Presagis

Hello,
I am running Creator 4.1.2.
Placing external references using “Multiple XRef…” and every time I place the external ref the model is placed with the center of model at the terrain height.  I tried “Alt” left mouse click, picking the terrain face with “Track plane From Face” and clicking with just left click and “Alt” left click, same results.  I tried “External Reference…” and the model will be placed correctly, bottom of model placed on top of the terrain faces.  I thought that the “Alt” and left click always worked for placing any model from the bottom of the model to top of the terrain face.  Any ideas about what is going on?
Thank you.

Robert

Alt+Click is just a shortcut for “sticking the 3d point you click” onto the face you are pointing at.
What the current tool does with that 3d point is up to the tool.  In your case, you need to tell Multiple External Reference tool to:
Place selected file where I click in the graphics view
AND
When placing file: Use average X, Y, lowest Z as handle

This will tell the tool to stick the “bottom” of the model on the 3d point you are pointing at.

Steve,
Thank you for the reply.  I had “Place selected file where click ...” checked, but had “Use database origin ...” checked.  I checked “Use average ...” and it works now.  One noticed that after placing the first model that if I stay on that face I do not have to hold the “Alt”, is that a safe assumption?
Thanks again.

One noticed that after placing the first model that if I stay on that face I do not have to hold the “Alt”, is that a safe assumption?

That is right and here is why…

When you ALT + Click on a face (when a Creator tool is expecting 3d vertex input) Creator simply sets the trackplane to the face you are pointing at then handles the mouse input normally.  You can see this in action if you turn the Grid ON.  If you do, you’ll see the grid reposition as you ALT+Click the points.  Note, however that ALT+Click does not change Grid Snapping.  So if you have set the Pref Snapping: On when Grid On, when you turn the Grid ON, you’re models won’t go exactly where you point, they will snap to the (newly positioned) grid lines.

Anyway, I hope this clarifies the ALT+Click shortcut a bit for you.