Graphics Builder > Graphics Objects > Edit Common Object Properties > Movement | Common Object Properties | Graphics Builder

Movement

You can move an object vertically or horizontally, or to rotate it, depending on the return of an expression or the state of a tag.

To configure an object or group that moves:

  1. Draw the object/group (or paste a symbol). The properties tab dialog automatically display, unless you have turned off the Display properties on new option in the Graphics Builder. (For a group, the properties dialog will not display automatically; you need to double-click the group.)
  2. Click the Movement tab.
  3. Click the Horizontal, Vertical or Rotational tab (to the right of the dialog).
  4. Enter a Movement expression (the expression that will move the object/group at runtime).
  5. Enter further details as necessary, using the Help button for detailed information about each field.
  6. Click OK.

Group and Object Movement - Examples

A group and its objects can be configured with any combination of movement (horizontal, vertical, and rotational). The following examples illustrate how some of these combinations work.

ClosedExample 1: Rotating the group and moving the object left to right

If your group is configured to rotate from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, and one of its objects is configured to move left and right, the object will do both. It will move left and right as per its own properties, and, at the same time, it will rotate as part of the group. Remember, however, that 'left' and 'right' are relative to the original orientation of the group, not the page. As the group rotates, 'horizontal' also rotates. When the group has rotated 15 degrees, 'left' is actually 285 degrees; (not 270 degrees), and 'right' is actually 105 degrees (not 90 degrees). When the group has rotated 50 degrees, 'left' is 320 degrees, and 'right' is 140 degrees, and so on.

Original state of group

Group rotated right, and ellipse moved left

ClosedExample 2: Rotating the group and moving the object up and down

If your group is configured to rotate from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, and one of its objects is configured to move up and down, the object will do both. It will move up and down as per its own properties, and, at the same time, it will rotate as part of the group. Remember, however, that 'up' and 'down' are relative to the original orientation of the group, not the page. As the group rotates, 'vertical' also rotates. When the group has rotated 15 degrees, 'up' is actually 15 degrees (not 0 degrees), and 'down' is actually 195 degrees (not 180 degrees). When the group has rotated 50 degrees, 'up' is 50 degrees, and 'down' is 230 degrees, and so on.

Original state of group

Group rotated right, and ellipse moved up

ClosedExample 3: Rotating the group clockwise and rotating the object anticlockwise

If your group is configured to rotate from 0 degrees-60 degrees, and one of its objects is configured to rotate from 90 degrees-0 degrees, the object will do both. It will rotate as per its own properties, and, at the same time, it will rotate as part of the group. Remember, however, that the object's rotation is relative to the group, not the page. If the group rotates 60 degrees to the right, and the object rotates 90 degrees to the left, the object has only rotated 30 degrees to the left relative to the page.

Original state of group

Group rotated clockwise, and ellipse rotated anticlockwise

Note: By moving the ellipse as shown in the above examples, you are actually changing the overall size of the group. You need to remember this as it might affect object fill levels.

See Also

Object Properties - Movement (Horizontal)
Object Properties - Movement (Vertical)
Object Properties - Movement (Rotational)
Define Common Object Properties

Published June 2018