Chapter 18: Everything from Arrays to Xrefs 397

Put the path object on a separate layer. After you complete the array, freeze that layer, and the path object becomes invisible. We cover layers in Chapter 6.

Figure 18-2 shows the finished path array.

Figure 18-2: Down the garden path, using a path array.

Associatively editing

If you click any arrayed element (not the path of a path array), AutoCAD displays the Array contextual tab on the Ribbon. From here, you can revise pretty much every aspect of the array definition. In addition, the Options panel appears near the end of the Array tab.

You need a special tool for tinkering with the entrails of associative arrays, and AutoCAD provides it with the ARRAYEDIT command. The three items on the Options panel link to the three options of this command. Start with a typical scenario: You just finished the drawing of the garden path when the client comes in and announces that the steppingstones need to be bigger.

No problem. Select any one of the steppingstones (but not the spline path curve itself) in the array. Now click the Edit Source button in the Options panel of the Array tab, and then select any one of the arrayed items. Edit it to your heart’s content, including adding and moving objects, changing layers, and deleting objects. When you’re finished, select Save Changes from the Edit Array panel at the end of the Home tab of the Ribbon, and all the arrayed items update.

So far, so good, but now the client wants a square steppingstone to replace one of the circular ones halfway down the path (see Figure 18-3). No problem. Step through the following steps (pun intended):

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398 Part IV: Advancing with AutoCAD

1.Draw the new steppingstone.

The easiest way to do this is to use the RECTANG command from chapter 8.

2.Select the array you want to edit.

Select any object in the path array. Don’t select the path itself or you will be editing the path, not the array.

3.Select the replacement stone.

Select the Replace Item tool in the Options tab of the Array context ribbon and then select the replacement rectangular stone. Press Enter to continue.

4.Select the base point of the replacement rectangular stone.

Select a point about in the center of the rectangle. This is the point that will end up sitting exactly on the path.

5.Select the stone to be replaced.

Select one or more existing circular stones in the array that you want to replace with the new rectangular one, and then press Enter to continue.

6.Finish it off.

Press Enter, or select eXit from the context menu.

Figure 18-3: Going down a different path: The results of editing an associative array.

Oops! You replaced the wrong steppingstone. No problem. Select the array, and then select Reset Array from the Options panel of the Array tab. Voilà! Your changes are undone. Now you can replace it with the correct one.

Earlier, we emphasize the importance of selecting an arrayed item in a path array, and not the path. The reason for this is simple: The path can be edited

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