<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<html>
<head>
<title>Editing Objects</title>
</head>
<body>
<a href="contents.html"><img src="images/xfig-title.png"
alt="XFIG Users Manual" border=0></a>
<hr>
<h1>Editing Objects</h1>
The editing Mode Panel is used to perform edit operations
on existing objects,
See also <a href="#select-object">Selecting Objects</a>.
<p>
<dl>
<dt><a href="#glue-compound"><img src="images/glue-compound-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Glue COMPOUND</a>
<dt><a href="#break-compound"><img src="images/break-compound-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Break COMPOUND</a>
<dt><a href="#open-compound"><img src="images/open-compound-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Open COMPOUND temporarily</a>
<dt><a href="#join"><img src="images/join-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Join/Split Lines/Splines/etc</a>
<dt><a href="#chop"><img src="images/chop-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Chop Object</a>
<dt><a href="#scale"><img src="images/scale-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Scale Object</a>
<dt><a href="#align"><img src="images/align-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Align Objects</a>
<dt><a href="#move-point"><img src="images/move-point-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Move Point</a>
<dt><a href="#add-point"><img src="images/add-point-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Add Point</a>
<dt><a href="#delete-point"><img src="images/delete-point-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Delete Point</a>
<dt><a href="#move"><img src="images/move-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Move Object</a>
<dt><a href="#copy"><img src="images/copy-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Copy Object</a>
<dt><a href="#delete"><img src="images/delete-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Delete Object</a>
<dt><a href="#update"><img src="images/update-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Update Attributes of Object</a>
<dt><a href="#edit"><img src="images/edit-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Edit Attributes of Object</a>
<dt><a href="#flip"><img src="images/flip-vert-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
<img src="images/flip-horiz-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Flip Object Vertically or Horizontally</a>
<dt><a href="#rotate"><img src="images/rotate-cw-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
<img src="images/rotate-ccw-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Rotate Object</a>
<dt><a href="#spline-line"><img src="images/spline-line-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Convert SPLINE to/from LINE or BOX to/from ARC-BOX</a>
<dt><a href="#add-arrow"><img src="images/add-arrow-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Add/Delete Arrows</a>
<dt><a href="#add-tangent"><img src="images/add-tangent-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Add Tangent or Normal to Curve</a>
<dt><a href="#measure-angle"><img src="images/measure-angle-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Measure Angle</a>
<dt><a href="#measure-length"><img src="images/measure-length-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Measure Length of Lines and Arcs, and Perimeters of Circles and Ellipses</a>
<dt><a href="#measure-area"><img src="images/measure-area-button.png"
align="middle" alt="">
Measure Area of Polygons and Ellipses</a>
</dl>
<p>
<hr>
<dl>
<dt><img src="images/glue-compound-button.png" alt="">
<a name="glue-compound"></a>
Glue selected objects and make them a COMPOUND object.
<dd>
<p>
This is useful to <a href="#move">move</a>
or <a href="#copy">copy</a> some objects together at the same time.
It is also possible to scale part of a figure
by <a href="#scale">scaling</a> a COMPOUND object
after making part of the figure COMPOUND.
<p>
Clicking on an object with mouse button 1 (`tag object')
will tag the object.
Clicking one corner of a rectangular region
with mouse button 2 (`tag region')
and then clicking mouse button 2 (`final corner') again
at the opposite corner of the rectangular region
will tag all objects inside the region.
After tagging all objects to be glued into a COMPOUND object,
clicking mouse button 3 (`compound tagged') will
glue those objects and make them a COMPOUND object.
<p>
If an already tagged object is selected by mouse button 1
or mouse button 2, that object will be untagged.
If you want to remove all tags,
change the mode temporarily to any other mode (e.g. "move object") except BREAK COMPOUND.
<p>
The COMPOUND object may be separated into component objects by
<a href="#break-compound">BREAK COMPOUND</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/break-compound-button.png" alt="">
<a name="break-compound"></a>
Break a COMPOUND object into separate component objects.
<dd>
<p>
Clicking a COMPOUND object with mouse button 1 (`break compound')
will break the COMPOUND into separate component objects.
Clicking with mouse button 2 (`break and tag')
will also achieve the same effect,
but it will tag those component objects for re-gluing with
<a href="#glue-compound">GLUE COMPOUND</a> again.
<p>
If you want to edit component objects without breaking the COMPOUND object,
you may open the COMPOUND object temporarily
using <a href="#open-compound">OPEN COMPOUND</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/open-compound-button.png" alt="">
<a name="open-compound"></a>
Open a compound object temporarily for editing the component objects.
<dd>
<p>
<p>
Clicking a COMPOUND object with mouse button 1 (`open compound')
will open the COMPOUND object,
and then the component objects may be edited.
All other objects which were not in the COMPOUND object
will become invisible temporarily,
but they will reappear after all COMPOUND objects are closed.
