Opening the tutorial file (optional)

If you successfully completed Part 4, you can proceed directly to the next step, Assigning curves to a layer.

If you were not successful in part 4, open the file called joystick_part5.wire, located in the wire directory of the CourseWare project. This file contains the completed model from Part 4.

Watch Part 5 of the tutorial.

Assigning curves to a layer

Layers are a way of grouping related objects and organizing a scene. By default, all objects you create are assigned to the Default Layer.

First, create a layer.

1. Choose Layers > New to create a layer.

   

   A new layer button called L1 appears in the Layer Bar. (The Layer Bar is located just below the prompt line and just above the view window area.)

2. To rename the layer, in the Layer Bar, double-click the L1 layer.

   

   Type the word Curves, and press (Windows) or (Mac).

   

   Next, you will select all the curves to be assigned to the layer. You will use the Pick > Component tool which allows you to specify the type of object you want to select. In this case, you will set it to select curves only, so that all the curves can be easily selected using a drag box.

3. Choose Pick > Component .
4. Double-click the icon to open the option box.

   

   Deselect all the options except Curves. Select the Go button at the bottom of the option box.

   

5. Drag a pick box around all of the objects to choose all the curves.

   

   Only the curves are selected.

   

6. In the Layer Bar, press and hold the on the Curves layer to display the pull-down menu. Then, choose Assign from the menu to assign all the picked curves to the Curves layer.

   

7. Press and hold the on the Curves layer, and choose Visible to turn off the visibility of the layer.

   

   The curves are no longer displayed in the scene.

   

Assigning the surfaces to layers

1. Choose Layers > New to create another layer.

   

   A new layer button called L2 appears in the Layer Bar.

2. To rename the layer, in the Layer Bar, double-click the L2 layer.

   

   Type the word Joystick, and press (Windows) or (Mac).

   

3. Choose Pick > Object .
4. Select the joystick base, sleeve, and handle.

   

5. In the Layer Bar, press and hold the on the Joystick layer to display the pull-down menu. Then, choose Assign from the menu to assign all the picked surfaces to the Joystick layer.

   

   These surfaces are left visible, so you can continue working on them in the next section.

6. Create another layer using Layers > New. Rename the layer Cable.

   

7. Choose Pick > Nothing to deselect the joystick objects.
8. Choose Pick > Object and select the cable surface.

   

9. Assign the cable surface to the cable layer.

   

10. Press and hold the on the Cable layer, choose Set State, then Inactive to make the cable surface inactive.

    

    The cable surface is still visible, but is shown in pale blue and cannot be selected.

    

    Finally, as you have finished using the sketches as guides, you will turn them off.

11. Choose WindowDisplay > Toggles > Construction Objects to turn off the sketches.

    

Save your work

1. Choose File > Save As to save the current scene.
2. Save your work in the wire directory of the Lessons project. Name your file myjoystick5.wire.