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Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
Select and Edit
Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
Cut, Copy, and Paste
Cut, copy, and paste objects using standard keyboard shortcuts, the context menu, or the Edit menu.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
New to Inspire? Learn the basics here.
- What is Altair Inspire?
  Inspire is a concept design tool, which you can use to run structural optimization, finite element analysis, motion analysis, and additive manufacturing analysis.
- Videos: Getting Started with Inspire
  A series of videos introducing the view controls, 3D modeling, structural analysis, topology optimization, and PolyNURBS.
- Licensing Features
  Some ribbon tabs are associated with license features. Depending upon the tab you have invoked, additional units may be drawn. These features will be checked out for the duration of the session.
- Workspace and Tool Belts
  Learn how to customize the workspace and tool belts.
- Find and Search for Tools
  Quickly find and open the tools that are available on the ribbons.
- File Import and Export
  Learn how to import geometry and export results.
- Select and Edit
  Review techniques for selecting and editing objects.
  - Select
    Select and edit objects using the mouse and keyboard shortcuts.
  - Cut, Copy, and Paste
    Cut, copy, and paste objects using standard keyboard shortcuts, the context menu, or the Edit menu.
  - Delete
    Delete objects using the keyboard or context menu.
  - Rename
    Rename an object from the Model Browser, modeling window, or Property Editor.
- Adjust the View
  Change the view in the modeling window using the mouse or view controls.
- Move and Snap
  Translate, rotate, and align parts and other objects using the Move tool and snaps.
- Screen Capture
  Record a video or take a snapshot of the screen.
- Units and Measurement
  Change the default unit system, create custom units, and measure geometry features.
- Browse and Organize
  Browse and organize all of the entities in your model.
- Run a Simulation
  Use the Analyze icons that appear on various ribbons to run and view the results of a simulation.
- Help and User Assistance
  Learn about the forms of help and user assistance available from the product.
- Preferences
  Modify the workspace display, default keyboard shortcuts, and other settings.
- System Requirements
  A list of supported operating systems and minimum requirements for hardware and memory.
- Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
  Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.
Tutorials
Start using Inspire with our interactive tutorials.
Parametric Modeling
Create parametric sketches, geometry, and PolyNURBS with construction history and variables.
Implicit Modeling
Create implicit models with primitives, lattices, point clouds, fields, offsetting, Booleans, inverting, smoothing, morphing, and filleting.
Structures
Set up your model and run a structural analysis or optimization.
Motion
Set up and run a motion analysis, plot the results, and export the results.
Fluids
Prepare and run a computational fluid dynamics simulation.
Design Explorer
Evaluate designs by using geometric variables and applying a design-of-experiments (DOE) or optimization method. We recommend fully constraining your sketch when sketch variables are used in the design exploration.
Manufacture
Set up and run a basic porosity or thinning analysis.
Print 3D
Prepare and run an additive manufacturing simulation, and export a file for 3D printing.
Rendering
Adjust the materials and environment of objects in the scene to create a photorealistic image.
Inspire Python API
Learn how to access the Inspire Python API including online help, quick start demos, and the Extension Manager.
Reference
View the glossary, frequently asked questions, and errors and alerts.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Mouse Controls
Learn keyboard shortcuts and mouse controls for common operations.

Cut, Copy, and Paste

Cut, copy, and paste objects using standard keyboard shortcuts, the context menu, or the Edit menu.

You need to select the objects before you can cut or copy them. You can also perform any of these functions using the right-click menu.


To	Do this	Note
Cut	Press Ctrl+X. Select Edit > Cut.
Copy	Press Ctrl+C. Select Edit > Copy.	You can copy an object by holding down Ctrl as you drag it. (This only works if you have Move selected in the Preference dialog under Modeling Space.)
Paste	Press Ctrl+V. Select Edit > Paste.	The copied object is pasted on top of the original object. Press M to use the Move tool to move the copied object. Any update to the source object made before the paste event in construction history will be made to the the copy as well. Note: Paste is not available when trying to copy an assembly. You must use Paste Instance or Paste Without Reference.
Paste Instance	Right-click in the modeling window or Model Browser, and then click Paste Instance.	An instance creates a copy of the part that is linked to the original so that whenever one is updated, the other is automatically updated as well. The instance will be updated no matter when the event ocurred in the construction history timeline.
Paste Without Reference	Right-click in the modeling window or Model Browser, and then click Paste Without Reference.	If you paste without reference, no updates will be made to the copy, even if you roll back and make changes to the history of the original object.