<p>
If mouse button 2 (`open, keep visible') is clicked on the COMPOUND,
the other objects not in the COMPOUND object will become shades of gray,
making it easy to align objects inside the compound with those outside.
<p>
A popup panel with two buttons to close the COMPOUND objects
(<i>Close This Compound</i> and <i>Close All Compounds</i>)
will appear when a COMPOUND object is opened,
and the open COMPOUND may be closed again using those buttons.
Clicking <i>Close This Compound</i> will close the COMPOUND object last opened,
and clicking <i>Close All Compounds</i> will close all nested, opened COMPOUND objects.
<p>
If you want to break a COMPOUND object into component objects,
use <a href="#break-compound">BREAK COMPOUND</a>.
<p>
If the File/Save is attempted while a compound is open, <b>xfig</b>
will ask if you want to save only the open COMPOUND object (Save Part)
or the whole figure (Save All).
<p>
<img src="images/pict-info.png" alt="">
<i>Note</i>:
If you open a COMPOUND object,
<a href="#delete">delete</a> an object in that COMPOUND object,
close the COMPOUND object and
<a href="main_menus.html#undo">Undo</a> the delete operation,
the object you deleted will reappear but it will outside of the COMPOUND object.
Conversely, if you delete an object from the canvas,
open a compound then undo the delete of the original object,
it will now be part of the open compound.
In this way you may add or remove selected objects from a COMPOUND.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/join-button.png" alt="">
<a name="join"></a>
Join or split lines
<dd>
<p>
With this feature you may join lines or splines together or split
a line or spline into two objects. Also, you may close an open line
(make it a polygon) or spline (closed spline) or open a box, polygon
or closed spline.
<p>
To join two lines or two splines together
click mouse button 1 (`Join lines/splines') to select the first endpoint
and again (`Choose next point') to select the second endpoint to be joined.
If the endpoints are on the same line or spline, it will make a closed object.
<p>
To split a line or spline into two separate objects or to convert a box
or polygon to a line, or to open a closed spline,
click mouse button 2 (`Spline line/spline')
between two the points on the line/spline etc.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/chop-button.png" alt="">
<a name="chop"></a>
Chopping objects.
<dd>
<p>
The Chop operation allows you to chop polylines, arcs, and circles into
individual opjects that, together, approximate the original object.
(Ellipses will be supported in a future release.)
<p>
Left-clicking on one or more objects selects them as "axes". When another
object is subsequently selected with a middle click, all possible intersections
between that object and all "axe" objects are computed. These intersections
are then used to create a collection of new objects that approximate the
original. Additional "axe" objects can be added at anytime, and any number of
objects may be chopped. Right-clicking clears the axe list.
<p>
Circles will be partitioned into pie-wedge arcs and arcs will be partitioned
into either open or pie-wedge arcs, depending on the type of the original arc.
(In both cases, the type can be changed by editing the newly created objects.)
Open polylines and unconstrained polygons (i.e., closed polylines other than
boxes, arcboxes, and picture boxes) will be chopped into one or more objects of
the same type. Constrained polygons cannot be chopped.
<p>
How polygons are chopped is controlled by the "Arc Type" mode in the indicator
panel. If "Open" mode is selected, the polygons that result from the cut
operation will defined only by the vertices of the original polygon and the
intersection points; "Closed" mode will result in polygons that include, in
addition to the original vertices and intersects, the geometric centerpoint of
the original polygon.
<p>
Chop operations cannot (yet) be undone.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/scale-button.png" alt="">
<a name="scale"></a>
Scale object
<dd>
<p>
Clicking any <b>corner</b> of
<a href="drawing.html#box">BOX</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#arc-box">ARC-BOX</a>,
or <a href="editing.html#glue-compound">COMPOUND</a> object
with mouse button 1 (`scale box') and dragging the mouse will
start scaling the object proportionally to its horizontal/vertical ratio.
Clicking any <b>edge</b> of that object
with mouse button 1 (`scale box') will
start scaling the object only in one dimension (width or height).
The scaling operation is finished
by clicking mouse button 1 (`new position') again.
<p>
Clicking on an object with mouse button 2 (`scale about center')
will scale the object proportionally about its center.
The scaling operation is finished
by clicking mouse button 2 (`new position') again.
<p>
In any case, The scaling operation may be canceled
by clicking mouse button 3 (`cancel').
<p>
It is not possible to scale
<a href="drawing.html#text">TEXT</a> objects
directly with this function.
To scale TEXT objects,
use <a href="#edit">EDIT OBJECT</a> or <a href="#update">UPDATE</a>
and change the size of the text
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-size">TEXT SIZE</a>).
However, if a <a href="#glue-compound">COMPOUND</a>
object that includes TEXT objects is scaled,
the TEXT objects will also be scaled
if the <a href="attributes.html#text-flags"><i>Rigid</i> flag</a>
is not set.
