Attach Menu didn't create the type of object I expected
When I choose Tool menu → Attach the resulting object isn't what I expected. Why?
Requirements
- PowerCADD version 9 (9.1.3 or newer recommended)
- Mac OS? X (Mavericks version 10.9.2 or newer recommended)
Background
To fully address this condition the history of the
What does
Originally (way back in PowerDraw 2 or 3? circa 1989ish?)
Starting in PowerCADD 8 and continuing into PowerCADD 9, we've been given a lot more control and the manual does a great job of describing those optional settings for
What To Do:
There are optional settings for the
Do This:
- Hold the
Option key and chooseTool menu - Observe: The menu display changes and
Attach now appears atAttach... (note the three dots) - Move the mouse and release on the
Attach... menu item and a dialog will appear giving you three choices. - Select the desired option and click on
ok button - Select the objects to be attached
- Choose
Tool menu → Attach - Result: The selected objects are attached and converted as specified in 4 above
What's critical to understand is the distinction we outlined earlier about higher level and lower level geometry conversion and potentially destructive results. Remember that higher level geometry like an arc, or elliptical arc, have unique properties. For example an Arc is defined by a specific center point (defined by an XY position) and a radius, a starting arc angle, and an ending arc angle. Those are unique and geometrically advanced properties that let us do all kinds of other things such as dimension all those attributes.
Why is that important?
Well, imagine we were drawing a road center line - we need to be able to dimension that information to get it built. Unless we're building a drag strip, or a highway through Kansas, it's a pretty sure bet the road alignment will contain arc and tangent line geometry.

In the above dialog (optional settings that appears from step 3 described earlier), two of these conversion options destroy the advanced higher level arc geometry in our road example. Specifically the no conversion check box retains the high level geometry and gives us a new traced polygon with which we can do other things. (hint: read the manual for details: the traced polygon is part of a group with a pen pattern of nil which can easily be found and changed).
Why would we want that traced polygon? Well we can do all sorts of things like get a total road length with one click. Or use the polygon and then apply the
Summary
There is no single best choice for what optional settings to use for
We hope that helps
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