Creating Primitives from the Keyboard

Create panel > Geometry > Standard Primitives > Keyboard Entry rollout

You can create most geometric primitives from your keyboard using the Keyboard Entry rollout. In a single operation, you define both the initial size of an object and its three-dimensional position. The object's name, color, and default material (optional), are automatically assigned. See Name and Color Rollout.

This method is generally the same for all primitives; differences occur in the type and number of parameters.

Procedures

To open the Keyboard Entry rollout:

1. On the Create panel for Standard, click any of the primitive Object Type rollout buttons.

2. Click the Keyboard Entry rollout to open it. This rollout is closed by default.

   Note: The buttons on the Creation Method rollout have no effect on keyboard entry.

To create a primitive from the keyboard:

1. On the Keyboard Entry rollout, select a numeric field with the mouse and then enter a number.

2. Press TAB to move to the next field. You do not have to press ENTER after entering a value. Press SHIFT+TAB to reverse direction.

3. When you have all fields set, press TAB to move the focus to the Create button. Press ENTER.

4. The object appears in the active viewport.

   Once created, a new primitive is unaffected by the numeric fields in the Keyboard Entry rollout. You can adjust parameter values on the Parameters rollout, either immediately after creation or on the Modify panel.

Interface

The Keyboard Entry rollout contains a common set of position fields, labeled X, Y, and Z. The numbers you enter are offsets along the axes of the active construction plane; either the home grid or a grid object. Plus and minus values correspond to positive and negative directions for these axes. Defaults=0,0,0; the center of the active grid.

The location set by X,Y is equivalent to the first mouse-down position in the standard method of creating objects.

Each standard primitive has the following parameters on its Keyboard Entry rollout.

Primitive	Parameters	XYZ point
Box	Length, Width, Height	Center of base
Cone	Radius 1, Radius 2, Height	Center of base
Sphere	Radius	Center
GeoSphere	Radius	Center
Cylinder	Radius, Height	Center of base
Tube	Inner Radius, Outer Radius, Height	Center of base
Torus	Major Radius, Minor Radius	Center
Teapot	Radius	Center of base
Plane	Length, Width	Center