<p>
You may use also <a href="#move-point">MOVE POINT</a>
if you want to scale an object such as a BOX
without keeping its horizontal/vertical ratio.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/align-button.png" alt="">
<a name="align"></a>
Align objects
<dd>
<p>
How objects are aligned is set by
<a href="attributes.html#vertical-align">VERTICAL ALIGN</a>
and <a href="attributes.html#horiz-align">HORIZONTAL ALIGN</a>.
<p>
Clicking on a <a href="#glue-compound">COMPOUND object</a>
with mouse button 1 (`align compound')
will align objects within the COMPOUND object.
Clicking mouse button 2 (`align canvas') anywhere on the canvas
will align all objects to the canvas.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/move-point-button.png" alt="">
<a name="move-point"></a>
Move a point of an object
<dd>
<p>
Select the point to be moved
by clicking the point with mouse button 1 (`move point'),
and finish the move by click mouse button 1 (`new position') again
after moving mouse to the new point.
If you want to restrict the move to horizontal or vertical,
use mouse button 2 (`horiz/vert move') instead of mouse button 1.
The operation may be canceled by clicking mouse button 3 (`cancel')
in either case.
<p>
This may not be used for <a href="drawing.html#text">TEXT</a> objects.
For <a href="drawing.html#box">BOX</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#arc-box">ARC-BOX</a>,
and <a href="editing.html#glue-compound">COMPOUND</a> objects,
not only the selected point
but the edges connected to the point will be moved.
The object created by
<a href="drawing.html#regular-polygon">REGULAR POLYGON</a>
is an ordinary <a href="drawing.html#polygon">POLYGON</a> object,
and only the selected point will be moved.
<p>
Points may also be <a href="#add-point">added</a>
or <a href="#add-point">deleted</a>.
If you want to move entire object, use <a href="#move">MOVE</a> instead.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/add-point-button.png" alt="">
<a name="add-point"></a>
Add a new point to a
<a href="drawing.html#polyline">POLYLINE</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#polygon">POLYGON</a>,
or <a href="drawing.html#spline">SPLINE</a> object
<dd>
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 (`break/add here') between two points of an object
will add a new point at that location,
and the point will move following mouse cursor.
The operation is finished
by clicking mouse button 1 (`place new point') again.
<p>
It is not possible to add a point to
<a href="drawing.html#box">BOX</a> or
<a href="drawing.html#arc-box">ARC-BOX</a> objects.
The object created by
<a href="drawing.html#regular-polygon">REGULAR POLYGON</a>
is an ordinary <a href="drawing.html#polygon">POLYGON</a> object,
and it is possible to add new points anywhere in it.
<p>
Points may also be <a href="#move-point">moved</a>
or <a href="#add-point">deleted</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/delete-point-button.png" alt="">
<a name="delete-point"></a>
Delete point from
<a href="drawing.html#polyline">POLYLINE</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#polygon">POLYGON</a>,
or <a href="drawing.html#spline">SPLINE</a> object
<dd>
<p>
Clicking a point to be deleted with mouse button 1 (`delete point')
will delete the point,
and the points on either side of the point will connected directly.
<p>
It is not possible to delete points from a
<a href="drawing.html#box">BOX</a>
or <a href="drawing.html#arc-box">ARC-BOX</a> object.
The object created by
<a href="drawing.html#regular-polygon">REGULAR POLYGON</a>
is ordinary <a href="drawing.html#polygon">POLYGON</a> object,
and it is possible to delete points from it.
<p>
Points may also be <a href="#move-point">moved</a>
or <a href="#add-point">added</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/move-button.png" alt="">
<a name="move"></a>
Move object
<dd>
<p>
Select the object to be moved by clicking the object
with mouse button 1 (`move object'),
and finish the move operation by
clicking mouse button 1 (`place object') again at the new position.
If you want to restrict the movement to horizontal or vertical,
use mouse button 2 (`horiz/vert move') instead of mouse button 1.
The operation may be canceled by clicking mouse button 3 (`cancel') in
either case.
<p>
If you want to move several objects at one time,
you may put them into a COMPOUND object
using <a href="#glue-compound">GLUE COMPOUND</a>.
<p>
By setting <a href="attributes.html#smart-link">SMART-LINKS MODE</a>,
it is possible to move the endpoints of lines which touch the object
as you move the object itself. Additionally, endpoints of lines which
fall inside a COMPOUND object will also be moved.
The SMART-LINKS feature
only works with POLYLINES (not splines) touching a BOX, ARC-BOX, or COMPOUND.
<p>
Objects may also be <a href="#copy">copied</a>
or <a href="#delete">deleted</a>.
