 ( Deform/Scale/Delete )
Deform/Scale/Delete deletes a vertex on the blue spline of the 
Scale deformation grid, as long as it's not one of the end 
vertices.
>1243 ( Deform/Scale/Limits )
Deform/Scale/Limits sets the limits of scale, in percent.  3D 
Studio reconfigures the grid accordingly and displays the limits 
on the grid boundaries.
>1244 ( Deform/Scale/Reset )
Deform/Scale/Reset resets the blue spline on the Scale 
deformation grid to its default configuration.
>1247 ( Deform/Scale/Swap )
Deform/Scale/Swap switches the blue spline settings of the X-
axis grid with those of the Y-axis grid.
>1245 ( Deform/Scale/Symmetry/On )
Deform/Scale/Symmetry/On applies scale deformations to both 
the X-axis grid and Y-axis grid equally.  
>1246 ( Deform/Scale/Symmetry/Off )
Deform/Scale/Symmetry/Off applies scale deformations to the 
active Scale deformation viewport only.
>1260 ( Deform/Twist/Move )
Deform/Twist/Move lets you move a vertex on the blue spline of 
the Twist deformation grid and, optionally, alter its spline value.  
Twist deformation rotates each cross section about the axis of 
the path, based on the position of blue spline.
>1261 ( Deform/Twist/Insert )
Deform/Twist/Insert lets you specify twist values on the Twist 
deformation grid by inserting vertices on its blue spline and 
adjusting their spline values.
>1268 ( Deform/Twist/Refine )
Deform/Twist/Refine inserts vertices on the blue spline of the 
Twist deformation grid without altering its curvature.
>1262 ( Deform/Twist/Delete )
Deform/Twist/Delete deletes a vertex on the blue spline of 
the Twist deformation grid, as long as it's not one of the end 
vertices.
>1263 ( Deform/Twist/Limits )
Deform/Twist/Limits sets the limits of rotation, in degrees.  3D 
Studio reconfigures the grid accordingly and displays the limits 
on the grid boundaries.
>1264 ( Deform/Twist/Reset )
Deform/Twist/Reset resets the blue spline on the Twist 
deformation grid to its default configuration.
>1270 ( Deform/Teeter/Move )
Deform/Teeter/Move lets you move a vertex on the blue spline 
of the Teeter deformation grid and, optionally, alter its spline 
value.  Teeter deformation rotates each cross section of the path 
about the X or Y axes, based on the position of the blue spline.
>1271 ( Deform/Teeter/Insert )
Deform/Teeter/Insert lets you specify teeter values on the Teeter 
deformation grid by inserting vertices on its blue spline and 
adjusting their spline values.
>1278 ( Deform/Teeter/Refine )
Deform/Teeter/Refine inserts vertices on the blue spline of the 
Teeter deformation grid without altering its curvature.
>1272 ( Deform/Teeter/Delete )
Deform/Teeter/Delete deletes a vertex on the blue spline of the 
Teeter deformation grid, as long as it's not one of the end 
vertices.
>1273 ( Deform/Teeter/Limits )
Deform/Teeter/Limits sets the limits of rotation, in degrees.  3D 
Studio reconfigures the grid accordingly and displays the limits 
on the grid boundaries.
>1274 ( Deform/Teeter/Reset )
Deform/Teeter/Reset resets the blue spline on the Teeter 
deformation grid to its default configuration.
>1277 ( Deform/Teeter/Swap )
Deform/Teeter/Swap switches the blue spline settings of the X-
axis grid with those of the Y-axis grid.
>1275 ( Deform/Teeter/Symmetry/On )
Deform/Teeter/Symmetry/On applies teeter deformations to both 
the X-axis grid and Y-axis grid equally.
>1276 ( Deform/Teeter/Symmetry/Off )
Deform/Teeter/Symmetry/Off applies teeter deformations to the 
active Teeter deformation viewport only.
>1230 ( Deform/Bevel/Move )
Deform/Bevel/Move lets you move a vertex on the blue spline of 
the Bevel deformation grid and, optionally, alter its spline value.  
Bevel deformation alters the unit size of nested polygons in 
opposite directions, based on the position of the blue spline.
>1231 ( Deform/Bevel/Insert )
Deform/Bevel/Insert lets you specify bevel values on the Bevel 
deformation grid by inserting vertices on its blue spline and 
adjusting their spline values.
>1238 ( Deform/Bevel/Refine )
Deform/Bevel/Refine inserts vertices on the blue spline of 
the Bevel deformation grid without altering its curvature. 
>1232 ( Deform/Bevel/Delete )
Deform/Bevel/Delete deletes a vertex on the blue spline of the 
Bevel deformation grid, as long as it's not one of the end 
vertices.
>1233 ( Deform/Bevel/Limits )
Deform/Bevel/Limits sets the maximum number of units that the 
Bevel deformation grid can use.  3D Studio reconfigures the grid 
accordingly and displays the limits on the grid boundaries.
>1234 ( Deform/Bevel/Reset )
Deform/Bevel/Reset resets the blue spline on the Bevel 
deformation grid to its default configuration.
