History

Records history and updates history-aware objects. With History recording and Update turned on, a lofted surface can be changed by editing the input curves.

Example steps:

  1. In the status bar, click the Record History pane.

  2. Use the Loft command to make a surface from input curves.

  3. Edit the input curves.

  4. The surface  updates.

Options

Record

Controls the default Record History setting.

Yes

All commands that can use History will record history.

No

Commands will not record History.

In general, it is best to leave the Record option set to No and use the Record History status bar pane to selectively record history. Recording history uses computer resources and makes saved files larger.

Update

Controls the behavior of the output object when the input changes.

Yes

All commands that record history will automatically update output from edited input.

No

The output object is not updated. Use the HistoryUpdate command to manually update the objects.

Lock

Locks output created with History to discourage direct editing of the output, which can break the history link to the input objects.

The output object cannot be selected for editing. However, editing the input objects changes the object.

Tip:  The History command can enable/disable history while a command is running. For example, make a curve and then use the Copy command to start dropping copies.  While the Copy command is running, use the History command to turn recording on/off.

BrokenHistoryWarning

If Yes, a warning dialog appears when an action is taken that separates the output and input objects. To get back, use the Undo command.

Caution

The connection between the input objects and the output object is easily broken. The basic rules for preserving history are:

Overriding History Options

The status bar Record History pane reflects the current state of history recording. Click the pane to toggle the global setting for the duration of one command. If the text in the pane is bold, then recording is active, if it is not bold, recording is not active.

Change the option using the History command. This command can be run inside another command. It can also be included in a macro. This setting does not quit after one command. It must be explicitly changed.

History can be recorded without the output geometry being updated when inputs are edited.

Selection tools: SelObjectsWithHistory, SelChildren, SelParents.

It is possible to control a chain of object creation by editing the top level objects, such as curves that created a loft, the edges of which are used to create an edge surface, etc.

Using History with the Project command helps solve one of the more difficult modeling problems with NURBS surfaces, namely point editing relatively simple surfaces so that a curve on the surface takes on a particular shape, from one or two views.

Note: This is not the same at all as a history tree that feature-based modelers use.

History enabled commands

Array

ArrayPolar

Copy

Divide

EdgeSrf

ExtrudeCrv

ExtrudeCrvAlongCrv

ExtrudeCrvTapered

ExtrudeCrvToPoint

ExtrudeSrf

ExtrudeSrfAlongCrv

ExtrudeSrfTapered

ExtrudeSrfToPoint

Flow

Intersect

Loft

Mirror (Copy option)

NetworkSrf

Orient (Copy option)

Project

RailRevolve (Copy option)

Revolve (Copy option)

Rotate (Copy option)

Rotate3D (Copy option)

Scale (Copy option)

Scale1D (Copy option)

Scale2D (Copy option)

ScaleNU (Copy option)

Shear (Copy option)

Symmetry

History.png

Tools > History settings

History > History settings

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HistoryPurge

Removes history from an object and its children.

History records can add to the file size so purging unneeded history may a good idea at times.

Warning: HistoryPurge cannot be undone.

Steps:

HistoryPurge.png

History > Purge History

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HistoryUpdate

Redefines the object based on editing its parents.

Steps:

HistoryUpdate.png

History > Update history on selected objects

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