If you want to move a point of the object,
use <a href="#move-point">MOVE POINT</a> instead.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/copy-button.png" alt="">
<a name="copy"></a>
Copy object
<dd>
<p>
Select the object to be copied by clicking the object
with mouse button 1 (`copy object'),
and finish the copy operation by
clicking mouse button 1 (`place object') again at the position
to place the copy.
If you want to restrict the movement to horizontal or vertical,
use mouse button 2 (`horiz/vert copy') instead of mouse button 1.
The operation may be canceled by clicking mouse button 3 (`cancel')
in either case.
<p>
If you want to copy several objects at the same time,
you may put them a COMPOUND object
using <a href="#glue-compound">GLUE COMPOUND</a>.
<p>
By setting <a href="attributes.html#smart-link">SMART-LINKS MODE</a>,
it is possible to copy the lines which touch the object
as you move the object itself.
This only works with POLYLINES (not splines) touching a BOX or ARC-BOX.
<p>
It is also possible to make many copies in this mode,
using <i>ARRAY PLACEMENT</i>.
To do this, first set the number of copies to be created
by setting <a href="attributes.html#num-x-copies">NUMBER OF X COPIES</a>
and <a href="attributes.html#num-y-copies">NUMBER OF Y COPIES</a>.
Then select the object to be copied by clicking the object
with mouse button 1 (`copy object') or 2 (`constrained copy'),
and specify the direction and distance to place the copies
by clicking mouse button 2 (`array placement') after moving the mouse.
Normally, objects will be placed on the array of
NUMBER OF X COPIES and NUMBER OF Y COPIES,
but when either of them is set 0 or 1,
copies of specified number will be generated
and they can be placed obliquely. For example, if the number of X copies is 3 and
the number of Y copies is 0 or 1, the copied objects will be placed
along the X direction at the same Y position as the original object.
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 3 (`copy to cut buf')
will copy the object to the <i>xfig cut buffer</i>.
The object copied into the <i>xfig cut buffer</i> may be inserted
into the figure on the canvas
using <a href="main_menus.html#paste">Paste Objects</a>.
This allows you to copy part of a figure to another figure.
Any object in the <i>xfig cut buffer</i> will be overwritten
when the new object is copied into the <i>xfig cut buffer</i>.
To copy multiple objects into the <i>xfig cut buffer</i>,
you must first put them into a COMPOUND object
using <a href="#glue-compound">GLUE COMPOUND</a>.
<p>
Objects may also be <a href="#move">moved</a>
or <a href="#delete">deleted</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/delete-button.png" alt="">
<a name="delete"></a>
Delete object
<dd>
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 1 (`delete object')
will remove the object.
It is also possible to remove objects in a rectangular region
by clicking mouse button 2 (`delete region') at one corner of the region
and then again (`final corner') again at the opposite corner.
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 3 (`del to cut buf')
will remove the object from the canvas and move it to the <i>xfig cut buffer</i>.
The object moved into the <i>xfig cut buffer</i> may be inserted
into the figure on the canvas
using <a href="main_menus.html#paste">Paste Objects</a> later.
See also <a href="#copy">COPY</a>.
<p>
If you want to delete all objects from the canvas to make a new figure,
you may use <a href="main_menus.html#new">New</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/update-button.png" alt="">
<a name="update"></a>
Update object or attribute panel
<dd>
<p>
Update the attributes (such as line width or colors) of object
with the current settings in the
<a href="attributes.html">Attribute Panel</a>.
Conversely, it is also possible to copy the attributes of an object
to the attribute panel.
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 1 (`update object')
will apply the current settings of the attribute buttons selected for UPDATE
to the object.
If a <a href="editing.html#glue-compound">COMPOUND object</a>
is clicked with mouse button 1 (`update object'),
the attributes of all the objects in the COMPOUND object will be updated.
<p>
Clicking an object (except a COMPOUND object)
with mouse button 2 (`update settings')
will copy the attributes of the object to the attribute buttons
which are selected for UPDATE.
This allows you to copy attributes from one object to another object.
<p>
<a name="update-control">In UPDATE mode</a>,
a small toggle button appears in the upper-right corner
of each <a href="attributes.html">attribute button</a>,
and only the attribute buttons whose toggle button is set <i>ON</i>
will be used for update.
Clicking the toggle button at the upper-right corner of an attribute button
will toggle the button <i>ON</i>/<i>OFF</i>.
It is also possible to select, unselect, or toggle all attribute buttons,
using <i>Update Control</i> buttons at the left side of the attribute panel.
<p>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/update-control.png" alt="[Update Control Buttons]">
</blockquote>
<p>
The attributes of objects may also be modified
using <a href="#edit">EDIT OBJECT</a>.
Some attributes can't be modified by UPDATE but may be modified by EDIT OBJECT.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/edit-button.png" alt="">
<a name="edit"></a>
Edit object attributes
<dd>
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 1 (`edit object')
will popup the <a href="#edit-panel">Edit Panel</a> to edit the attributes.