>1300 ( Deform/Fit/Get/Shaper )
Deform/Fit/Get/Shaper imports a fit polygon from the 2D 
Shaper and places it within the Fit deformation grid of the active 
Fit X or Fit Y viewport.  Fit deformation alters the size and 
shape of the path's cross sections, based on the profile of one or 
two "fit" polygons.
>1310 ( Deform/Fit/Get/Disk )
Deform/Fit/Get/Disk imports a fit polygon from disk and places 
it within the Fit deformation grid of the active Fit X or Fit Y 
viewport.
>1315 ( Deform/Fit/Put )
Deform/Fit/Put copies the fit polygon in the active Fit viewport, 
sends it to the 2D Shaper, and makes it the assigned shape.
>1317 ( Deform/Fit/Refine )
Deform/Fit/Refine inserts a vertex anywhere, in either of 
the Fit shapes, without altering its curvature.
>1320 ( Deform/Fit/Reset )
Deform/Fit/Reset clears the Fit X viewport, the Fit Y viewport, 
or both.
>1360 ( Deform/Fit/Swap )
Deform/Fit/Swap switches the fit polygons in the Fit X and Fit 
Y viewports, so that the polygon in the Fit X viewport appears 
in the Fit Y viewport and vice versa.
>1330 ( Deform/Fit/Symmetry/On )
Deform/Fit/Symmetry/On lets you use the same fit polygon for 
both X and Y axes. 
>1340 ( Deform/Fit/Symmetry/Off )
Deform/Fit/Symmetry/Off lets you use two different fit polygons 
for each X and Y axis. 
>1350 ( Deform/Fit/Gen Path )
Deform/Fit/Gen Path creates a new path so that the number 
of path levels matches the number of vertices in your fit shapes.
>9000 ( Deform/Preview )
Deform/Preview creates and displays a preview model of the 
resulting mesh object.
>2000 ( 3D Display/Choose )
3D Display/Choose lists all mesh objects in the 3D Editor.  Tag 
the objects you want to appear when 3D Display/On is active. 
>2010 ( 3D Display/On )
3D Display/On displays the objects you selected with 3D 
Display/Choose.  The objects appear in the orthographic and 
isometric viewports, along with the current model.  An asterisk 
appears next to this command when the display of mesh objects 
is on.
>2020 ( 3D Display/Off )
3D Display/Off turns off the display of all 3D mesh objects.  An 
asterisk appears next to this command when the display of mesh 
objects is off.
>1960 ( 3D Display/Const/Place )
3D Display/Const/Place moves the intersection of the 
construction planes.
>1970 ( 3D Display/Const/Show )
3D Display/Const/Show displays the construction planes.  An 
asterisk appears next to this command when the construction 
planes are on.
>1980 ( 3D Display/Const/Hide )
3D Display/Const/Hide turns off the construction planes.  An 
asterisk appears next to this command when the construction 
planes are off.
>1990 ( 3D Display/Const/Home )
3D Display/Const/Home moves the intersection of the 
construction planes to its default location.
>1800 ( 3D Display/Tape/Move )
3D Display/Tape/Move displays the tape measure (if it's not 
currently displayed), and then lets you adjust its length and 
angle by moving either end.  The status line displays its current 
length.
>1805 ( 3D Display/Tape/Find )
3D Display/Tape/Find rescales the tape measure icon to fill the 
active viewport.  This lets you find the tape measure when it's 
outside the boundaries of the viewport, or when the scale of the 
viewport makes it too small to be seen.
>1810 ( 3D Display/Tape/Show )
3D Display/Tape/Show displays the tape measure if it's currently 
hidden.  An asterisk appears next to this command when the 
tape measure is on. 
>1820 ( 3D Display/Tape/Hide )
3D Display/Tape/Hide hides the tape measure if it's currently 
displayed.  An asterisk appears next to this command when the 
tape measure icon is off.
>1830 ( 3D Display/Tape/Toggle VSnap )
3D Display/Tape/Toggle VSnap lets you turn VSnap mode on 
and off.  When VSnap is on (indicated by an asterisk), the 
selected end of the tape measure snaps to the nearest vertex, 
providing accurate measurement of geometry.
>2030 ( 3D Display/Speed/Fastdraw )
3D Display/Speed/Fastdraw turns Fastdraw mode on and off.  
When Fastdraw is on (indicated by an asterisk), objects appear 
with fewer faces, thus reducing redraw time.
>2040 ( 3D Display/Speed/Fulldraw )
3D Display/Speed/Fulldraw turns Fulldraw mode on and off.  
When Fulldraw is on (indicated by an asterisk), objects appear 
in normal display mode with all vertices and faces.
>2050 ( 3D Display/Speed/Set Fast )
3D Display/Speed/Set Fast sets the nth number of faces (from 2 
to 100) that appear when objects are displayed in Fastdraw 
mode.
>1280 ( Objects/Make )
Objects/Make lofts the model, converting it to a mesh object, 
which appears in the 3D Editor.  This command lets you name 
the object and set various parameters that affect the resulting 
mesh object.
>9000 (Objects/Preview)
Objects/Preview creates and displays a preview model of the 
resulting mesh object.
>99999 (EOF MARKER)

