History

Toolbar	Menu	Status bar
History Main Main2 Tools	Not on menus.	Record History

Toolbar

Status bar

Toolbar: History | Main | Main2 | Tools

Not on menus.

The History command stores the connection between a command's input geometry and the result so that when the input geometry changes, the result updates accordingly.

For example, with History recording and Update turned on, a lofted surface can be changed by editing the input curves.

Steps

In the status bar, click the Record History pane.
Use a history-enabled command such as the Loft command to make a surface from input curves.
Edit the input curves.
The surface updates.

Command-line options
Record	Controls the default Record History setting. In general, it is best to leave the Record option set to No and use the Record History status bar pane to selectively record history. Recording history uses computer resources and makes saved files larger.
Update	Allows output to automatically update when input is edited. This may be slow or may interfere with your workflow. If the option is set to No, use the HistoryUpdate command to manually update the objects.
Lock	Locks child objects created with History to discourage direct geometry editing of the child object. Editing the child object directly will break the history link to the parent object. History locked objects are selectable to use as input and edit properties, but not change geometry. If full locking is needed, children can be selected and locked with Lock command. The selection filter toolbar flashes if you try to select a object that is filtered out. Trying to drag or otherwise transform an object with history now displays the error message, "Unable to transform X history locked objects" if "Lock children" is selected.
BrokenHistoryWarning	Displays a warning dialog when an action is taken that breaks the link between the output and input objects. To get back, use the Undo command. Cautions The connection between the input objects and the output object is easily broken. The basic rules for preserving history are: Do not purge the history from the child (output) surfaces. Do not delete the parent geometry (input objects - curves, surfaces, etc.) that was used to create the child surface. Do not control-point edit or move the child surface. Do not move parents and children together. Joining objects breaks history on the objects. History stored in previous versions of Rhino may not carry over to a later version.
RecordAnnotationHistory	Turns History recording on/off for dimension commands. Yes is the default value.

Command-line options

Record

Controls the default Record History setting.

In general, it is best to leave the Record option set to No and use the Record History status bar pane to selectively record history. Recording history uses computer resources and makes saved files larger.

Update

Allows output to automatically update when input is edited. This may be slow or may interfere with your workflow.

If the option is set to No, use the HistoryUpdate command to manually update the objects.

Lock

Locks child objects created with History to discourage direct geometry editing of the child object. Editing the child object directly will break the history link to the parent object.

History locked objects are selectable to use as input and edit properties, but not change geometry. If full locking is needed, children can be selected and locked with Lock command.

The selection filter toolbar flashes if you try to select a object that is filtered out. Trying to drag or otherwise transform an object with history now displays the error message, "Unable to transform X history locked objects" if "Lock children" is selected.

BrokenHistoryWarning

Displays a warning dialog when an action is taken that breaks the link between the output and input objects. To get back, use the Undo command.

Cautions

The connection between the input objects and the output object is easily broken. The basic rules for preserving history are:

Do not purge the history from the child (output) surfaces.
Do not delete the parent geometry (input objects - curves, surfaces, etc.) that was used to create the child surface.
Do not control-point edit or move the child surface.
Do not move parents and children together.
Joining objects breaks history on the objects.
History stored in previous versions of Rhino may not carry over to a later version.

RecordAnnotationHistory

Turns History recording on/off for dimension commands. Yes is the default value.

Overriding History Options

The status bar Record History pane reflects the current state of history recording. Click the pane to toggle the global setting for the duration of one command. If the text in the pane is bold, then recording is active, if it is not bold, recording is not active.
Change the option using the History command. This command can be run inside another command. It can also be included in a macro. This setting does not quit after one command. It must be explicitly changed.
History can be recorded without the output geometry being updated when inputs are edited.

Dimensions have History recorded by default. The default History recording behavior is controlled by the RecordAnnotationHistory option in the History command.

Command prefixes for turning history on and off

Type these shortcut symbols before a command name to enable/disable history recording

# (hash)

Enables history recording for the following command.

For example: #ArcBlend

% (percent)

Disables history recording for the following command.

For example: %ArcBlend

Commands with history enabled

Commands with the following notation pay attention to history recording.

History enabled. Click for more information. History enabled

These commands can make use of history recording.

Ribbon
Rotate
(Copy only)
Rotate3D
(Copy only)
Scale
(Copy only)
Scale1D
(Copy only)
Scale2D
(Copy only)
ScaleByPlane
(Copy only)
ScaleNU
(Copy only)
SetPt
Shear
(Copy only)
Slab
Spiral
(AroundCurve only)
Stretch
Sweep1
Sweep2
Symmetry
Taper
(Copy only)
TweenCurves
TweenSurfaces
Twist
(Copy only)
VariableBlendSrf
VariableChamferSrf
VariableFilletSrf

Restrictions for blocks

Sub-Objects in blocks do not work with History.

Related commands

HistoryUpdate

Toolbar	Menu	Status bar
History	Not on menus.	Record History > Update Children

Toolbar

Status bar

Toolbar: History

History

Not on menus.

Right-click button Record History >

Update Children

The HistoryUpdate command redefines the object based on editing its parents.

Steps

Select the objects.

Command-line option
All	Updates all objects.

HistoryPurge

Toolbar	Menu
History	Not on menus.

Toolbar

Toolbar: History

History

Not on menus.

The HistoryPurge command removes history from an object and its children.

History records can add to the file size so purging unneeded history may a good idea at times.

Warning

HistoryPurge cannot be undone.

Steps

Select the objects.

SelChildren

Toolbar	Menu
History Select History	Edit Select Objects > History > Children

Toolbar

Toolbar: History | Select History

History
Select History

Edit

Select Objects >

History >

Children

The SelChildren command selects child objects of the currently selected objects.

Command-line options

(These options are not visible with pre-selection.)

All

If no objects are selected, the All option will select all child objects.

SelParents

Toolbar	Menu
History Select History	Edit Select Objects > History > Parents

Toolbar

Toolbar: History | Select History

History
Select History

Edit

Select Objects >

History >

Parents

The SelParents command selects parent objects of the currently selected objects.

Command-line options

(These options are not visible with pre-selection.)

All

If no objects are selected, the All option will select all parent objects.

History

Steps

Cautions

Overriding History Options

Command prefixes for turning history on and off

# (hash)

% (percent)

Commands with history enabled

Restrictions for blocks

Related commands

HistoryUpdate

Steps

HistoryPurge

Warning

Steps

SelChildren

All

SelParents

All

See also