Palette Menu

Get Angle

Returns the angle of an element in the plot at the position nearest to the point given by the user via the cursor. This is particularly useful when the user wishes to place text parallel to a line or arrow.

Centre...

Scales and centers the current drawing to a given window. The given window is specified by the user in a dialog that pops up prompting for the co-ordinates of the top left and bottom right hand corners (m).

Move

Moves an area or element of the drawing from one position to another. To specify an area or element, change the Selection on the Options dialog. To move an area, click the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. Any elements crossing the boundary of the area will not be moved. Once an area has been selected a source and target point are required. Position the mouse at the source point for the move operation and click the button. A move will now be placed in the same position relative to the target point as the original relative to the source point.

To move an element, click as near to the desired element as possible with the mouse button. Click the mouse again in the required position to move the element.

Copy

Copies an area or an element of the drawing from one position to another. To specify whether area or element, change the Selection on the Options dialog.

To copy an area, click the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. Any elements crossing the boundary of the area will not be copied. Once an area has been selected a source and target point are required. Position the mouse at the source point for the copy operation and click the button, then position the mouse at a target point for the copy and click the button. A copy will now be placed in the same position relative to the target point as the original relative to the source point.

To copy an element, click as near to the desired element as possible with the mouse button. Click the mouse again in the required position to copy the element.

Scale

Scales an area or element of the drawing. To specify an area or element, change the Selection on the Options dialog.

When the scale command is performed a dialog appears to enter the scale factor to use.

To scale an area, click the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. Any elements crossing the boundary of the area will not be scaled. The area is then scaled and redrawn using the cursor position (when the mouse button is next clicked) as the focus for the scale.

To scale an element, click as near to the desired element as possible with the mouse button. The element is then scaled and redrawn using the cursor position (when the mouse button is next clicked) as the focus for the scale.

Highlight

Highlights an area or element which would have been deleted had the equivalent Delete command been given. To specify whether an area or element, change the Selection on the Options dialog. An area is specified by clicking the mouse button in the opposite corners of the required area. An element is given by clicking near to the element with the mouse button.

Delete

Deletes an area or element of the drawing. To specify an area or element, change the Selection on the Options dialog. An area is indicated by clicking the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. Any elements crossing the boundary of the area will not be copied. An element is deleted by clicking as near to the desired element as possible with the mouse button.

Note:
This command remains active until cancelled by clicking the right hand mouse button.

Replace

Replaces the last element removed by the Delete command.

Include Area...

Includes another plot file in the current drawing and scales it to fit within a given area of the current drawing. This given area is specified by the user by clicking the mouse button in the opposite corners of this area.

Include Scale...

Includes another plot file in the current drawing and scales it by a scale factor given by the user in a pop up dialog. The plot is imported at a position relative to the origin which is specified with a mouse click.

Note:
This factor is not and absolute factor, but a factor relative to the imported plot.

Text...

Allows the user to add a text string to the drawing. A screen pops up for the user to enter the desired text. When the mouse button is next clicked over the graphics region, the text is justified to that position with the currently set justification. If the Grid box is checked, the justification point will snap to the nearest grid point, if a grid is present.nearest grid point, if a grid is present.

Lines/Arrows

This gives seven further options:

Element

Draws straight lines between the cursor position when the mouse button is clicked. Each subsequent line follows on from the end of the previous line.

Line

Draws straight lines between the cursor position when the mouse button is clicked. Once a line has been drawn, the user can move the cursor to a new position and add a new line.

Note:
This command remains active until cancelled by clicking the right hand mouse button.

Line Horizontal

Adds a series of horizontal lines to the drawing by joining all grid points within a specified area of the drawing with horizontal lines. This is particularly useful for creating a table. The area to be filled with horizontal lines is specified by clicking the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. A grid must be switched on for this command to work.

Line Vertical

Adds a series of vertical lines to the drawing by joining all grid points within a specified area of the drawing with vertical lines. This is particularly useful for creating a table. The area to be filled with vertical lines is specified by clicking the mouse button in the opposite corners of the area. A grid must be switched on for this command to work.

Arrow

Adds an arrow to the drawing. First select the height of the arrow head (mm) on the Options dialog, then indicate the position of the head of the arrow by clicking the left hand mouse button, followed by the position of the tail of the arrow.

Border

This command will draw a border around the current plot. The top left corner of the border will be x units to the left and y units above the current plot. Similarly the bottom right will be x units to the right and y units below the current plot.

Scales

This gives two further options:

Horizontal

Displays a horizontal scale line on the graphics screen in meters and Feet with the origin at a position specified by the user via the cursor. The scale line is not included in any plot output.

Vertical

Displays a vertical scale line on the graphics screen in meters and Feet with the origin at a position specified by the user via the cursor. The scale line is not included in any plot output.