Attacher Arrow

The Attacher arrow, also known as the Attacher, is a drawing aid used to position items on the drawing. Its primary use is to determine the position and direction/rotation of the next item to be added.

The Attacher picks up information about the item to which it is attached; for example, Size, Service, Layer, Specification, Connectivity, and so on. Positioning the Attacher on an item will make the service associated with that item the active service.

TIP: In addition to the information below, check out the Attacher Arrow Fundamental Training video.

Attaching and Rotating the Attacher

To attach and rotate the Attacher:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • In the toolbar, click Attacher .
    • At the command line, type ATTACHER, and press Enter.
    • From the CADmep right-click menu, click Set Attacher.
    • From the SHIFT/RIGHT CLICK menu, click Rotate Object about Attacher.
  2. Click nearest the end of the item you wish to set (attach) the Attacher to.

  3. After selecting the item, the Attacher command is still active.
  4. Click the Attacher arrow, or click the same end again, to rotate in increments of 90 degrees.
  5. Use these commands to control the rotation angle:
    • Click to rotate 90 degrees
    • CTRL+click to rotate 180 degrees
    • ALT+click to rotate 15 degrees
    Note: The ALT+click option is only available when the Attacher is located on objects that have a round cross section.

The Attacher arrow is color coded. Red is plan. Blue indicates the arrow direction is +Z (setting up), and green indicates -Z (setting down). An easy way to remember this color coding is that blue is for sky and green is for ground. After positioning and rotating the Attacher arrow, the next item added will be oriented accordingly. The Attacher arrow can be positioned or rotated in any view.

Hiding the Attacher

To hide the Attacher:

  1. Do one of the following:
    1. In the toolbar, click Hide Attacher .
    2. At the command line, type ATTACHOFF, and press Enter.
    3. From the right click menu, click Hide Attacher.
    4. Hold the Shift key and click the Attacher .

Rotating an Object about the Attacher

To rotate an object about the Attacher:

  1. Do one of the following:
    1. Click Attacher .
    2. At the command line, type ROTATEATEND, and press Enter.
    3. From the right click menu, click Rotate Object about Attacher.
  2. Click nearest the end of the item you wish to rotate about the Attacher.
    Note: The Attacher arrow must be attached to the end of the item you wish to rotate. In the example below, the end of the bend is connected to the straight.

  3. Click Rotate Object about Attacher . The command line prompts: Enter Rotation Angle: <90>
  4. Enter the preferred rotation angle. The item rotates about the Attacher the angle specified.

For more information, see Add Taps (Shoes and Branches) and Add Items to a Duct Run.

Parent topic: CADmep Toolbar Commands