Groups and macro objects

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To position a particular arrangement of objects in relation to a common reference point or save them as a macro object, they must first be grouped. A group can be ungrouped at any time.

Group properties

The following properties can be set in the Group properties dialog box:

Variable

Description

Reference point

As a point of reference you can choose from a) between 5 points of the rectangular outline of the group or b) the origin of one of the objects belonging to the group.

Angle of rotation

Angle of rotation of the group around its geometric center, regardless of which reference point was chosen for the group.

Create group ("Grouping")

A group consists of at least two objects, which themselves may also be groups. Two or more selected objects can be transformed into a group in the following ways:

Select Grouping from the context menu
Selection > Grouping
Shift + g
Edit elements of a group

The individual properties of the elements in a group cannot be changed independently of one another. To do this, the group must first be ungrouped (see next point). Once the properties have been changed, the group can be recreated.

However, properties shared by all group elements can also be edited in the List of object properties without having to ungroup the group.

Ungrouping

In order to dissolve a group, it must be selected. The Ungroup command (Shift + u) is available both in the context menu as well as with Selection > Ungroup.

If there are also (sub)groups alongside other objects in the "ungrouped" group, these remain as a group. To ungroup these as well in one step, use the command "Ungroup all groups" (see next point).

Ungroup all groups

If a selected group contains other groups, then by pressing Ctrl + u or pressing Selection > Ungroup all groups you ungroup not only the selected group, but also all of the included groups.

Creating a group as a macro

Please read the detailed description of Macros, the Macro Manager and the underlying Library.

To create a group as a macro object, it must be selected. Then, via the context menu or by clicking Selection > Create macro object or with Shift + m the corresponding dialog box is opened.

To save the group as a macro object, you must choose an existing category and enter a name for the object you want to create. You can also open a table to enter names in the other languages for which "Front Panel Designer" can be configured.

To change or extend the catalog structure and its entries, see Macro Manager. For the use and customization of existing macros, see Macros.

Groups and macro objects

For "Front Panel Designer", a macro object, when it is inserted on a front panel, is always a group of objects, which as usual can be moved, copied and duplicated as a whole, as well of course as being ungrouped into its component parts, whereby the objects of which it is composed, may then have their respective properties edited.

Conversely, a group – that is a grouped set of objects with editable properties – can be made available for other front panel projects when it is saved as a macro object. Then it is entered in the library or the catalog of macro objects, which is available for all future sessions and can also be migrated to other computers.

Independently of this, a group or even an ungrouped number of objects can be migrated to additionally opened front panels using "Copy & Paste".