Sometimes absolute precision is not required. You've placed some element and want to move it around but don't want to type in distances to do this. You just want to play. Enter Nudge.
Nudge is a tool that has no ribbon icon yet can be invoked using the arrow keys anytime you have an element in selection.
Select an element and press left, right, up, or down. The element will move a set number of units with each key press. This works in most views.
The distance of each nudge is derived from your zoom scale.
If the element is not moving fast enough zoom out. If it's moving too fast zoom in.
If you are zoomed in yet want to move more quickly hold Shift + Arrow Key. This will increase the nudge distance by a factor ~10X (in my testing). I'm told this behavior is called Super Nudge.
_erik
Ah an all time favourite classic. I spend at least 10% of my time nudging - mostly text mind you!
Posted by: Balazs | September 24, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Would love to see micro-nudge to go with the mega-nudge. Hold CTRL or SHIFT CTRL or ALT and arrow key to get smaller increments. Useful for those scenarios where your zoom scale allows nudges of 20mm, but you want to nudge by 5mm, for example.
Posted by: x-p | September 24, 2010 at 12:59 PM
A very good suggestion.
Posted by: Anthony Hauck | September 24, 2010 at 01:39 PM