How to change or move method instructions

How to change an instruction

The table below describes how to change an instruction in the Text pane of the Text Instructions Editor:

Step	Action
1	Select the instruction. Result: The instruction with its current parameters is displayed in the Instruction box.
2	Make the required changes to the breakpoint or parameters or select a new instruction in the Instruction Box.
3	Click the Change button or the Replace button. Note: These buttons are equivalent unless changes are made to the breakpoint or the length of a gradient. See below.

Effects of the Change button and the Replace button on breakpoints

The table below describes the difference in function between the Change button and the Replace button when you change breakpoints:

Button	Function
Change	This button shifts all subsequent instructions in the block according to the change in the breakpoint. Change does not affect the relative order of instructions in the method. You cannot change the breakpoint of an instruction to earlier than the nearest previous breakpoint in a block. The illustration shows an example where Fractionation is changed from breakpoint 0 to 5:
Replace	This button moves the selected instruction but does not change the breakpoint of any other instruction. Replace can change the relative order of instructions in the method. The illustration shows an example where Fractionation is changed from breakpoint 0 to 5:

Effects of the Change button and the Replace button on gradient length

The Length parameter in the Gradient instruction affects the length of a gradient. Depending on which button you use, the change will have different results. The table below describes this:

Command	Function
Change	If this button is used to change the length of a gradient, the breakpoints for any instructions issued during the progress of the gradient will be adjusted proportionately so that they are always placed at the same relative position within the gradient. Instructions issued after the end of the gradient will be shifted by the amount of the change. Since the gradient works over time, any instruction that you want to insert after a gradient should be placed after the combined breakpoint and gradient length. Note: Moving the End_block instruction in a gradient block with the Change button does not affect the length of the gradient.
Replace	If this button is used to change the length of a gradient, other instructions are not affected.

Illustration of the effects of the Change button vs. the Replace button on gradients

The illustration shows the different effects of the Change button and the Replace button on instructions within and after gradients:

How to move an instruction

Move an instruction within the same breakpoint

Select the instruction in the Text pane of the Text Instructions Editor and drag it to its new location to change the order of instructions within the same breakpoint in a block.

Move an instruction to another breakpoint

The table below describes how to move an instruction to another breakpoint:

Step	Action
1	Select the instruction in the Text pane of the Text Instructions Editor. Choose Edit:Cut.
2	Select the instruction line just above the point where you want the cut instruction to be pasted. Choose Edit:Paste. Result: The instruction is now removed from its original breakpoint and pasted at the new breakpoint. The pasted instruction is inserted with the same breakpoint value as the instruction selected for point of insertion.

2005-06-15