Cloning an object

[sirgeoffrey]

Hi all, hope someone can help me with this please.

I am fairly new to Activ and trying to prepare for BETT next week. I am trying to add an object to a flipchart (e.g. a circle) that I can then drag to other positions on the screen creating an infinite number of clones each time (does that make sense?). i.e. There is one shape to start with, then every time I click and drag that object I create a new object in the place that I want it and the original remains in position.

Any pointers gratefully received. Thanks

Carl

[Alison]

Not too sure if what you're asking is what I'm going to suggest, but I'll give it a go anyway!

One way is to have the stamp tool on. When you select a circle from the shape resources look for the stamp and click on it to make it go red. This will then mean that wherever you click, it will put a circle (or whatever!)

The other way, which I think is more what you want, is to put your shape on the screen and then right click and copy it (you must be in design mode). Then hold down 'control v' for a little while. This will build up a stack of those shapes all directly on top of each other. You can select the whole group and move them to where you want and then you will be able to pull off one shape at a time to put wherever you want.

I know that was long winded, but I hope that it makes sense! Hope it helps. +wave+

[sirgeoffrey]

Hi Alison,

Thanks very much for your response. Your second answer is more the sort of thing I was looking for:), although I was really looking for something like the infinite cloner that (dare I say it) SMART offers.

Cheers

Carl

[AirSkeeter]

Carl,

Could you give some lesson context? We may be able to help you a bit better.

[sirgeoffrey]

Bill,

Thanks for the offer of help. What I am trying to do is this. I want to have one shape (e.g. a circle) and then demonstrate multiplication by taking a number of copies of this shape. Rather than actually having to copy and paste the shape a number of times (up to 10 or more) I just want to be able to click and drag the original shape 10 times to create 10 (or more) copies.

Hope that helps

Regards

Carl

[LouB]

Hi there,

If you want mulitiple copies of an object stacked on top of one another, the quickest way to do it is to select the shape, then select the stamp tool as Alison suggested and keep stamping the object in the same place - this will produce a tidy stack of them. Then when you have enough you just click off the stamp tool and away you go. [clap]

Are you going to be using a grid to show the arrays?

I have attached an example (there are about 40 circles in that stack!)

Lou +wave+

[bigelvi]

I know exactly what he means and had the same question. If you had something like a sudoku puzzle to use in a math group, what would be the best way to do to infinite clone all the numbers that you would need to drag to the proper square. Elsewhere you can just right click and infinite clone. Is the only way stacking stamps, etc.?

[Alison]

I would still use the right click, copy, paste, to make a stack. You'd still have to move the stack to where you want and have it pre-prepared, but it takes seconds to do and ensures they are all exactly on top of each other. +wave+

[Rosie MacAlpine]

To make it even quicker when I want a large number, I stamp or paste a stack of about ten. Then I select them by dragging a rectangle (is this called marque select or did I make that up?) over the top of the stack. Then I copy that, paste it ten more times to make 100. If you really want, you could then select the stack of 100 again, and paste it another ten times to make 1000....

Cheers,
Wendy

[Nigel Pearce]

In Activstudio version 3 you will also be able to easily align them all with (guess what?), the new Align features !

[Dave Pallant]

A suggestion might be to use the same 'standard' as many other progams which is to use press and hold Ctrl while dragging. Holding control changes the cursor to include a little plus sign and while visible will be copying the original rather than just dragging it. Coreldraw and some other art programs work like this as I have just noticed does Word and Excel!
Dave Pallant

[jtw521]

The other ways to do it are;


1. Double click on the circle to get your object edit toolbar. On the right of this is is a duplicate icon which when clicked will do exactly what you want (I think).
2. If it is a regularly used item you could add it to your toolbar. Make sure there is a space on the toolbar, click on your item and drag it onto the bar. Each time your new icon is clicked you'll get an additional object.

[JanP]

I know exactly what sirgeoffry is trying to do. It is one (of the few) features of Smart 9.5 that I would like to be able to do with the ACTIV software. A possible addition for the next version?!

[Dug]

Me too. I know there are endless 'workarounds' in ACTV, but, it has to be said Infinite Clone would be very useful.

[dbunker]

In version 3 of the software you can achieve the cloning function by having two identical objectas placed on top of each other and then giving the top object the action of duplicating the bottom object.[clap]


The duplicated object will be placed at the top of the stack, slightly ofset.

An example using counters for Connect 4 is attached but the idea is easily translated for many applications. Remember you can drag the two objects together to your library and they'll keep the relationship of button and clone. You can also lock the button to stop it being moved accidentally.

Dan

[Rosie MacAlpine]

Hooray!
[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]


This is a great tool. Just had a go at it and it worked perfectly.

BTW, for others trying it, both objects have the same name (e.g. 'image 2') in the set list. The top one in the list is the one you need to click on.

What's the easiest way to copy this action to multiple objects? I'd like to make an alphabet flipchart with infinite clones of each letter (like using magnetic letters). What I've done before is typed each letter (i wanted certain colours), arranged them, grouped them, and then made about 8 copies of the group on top of each other. Then I ungrouped the whole lot - but more than 8 copies slows down the flipchart too much. An infinite clone would be v useful here.

Cheers,
Wendy

[Margaret Allen]

Brilliant Dan! [clap]

[Sarah Carpenter]

Fantastic Dan [clap] and what is even better is that I managed to replicate it too! Thanks - that is sure to come in handy. :D

Sarah +wave+

[JanP]

Thanks Dan! You have solved that problem.

[Nigel Pearce]

This requested functionality is 'work in progress' and just missed the v3 release cut off date.

So we're going to let you have it in the first v3 maintenance release available as an update directly from your v3 Dashboard very soon !