Knowledge-based polymorph undockable toolbar

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object on a graphics display, comprising:

• selecting the at least one object;
• displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional icon that is separate from the at least one object and that includes at least one axis segment to cause translational movement of the at least one object;
• receiving in tandem, via an interface of the graphics display, a two dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select the at least one axis segment for operation;
• and
• rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the at least one axis segment, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected at least one axis segment.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

• selecting at least one object in a three-dimensional scene on a graphics display;
• displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional icon that is separate from the at least on object and that includes at least one axis segment to cause translational movement of the at least one object;
• receiving in tandem a two dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select the at least one axis segment for operation;
• and
• rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the at least one axis segment, a one-dimensional translational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis parallel to the selected at least one axis segment.

A computer aided design station for manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object, comprising:

• a display operably linked to the design station to display the three-dimensional scene including the at least one object;
• a three-dimensional icon, separate from the at least one object, displayed in the three-dimensional scene on the display, the three-dimensional icon including at least one arc to cause rotational movement of the at least one object;
• an input unit operably linked to the design station to receive in tandem a two-dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select the at least one arc for operation;
• and
• a processor operably linked to the input unit to render, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the at least one arc, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the selected at least one arc.

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional scene including at least one object on a graphics display, comprising:

• selecting the at least one object;
• displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional icon that is separate from the at least one object and that includes at least one arc to cause rotational movement of the at least one object;
• receiving in tandem, via an interface of the graphics display, a two dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select the at least one arc for operation;
• and
• rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the at least one arc, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively about a scene axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the selected at least one arc.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

• selecting at least one object in a three-dimensional scene on a graphics display;
• displaying, in the three-dimensional scene on the graphics display, a three-dimensional icon that is separate from the at least one object and that includes at least one arc to cause rotational movement of the at least one object;
• receiving in tandem a two dimensional movement signal to move the at least one object and a selection signal to select the at least one arc for operation;
• and
• rendering on the graphics display, based on the two-dimensional movement signal and while the selection signal persistently selects the at least one arc, a rotational movement of the at least one object exclusively along a scene axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the selected at least one arc.