The items in the panel depend on the object being edited.
See <a href="#edit-panel">Edit Panel</a> for more information.
<p>
Clicking a control point of a
<a href="drawing.html#spline">SPLINE</a> object
with mouse button 3 (`edit point') will popup
<a href="#edit-point">EDIT POINT panel</a> to
modify the <i>shape factor</i> of the spline curve.
<p>
The attributes of objects may also be modified using <a href="#update">UPDATE</a>,
but some attributes can't be modified with UPDATE.
<p>
<a name="edit-comments"></a>
If mouse button 2 (`edit Fig comments') is clicked on the canvas,
the edit panel will popup to allow the user to change the comments
associated with the whole figure:<br>
<img src="images/edit-figure-comments.png" align=bottom alt="[ Edit Figure Comment ]">
<p>
<a name="display-comments"></a>
If the <b>Shift</b> key is held down while mouse button 2 (`show comments')
is clicked on an object, any comments in the object are displayed
in a popup until the mouse button is released:<br>
<img src="images/show-comments.png" align=bottom alt="[ Show Comment ]">
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/flip-vert-button.png" alt="">
<img src="images/flip-horiz-button.png" alt="">
<a name="flip"></a>
Flip object vertically or horizontally
<dd>
<p>
Clicking the object with mouse button 1 (`flip')
will flip the object vertically/horizontally about that point.
Clicking the object with mouse button 2 (`copy & flip')
will make <b>copy</b> of the object flipped vertically/horizontally about that point,
leaving original object as it was.
<p>
It is also possible to set the <i>anchor point</i>
about which the object will be flipped,
by clicking mouse button 3 (`set anchor') at the point.
A crosshair (+) indicates the anchor point on the canvas.
The anchor point may be removed by
clicking mouse button 3 (`set anchor') again.
<p>
To rotate an object, use <a href="#rotate">ROTATE</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/rotate-cw-button.png" alt="">
<img src="images/rotate-ccw-button.png" alt="">
<a name="rotate"></a>
Rotate object
<dd>
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 1 (`rotate object')
will rotate the object to clockwise or counter-clockwise
by the angle specified by
<a href="attributes.html#rotation-angle">ROTATION ANGLE</a>
about the point that is clicked.
<p>
It is also possible to make many copies in this mode,
using <i>COPY & ROTATE</i>.
Clicking object with mouse button 2 (`copy & rotate')
may make many copies rotated by the angle specified by the
<a href="attributes.html#rotation-angle">ROTATION ANGLE</a>.
The number of copies to be created may be set by
<a href="attributes.html#num-copies">NUMBER OF COPIES</a>.
<p>
As in <a href="#flip">FLIP VERTICALLY/HORIZONTALLY</a>,
it is possible to set the <i>anchor point</i>
about which the object will be rotated,
by clicking mouse button 3 (`set anchor').
<p>
<a href="drawing.html#box">BOX</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#arc-box">ARC-BOX</a>
and <a href="drawing.html#picture">PICTURE</a> objects,
and <a href="editing.html#glue-compound">COMPOUND</a>
objects containing any of those objects may only be rotated
by multiples of 90 degrees.
To flip object vertically or horizontally,
use <a href="#flip">FLIP VERTICALLY/HORIZONTALLY</a>.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/spline-line-button.png" alt="">
<a name="spline-line"></a>
Convert object type
<dd>
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 1 (`spline <-> line')
will perform a conversion thus:
<dl>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
polyline --> open approximated spline -->
open interpolated spline --> polyline
<br>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
polygon --> closed approximated spline -->
closed interpolated spline --> polygon
<br>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
box --> arc-box --> box
</dl>
<p>
Clicking an object with mouse button 3 (`open <-> close')
will perform a conversion thus:
<dl>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
polyline <-> polygon
<br>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
open approximated spline <-> closed approximated spline
<br>
<dd><img src="images/blueballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
open interpolated spline <-> closed interpolated spline
</dl>
<p>
Finer control is possible for spline curves.
See <a href="#edit-point">EDIT POINT</a>
and <a href="drawing.html#spline">About Spline Curves</a>
for more information.
<hr>
<dt><img src="images/add-arrow-button.png" alt="">
<a name="add-arrow"></a>
Add/delete arrow head
<dd>
<p>
Clicking the end point of object with mouse button 1 (`add arrow')
will add an arrow head to that end.
Clicking an arrow head with mouse button 2 (`delete arrow')
will remove the arrow head.
<p>
This operation is only valid for <a href="drawing.html#polyline">POLYLINE</a>,
<a href="drawing.html#spline">OPEN SPLINE</a>,
or <a href="drawing.html#arc">OPEN ARC</a> objects.
<p>
The shape of the arrow head may be set by
<a href="attributes.html#arrow-type">ARROW TYPE</a>.
