Solid rotation allows the user to rotate the solid being edited to any desired orientation. The rotation is performed about the vertex of the solid. To select this option, one presses the function button labeled ``solid rotate'' or selects from the edit menu on screen. The rotation can be done using the dial box or one can input exact angles of rotation of the solid by using the p keyboard command. For example, typing: p alpha beta gamma will rotate the solid alpha degrees about the x-axis, beta degrees about the y-axis and gamma degrees about the z-axis. Alpha, beta, and gamma are measured from the original ``zero'' orientation of the solid, defined when the ``solid edit'' function button was pressed. Hence, typing p 0 0 0 will always return the solid to its original position (its position when the current solid editing session began) before accepting edit.
To select solid rotation, press the solid rotate button or select ``Rotate'' from the ***SOLID EDIT*** menu. The joy stick or appropriate rotation knobs then will rotate the edited solid about the coordinate axes. The solid is rotated about its vertex. The parameter (p) command can be used to make precise rotation changes. The values entered after the p are absolute - the rotations are applied to the solid as it existed when solid rotation was first selected. Thus entering p 0 0 0 will ``undo'' any rotations performed since solid rotation was selected. The rotation about the z-axis is done first, then the y, then the x.