ArrayPath

Option

Associative

Determines whether an array entity is created or a series of copies of the selected entities.

The properties of array entities can be modified using the ARRAYEDIT command.

The default setting is saved by the ARRAYASSOCIATIVITY system variable.

Prompts you:

Create associative array? [Yes/No]<Yes>:

• Yes: An Array entity is created.

• No: A series of copies of the selected entities is created.

Method

Specifies how the selected entities are distributed along the path.

Prompts you:

Enter path method or [Divide/Measure]<Measure>:

• Divide: Distributes a specified number of items  evenly along the path.

• Measure: Places the items at a specified interval.

Base point

Sets the base point of the array. Items are placed relative to the base point.

Prompts you:

Enter base point:

Specify a point in the drawing.

Tangent direction

Determines how the items are aligned relative to the starting direction of the path.

Prompts you:

Select first point of tangent direction vector or [Normal]:

• 2 points: Specify two points to define the tangency of the first item relative to the starting direction of the path. Depending on the Align Items setting the other items are placed parallel to the first item or at the specified tangent direction relative to the direction of the path.
  
  

• Normal: Orients the Z direction of the first item with the starting direction of the path
  
  

Items

Specifies the number of items or the distance between items, depending on the Method setting.

Method = Divide:

Prompts you:

Enter number of items along path <xxx>:

Specify the number of items in the array.

Method = Measure:

Prompts you:

Enter the distance between items along path <xxx:

Specify a distance*.

Maximum items = xxx

Enter number of items or [Fill entire path] <xxx>:

Press Enter or choose an option:

• Enter a number of Items:  By default the items are placed along the entire path at the specified distance. This option allows to specify a smaller number if you only want to place items along a portion of the path.

• Fill entire path: The number of items is adjusted if the length of the path is modified (see: Grips Editing: Editing the path length).

Rows

Specifies the number of rows in the array, the distance between them and the incremental elevation.

Prompts you:

Enter the number of rows <1>:

Specify the number of rows.

Enter the distance between rows or [Total] <1.0>:

• Distance: specify the distance* between subsequent rows.

• Total: specify the distance* between the first and the last row.

Enter the incrementing elevation between rows <0.0>:

Defines the increasing or decreasing elevation for each subsequent row.

Specify a value.

Levels

Allows to create 3D arrays.

Specifies the number and spacing of levels.

Prompts you:

Enter the number of levels <1>:

Specify the number of levels.

Enter the distance between levels or [Total] <xxx>:

• Distance: Specify the distance* between subsequent levels.

• Total: Specify the distance* between the bottom and the top level.

Align items

Specifies whether to align each item to be tangent to the path direction. Alignment is relative to the first item’s orientation.

Prompts you:

Align arrayed items to path?  <Yes>/No

• Yes: Each item is placed tangent to the path direction.  (top)

• No: Each item keeps the orientation of the first item. (bottom)
  
  

Z direction

Controls whether to maintain the items’ original Z direction or to naturally bank the items along a 3D path.

Prompts you:

Maintain Z direction for all items in the array? [Yes/No]<Yes>:

• Yes: Z-direction (vertical)  is maintained (left).

• No: Items banked along the helix (right).
  
  

Exit

Accept the current settings and conclude the command.

Editing the path length.

Editing the path shape.