The size of arrow head may be set by
<a href="attributes.html#arrow-size">ARROW SIZE</a>.
It is also possible to automatically create arrow heads when
creating new objects
by setting <a href="attributes.html#arrow-mode">ARROW MODE</a>.
<hr>
<dt><a name="add-tangent"></a>
<img src="images/add-tangent-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Add Tangent or Normal to Curve
<dd>
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 near a curve of an arc or spline will create a
2cm line <b>tangent</b> to the curve, with the current line attributes
such as thickness, color, etc. The line has three points, with the middle point
touching the original curve.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 2 near a curve will create a 2cm line <b>normal</b> to
the curve.
<hr>
<dt><a name="measure-angle"></a>
<img src="images/measure-angle-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Measure Angle
<dd>
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 on a vertex of a polyline or polygon will report
(in the message window below the main menus)
the angle between the two lines meeting at the vertex.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 on any three points in the canvas will report
the angle between the two lines formed by the three points.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 2 on the vertex of a polyline or polygon will report
the angle between the two lines meeting at the vertex, <b>and</b> save
the angle in the <a href="attributes.html#rotation-angle">current rotation angle</a>
setting in the attributes panel.
<hr>
<dt><a name="measure-length"></a>
<img src="images/measure-length-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Measure Length of Lines and Arcs, and Perimeters of Circles and Ellipses
<dd>
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 on any polyline, polygon, box, arc or circle/ellipse will report
(in the message window below the main menus)
the length of the lines forming the object, or the perimeter for a circle or ellipse.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 2 on such an object will add the length to
a running sum and report the individual and accumulated lengths.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 3 will reset the accumulated length to 0.
<hr>
<dt><a name="measure-area"></a>
<img src="images/measure-area-button.png" align="middle" alt="">
Measure Area of Polygons and Ellipses
<dd>
<p>
Clicking mouse button 1 on any polyline, polygon, box or circle/ellipse will report
(in the message window below the main menus)
the area of the object.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 2 on such an object will add the area to
a running sum and report the individual and accumulated areas.
<p>
Clicking mouse button 3 will reset the accumulated area to 0.
<p>
<img src="images/pict-info.png" alt="">
The area for polygons that have overlapping parts will not be calculated correctly.
This should be fixed in a future version.
<br>
Will work correctly:
<img src="images/measure-area-goodpoly.png" alt="">
Will NOT work correctly:
<img src="images/measure-area-badpoly.png" alt="">
</dl>
<img src="images/blueramp.png" alt="-">
<h2><img src="images/pict-info.png" alt="">
<a name="select-object">Selecting Objects</a></h2>
Objects may be selected by clicking the <i>corner markers</i>
(<i>handles</i>) of the object.
The corner markers are small square marks
which are displayed at the corner point of objects
which may be selected for any particular mode.
<p>
Most objects may also be selected by clicking on the line
connecting corner markers,
but it may have a different meaning in some editing modes.
For example in the <a href="#scale">SCALE OBJECT</a> mode,
clicking on a corner marker will scale the object proportionally
to its horizontal/vertical ratio,
but clicking on a line connecting corner markers (edge of the rectangle)
will scale the object only in that direction (i.e. horizontally or vertically).
<p>
If <a href="attributes.html#point-position">POINT POSITION</a>
is set to other than <i>Any</i>,
objects which are not on the virtual grid may not be be selected.
<p>
When object corners or edges are coincident, clicking on the object
may not select the desired object but the other object instead.
In this case, the desired object may be selected with following operations:
<ol>
<li>Press (and hold) the SHIFT key and click on the object to be selected.
<li>If the corner marker of the other object is highlighted,
keep the SHIFT key down and click the object again.
<li>When corner marker of the desired object is highlighted,
release the SHIFT key and click the object again.
</ol>
Note that you shouldn't move the mouse during this operation.
<p>
<img src="images/blueramp.png" alt="-">
<h2><a name="edit-panel">EDIT Panel</a></h2>
The Edit Panel will popup when an object is selected
in <a href="#edit">EDIT OBJECT</a> mode,
and it shows all of the attributes of the object.
The Contents of the Edit Panel varies depending one the type of object.
This shows a few of those Edit Panels.
<h3>General</h3>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/edit-panel-polyline.png" alt="[Edit Panel - Polyline]">
</blockquote>
<p>
<dl>
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Comments</i>
<dd>Every object may have comments associated with it for informational purposes.
This is an ASCII text widget which may hold up to 50 lines of 200 characters each.
<br>
The whole figure may also have comments. To edit these,
click mouse button 2 (`edit Fig comments')
on the canvas after choosing the <a href="#edit">Edit mode</a>.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Width</i>
<dd>The width of the line.
(see <a href="attributes.html#line-width">LINE WIDTH</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Pen Color</i>
<dd>The color used to draw the outline of the object.
