How do you expert poser users align objects in relation to one another in Poser?

Is each item a prop?

If so what do they look like when no translations or rotations are applied. i.e. what does your starting point look like?

If I've understood the problem correctly, you could try the following.

1. Create the larger circle (position 0,0,0)

2. Create a smaller circle and position as required

3. Parent the smaller circle to the larger one

4. Select the small circle, activate the group tool and select all the small circle then select create prop. This should create a new small circle at the same postion as the first

5. Select the larger circle and rotate along the verticle axis by 30 degrees

6. The original smaller circle should also rotate

7. Repeat steps 4 - 6 until the dial is built.

Parent all the smaller circles to the main dial.

I gather by your responses there is no guide in poser to align. And there is no grid either.

Yes, each item is a prop. The small discs are actually flattened spheres (BB's orb) because I figured it would be easier to align.

Starting point? Don't know what you mean by that, PhilC.

Good idea ironsoul, thank you, I could do that and I may. I was hoping for guide lines. If nothing better comes along I'll have to start over and do this option.

It would be dead easy in a modelling program.

by using a wireframe mode you can see the mesh of the props. I would put the one sphere in place and move its center to the disks center, then copy the sphere and rotate each in multiples of 30 degrees. when all are in place parent them together.

Rename the downloaded file to circle-guide.pp2, then put it in any props folder.

Load it, scale it to the right size, then Z-rotate it to populate with child circles.

     You could also place the small circlular prop wherever you want it (12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, whatever), use the joint editor to set the origin of the small circle at 0,0 and then edit:duplicate the circle, and Y-rotate 30'.  Repeat...

you could use collision detection so they won't go over the edge of the big sphere.

it's an interesting exercise. would be kewl idea to make for free stuff

i would type in the x and z parameters for precision placement.

starting with the spheres at origin 0,0,0

select one, x= 3, (or whatever your distance)
select 2nd, x= -3
3rd z = 3
4th z = -3

the others, hmm. what equation to use?

don't think the slope formula would help here, y = mx + b

X=radius*cos(angle)  

Y=radius*sin(angle)

1 o'clock:  X=1.5, Y=2.598

2 o'clock:  X=2.598,Y=1.5

And the other clock positions use these same values, but are negative where appropriate.

P.S.     The clock hand (the radius) and the X and Y coordinates are related by their squares:

  r^2 = X^2 + Y^2

Thank you seachnagaigh. Obviously you're a math wizard. I am not and can't tell what you mean by:

"And the other clock positions use these same values, but are negative where appropriate."

Could you give me further instruction on this?

     In the bottom half of the clock face, Y values are negative.  On the left half of the clock, the X values are negative.

     Rounding 2.598076211... to 2.6 for illustration, the X,Y coordinates look like the diagram.

(I'm using Misty's radius of three in this example)

Thank you seachnasaigh! Marvelous! Works perfectly. Guess math has a way of doing that/