Transforming

[jackamus]

Some time ago I asked a question about 'Transforming'. My question was:

When setting up a rectangle using W and H to set the size, why, when it is turned 90deg, do not the W and the H also reverse? In other words why can't the W and H always refer to W and H no matter what way an object is rotated? To me it intuitive to assume the W is the width and that H is the height.

[rui_mac]

And, if the rectangle is rotated 45 degrees? Which one is considered the width and which one is considered the height? ;-)

Computers are very different than humans as we tend to adjust our considerations based on visual cues.

Computers base their "conclusions" on what the programmers tell them to do.

So, one would have to consider the rotation of the rectangle and, if the angle would lay between some values, it would then switch the axis.

But, what if I created a full set of corporate identity items and I wanted to arrange then in a sheet to maximize the paper space for printing? As soon as I rotate the business card or the envelope, it would switch the width and height!!

And that could only be possible with primitives. As soon as you have something that is "ungrupped", it is just a set of points connected by lines.

Would that also have to be considered for switching width & height? If not, the application would have to consider different cases for different types of objects and have to include much more complex code.

I understand your question but I'm only answering this from the programmers point of view, since I also do my own coding ;)

[jackamus]

I did consider this possibility but decided that since I was talking in terms of the X axis and the Y axis, which is universally accepted as being X horizontal and Y being vertical, I assumed that it could be applied to the W and H. This seems to work OK when you click Portrait or Landscape for page orientation so why not whatever shape you choose to rotate.

[rui_mac]

It is not as straightforward, when dealing with objects.
But I'm only speaking out of experience, with the type of programming that I do.

The code used by Serif is certainly different from mine. So, they are the ones that must chime in :)

[jackamus]

That's what I am hoping!

[Ben]

What you see in the transform panel is the properties of the current selection box. For one shape that will be the current transform state of the object.

When you group select, the box is an aligned box, until you move things. Try rotating, you will see that the only thing to change is the rotation angle in the transform tab.

 

I added a feature a while ago to allow you to reset the selection box. Press the . (Full stop) Key, and you will see that the box resets to being aligned and the height and width will be in xy coordinates.

[jackamus]

Thanks. The 'Full stop' is what I needed.