(see <a href="attributes.html#pen-color">PEN COLOR</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Fill Color</i>
<dd>The color used to fill region inside the object.
(see <a href="attributes.html#fill-color">FILL COLOR</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Depth</i>
<dd>The `<i>depth</i>' of the object.
(see <a href="attributes.html#depth">DEPTH</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Fill Style</i>
<dd>The fill intensity (darkness) or fill pattern.
The <i>Fill Intensity</i> is effective if <i>Fill Style</i> is <i>Filled</i>,
and <i>Fill Pattern</i> is effective if <i>Fill Style</i> is <i>Pattern</i>.
<i>Fill Intensity</i> is an integer value from 0 to 200;
0 for black, 100 for pure <i>Fill Color</i>, and 200 for white.
<br>
The <i>Fill Pattern</i> is an integer value from 0 to 21.
(see <a href="attributes.html#fill-style">FILL STYLE</a> for the actual patterns)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Line Style</i>
<dd>The line style.
(see <a href="attributes.html#line-style">LINE STYLE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Cap Style</i>
<dd>The shape of the end-points of the line.
(see <a href="attributes.html#cap-style">CAP STYLE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Join Style</i>
<dd>The shape of the join point (corner) of lines.
(see <a href="attributes.html#join-style">JOIN STYLE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Arrows</i>
<dd>Indicates whether the object has arrow heads at one or both ends.
The shape and size of the arrow heads may be modified here.
(see <a href="attributes.html#arrow-type">ARROW TYPE</a>
and <a href="attributes.html#arrow-size">ARROW SIZE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Corner Radius</i>
<dd>The radius of the corners for ARC-BOX objects.
(see <a href="attributes.html#box-curve">BOX CURVE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Center, Radius, Points, etc.</i>
<dd>These fields indicate the position and size of the object, and
the coordinates of any points, in <b>Fig</b> units (1/1200 inch).
<br>
<img src="images/pict-info.png" alt="">
Note: For these entries, you may enter values followed by either "c" or "i"
for centimeters or inches respectively.
</dl>
<hr>
<h3><a name="edit-text-panel">TEXT object</a></h3>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/edit-panel-text.png" alt="[Edit Panel - Text]">
</blockquote>
<p>
<dl>
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Size</i>
<dd>The size of the text, in points.
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-size">TEXT SIZE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Pen Color</i>
<dd>The color of the text.
(see <a href="attributes.html#pen-color">PEN COLOR</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Depth</i>
<dd>The `<i>depth</i>' of the object.
(see <a href="attributes.html#depth">DEPTH</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Angle</i>
<dd>The angle of the text, in degrees. Angles > 0 are counterclockwise.
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-angle">TEXT/ELLIPSE ANGLE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Justification</i>
<dd>Indicates which part of the text is placed at the specified point.
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-justification">TEXT JUSTIFICATION</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Hidden Flag, Rigid Flag, and Special Flag</i>
<dd>The state of those flags.
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-flags">TEXT FLAGS</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Origin</i>
<dd>The position of the text.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Font</i>
<dd>The font used for the text.
The size of the font is displayed in the <i>Size</i> field.
(see <a href="attributes.html#text-font">TEXT FONT</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Text</i>
<dd>This field contains the text itself,
and it is possible to edit the text here. Pressing <I>Ctrl-Return</I>
in the text box will pop down the edit panel.
It is also possible to edit text without popping up the Edit Panel;
in <a href="drawing.html#text">TEXT</a> mode,
simply click any point of the text to be edit.
</dl>
<hr>
<h3><a name="edit-pict-panel">PICTURE object</a></h3>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/edit-panel-picture.png" alt="[Edit Panel - Picture]">
</blockquote>
<dl>
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<a name="screen-capture"><i>Screen Capture</i></a>
<dd>This is used to capture an image displayed on the screen.
After clicking <i>Screen Capture</i> button,
you can perform one of following actions:
<ol>
<li>click mouse button 1 on any window to capture the whole window
<li>click mouse button 1 on the root window (background of the screen)
to capture the whole screen
<li>click mouse button 2 on one corner of a rectangle on the screen,
drag the mouse to the other corner and click mouse button 2 again,
to capture image in the rectangle
<li>click mouse button 3 to cancel capture operation
</ol>
During the capture operation,
<b>xfig</b> unmaps all its windows from the screen.
Those windows reappear on the screen when completing or cancelling the capture.
The captured image will be displayed on the canvas in the picture object area.
During the capture, the <b>xfig</b> window(s) will be hidden (unmapped).
The captured image will be stored in a file
such as <tt>figure1_828065129.pcx</tt>,
which includes the current figure name
and the time in seconds since 00:00:00 GMT, Jan 1, 1970.
The file format will be PCX, and will be indicated in the
picture type area.
