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      <title>Subdivide segment overview</title>
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      <div class="title_topic5" id="xps10_pagetitle">Subdivide segment overview</div>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('routingtools/paths_overview.html');return(false);">Paths Overview</a></p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('routingtools/paths_create_editpath.html');return(false);">How To</a></p>
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               <p class="para_td">Options</p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('routingtools/parallel_offset.html');return(false);">Related Topics</a></p>
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      <p class="para_topic">Use <b class="uiTerm">Subdivide Segment</b> to add RCPs along an existing path segment for the placement of fittings or intersecting paths. The original segment will subdivide into smaller segments using the newly created RCPs.
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      <p class="para_topic">First, choose a <b class="uiTerm">Spacing Method</b> for placement of the additional RCPs, then select a segment to be subdivided. The system will use the segment end that is closer to the cursor position as the start of the segment. Fill in the required parameters in the dynamic input boxes for the specified spacing method, either graphically or via keyboard. Choose <b class="uiTerm">OK</b> to accept the values and exit the dialog box. Choose <b class="uiTerm">Apply</b> to subdivide the present segment and continue to the next step. Choose <b class="uiTerm">Select New Segment</b>, or choose another option under <b class="uiTerm">Spacing Method</b> to subdivide another segment with a different spacing method.
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                  <p class="para_note_body">In the following context, define a screen pick as a position snapped to a control point on the path segment if the cursor is within the selection ball radius distance of some control point on the segment. Otherwise, the nearest position on the segment to the cursor is used. You may also indicate this position by selecting another object by projecting the <em>screen pick</em> position of the other object to the routing segment.
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      <p class="para_topic">There are four spacing methods provided under <b class="uiTerm">Subdivide Segment</b>:
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               <p class="para_td"><b class="uiTerm">Screen Point</b></p>
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               <p class="para_td">This is the default spacing method. It allows you to use screen pick to place one RCP on the segment. Alternatively, you may key in a percentage value for the parameter of the new RCP along the segment curve from the logical start of the segment in the <b class="uiTerm">Point Percentage</b> box. You can also indicate the RCP position by using the <b class="uiTerm">Point Percentage</b> slider.
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               <p class="para_td"><b class="uiTerm">Equal Arc Length</b></p>
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               <p class="para_td">The segment will subdivide into segments of equal arc length. Specify the <b class="uiTerm">Start Percentage</b> and <b class="uiTerm">End Percentage</b> of the segment to subdivide in parameter space by either screen picks or typing in the <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b> desired between the start and end.
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               <p class="para_td"><b class="uiTerm">Equal Parameters</b></p>
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               <p class="para_td">The segment will subdivide into segments of equal curve parameter range. Specify the <b class="uiTerm">Start Percentage</b> and <b class="uiTerm">End Percentage</b> of the segment to subdivide in parameter space by either screen picks or typing in the <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b> desired between the start and end.
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               <p class="para_td"><b class="uiTerm">Incremental Arc Length</b></p>
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               <p class="para_td">Specify the <b class="uiTerm">Start Percentage</b> and the <b class="uiTerm">End Percentage</b> of the segment to subdivide in parameter space by either screen pick or typing in the <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b> desired between the start and end. You also need to specify an <b class="uiTerm">Arc Length</b> for the new RCPs to place incrementally from <b class="uiTerm">Start Percentage</b>. The placement will end when the Number of Segments or <b class="uiTerm">End Percentage</b> meets whichever occurs first. You may force the latter behavior by specifying a large <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b>. The correct number of sub&ndash;segments between the start and the end will reflect in the <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b> box after an <b class="uiTerm">Apply</b> or <b class="uiTerm">OK</b> operation.
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                  <p class="para_note_body">If you specify, for example, a non-zero <b class="uiTerm">Start Percentage</b> there will be one more segment than <b class="uiTerm">Number of Segments</b> you specified (which is for the number of segments between the start and the end). The total number of subdivided segments for the original segment reports in the <b class="uiTerm">Status</b> area.
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      <div class="title_division">Subdivide segment using distance offset</div>
      <p class="para_division">To subdivide a follow curve segment using distances offset from the start/end of the segment. The most common use of distance based subdivision is to locate branch points of a wire harness. The offset distances can be specified using standard expression syntax, which may be just a real value. System expressions are created from entered offset distances. Editing these expressions (using the <b class="uiTerm">Expression</b> editor) updates the subdivide points (RCPs) to be positioned at the edited distance from the stored reference position. The subdivision point remains at the distance of the given expression.
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      <p class="para_division">This new functionality is accessed by choosing <b class="uiTerm">Use Distance Offset</b> from the <b class="uiTerm">Subdivide Segment&ndash;Screen Point</b> interface.
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      <p class="para_division"><b class="uiTerm">Use Distance Offset</b> is sensitive only when spline segments, or segments following lines or arcs, are selected. Switching on <b class="uiTerm">Use Distance Offset</b> changes the <b class="uiTerm">Point Percentage</b> box to read <b class="uiTerm">Offset Distance</b> and the positioning slider operates based on entered distances. A temporary cone head shows the current reference end for the offset distances. The <b class="uiTerm">Swap Offset Start End</b> button switches the reference ends, moving the cone head from one end of the segment to the other.
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                  <p class="para_note_body">Unexpected results may occur if a distance offset value exceeds the length of the subdivided segment. Similarly, if two distance offset subdivides are defined along the same base segment, each from a different end, unexpected results may occur if their distances change such that they cross over' each other. Use the <b class="uiTerm">Distance Offset</b> method of <b class="uiTerm">Subdivide Segment</b> only when the distance is small relative to the length of the segment.
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