<p>
You can't use this facility
if visual of your display is TrueColor or it is deeper than 8 bits.
<p>
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<a name="edit-image"><i>Edit Image</i></a>
<dd>Clicking this button will invoke an external bitmap editor
(the default is <a href="installation.html#related-software"><b>xv</b></a>)
to edit the image.
Program that will be invoked can be checked on the
<a href="global_settings.html">Global Settings panel</a>.
<i>Edit Image</i> will invoke <b>xv</b> by default,
but you can change it to invoke your favorite bitmap editor
(<a href="installation.html#related-software"><b>xpaint</b></a>
or <a href="installation.html#gimp"><b>GIMP</b></a>, for example)
with the resource <tt>Fig.image_editor</tt>
or command-line argument <tt>-image_editor</tt>.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Pen Color</i>
<dd>This is effective only when the image file is XBM format and will be used
to color the bits of the image.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Depth</i>
<dd>The `<i>depth</i>' of the object.
(see <a href="attributes.html#depth">DEPTH</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Picture Filename</i>
<dd>Specify the file name of the image file.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Type, Size, and Number of colors</i>
<dd>Information such as file format or size of the image is displayed here.
They may not be modified.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Reread</i>
<dd>Clicking this button will cause <b>xfig</b> to re-read the image file.
This may be necessary when the image file has been modified
after the file has been read by <b>xfig</b>.
<dt>
<a name="browse-panel"><img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-"></a>
<i>Browse</i>
<dd>Clicking this button will popup a Browse Panel
to select an image file to be imported.
Click on an image file and press <b>Apply</b> to preview it,
or double-click on it to choose it and close the browse panel.
You may change directories in the same manner as in the file panels.
The <b>Filename Mask</b> by default will show all image types that
<b>xfig</b> can import.
<br>
<img src="images/image_browse.png" align=bottom alt="[ Browse Image Files ]">
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>First Corner, and Opposite Corner</i>
<dd>The position of two corner points of the rectangular region
where the image is pasted.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Orientation</i>
<dd><i>x</i> and <i>y</i> coordinates of the image will be swapped
if <i>Flipped about diag</i> is selected here.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Rotation</i>
<dd>The rotation angle of the image. It may not be modified here.
(see <a href="#rotate">ROTATE</a>)
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Cur H/W Ratio and Orig H/W Ratio</i>
<dd>The current and original horizontal/vertical ratio of the image.
<dt>
<img src="images/redballdot.png" align=bottom alt="-">
<i>Change H/W Ratio</i>
<dd>These buttons may be used to set horizontal/vertical ratio of the image.
<dl>
<dt><i>Shrink to orig</i>
<dd>revert to horizontal/vertical ratio without expanding the image.
<dt><i>Expand to orig</i>
<dd>revert to horizontal/vertical ratio without shrinking the image.
<dt><i>Use original size</i>
<dd>Clicking <i>Use original size</i> will set size of the image
to the original size in the picture file.
<dt><i>Scale by %</i>
<dd>Clicking <i>Scale by %</i> will scale the image
by a percentage of the original size in the picture file.
</dl>
</dl>
<hr>
<h2><a name="edit-point">EDIT POINT</a></h2>
The Edit Point panel is used to modify the <i>shape factor</i>
of control points of <a href="drawing.html#spline">spline curves</a>,
and it will popup by clicking on a control point of spline curve
with mouse button 3 (`edit point') in <a href="#edit">EDIT OBJECT</a> mode.
The <i>shape factor</i> will control the shape of the curve.
<p>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/edit-point-panel.png" alt="[Edit Point Panel]">
</blockquote>
<p>
Clicking <i>Approximated</i>, <i>Angular</i>, or <i>Interpolated</i>
button will set the shape factor to a preset value.
The shape factor may also be set to arbitrary values
by moving the slider on the left side of the panel.
The modified spline curve will be displayed interactively in either case.
<p>
<blockquote>
<img src="images/spline-sf-example.png" alt="[Spline - Shape Factor]">
</blockquote>
<p>
The shape factor of a control point may also be modified
without popping up the Edit Point panel
by clicking the control point while pressing both of SHIFT key and CONTROL key.
Clicking a control point with mouse button 1 (`More approx')
will decrease the shape factor,
and clicking a control point with mouse button 3 (`More interp')
will increase the shape factor.
Clicking a control point with mouse button 2 (`Cycle shape')
will cycle through three preset values:
Approximated, Angular, and Interpolated.
<p>
<hr>
[ <a href="contents.html">Contents</a> |
<a href="introduction.html">Introduction</a> |
<a href="authors.html">Credits</a> ]
</body>
</html>
distrib
>
Mandriva
>
current
>
i586
>
media
>
main-updates
>
by-pkgid
>
e7b6544b58727dacb0569c05124bc590
>
files
>
2667
