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FIG. 13.34
Examples of Vertically,
alignment options.


Resizing ObjectsThe Size Objects option makes the vertical or horizontal size of a set of selected objects the same. Pressing the option brings up the Size Object dialog box, as shown in Figure 13.35. This dialog box contains three sets of settings: width, height, and units.

FIG. 13.35
The Size Objects
dialog box.


The Width radio buttons set the width of the selected items, and the Height radio buttons control the height of the selected items. The two sets of buttons have the following five settings:

Figure 13.36 displays examples of the various settings.

The Repeat Sizing option resizes additional sets of objects and applies the last settings selected in the Sizing Objects dialog box.

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FIG. 13.36
Examples of Resizing
Objects.


Using Object GroupsWhen you are formatting the canvas, groups of objects often have the similar properties or are positioned closely together. It is convenient to format common sets of objects at the same time. Designer gives you the ability to format multiple items in one formatting operation. Selection is done by clicking each object while holding down the shift key. When the developer selects an item from a different set, all of the items in the previous set are deselected. If you want to perform another procedure on the original set, you must select each item again. This can be a time-consuming process if you select the same object sets repeatedly.

The Group and Ungroup options The Group option allows the developer to avoid having to reselect set of objects. Selecting this option places all currently selected objects into a group. When another object is selected, the group items are deselected. However, when one item in the group is reselected, all of the items in the group are re-selected. This saves the developer the time spent reselecting each of the objects. Selecting the group and choosing the Ungroup option eliminates the grouping.

The Group Operations optionsAt the bottom of the Arrange submenu is the Group Operations option. This option opens the submenu displayed in Figure 13.37 and modifies groups by using the following options:

Using the Layout Editor Tool Palette

The Layout Editor Tool Palette is located on the left side of the Layout Editor. It contains a variety of options that allow the developer to place graphic objects, data objects, and

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pushbuttons on a canvas. It also has options to color the objects on the canvas. The function of the button is displayed when the cursor is placed over the button.

Fig. 13.37
The Group Operations
options.


The Select Tool

The Select tool is located on the first row and first column of the palette, and has a picture of an arrow on it. Select is the default tool and allows the cursor to be used as a selection device. Whenever the developer wants to perform an action, the item(s) must be selected by clicking it with the cursor. This button may be clicked when another tool has been selected and the developer no longer wants to use the tool.

The Rotate Tool

The button on the first row, second column, is the Rotate function, which rotates objects. In order to rotate the object, you must select the object, grab a handle, and pull the object. As the object is moved, a status line appears showing the current angle of rotation. If you double-click the button, you can make the Rotate tool the default. This allows you to select and rotate objects without switching tools. Figure 13.38 illustrates a rotating graphic object.

FIG. 13.38
Rotating a graphic
object.


The Magnify toolThe Magnify tool on the second row, first column, has a picture of a magnifying glass on it. This tool is the same as the Zoom In function on the View options menu. Magnify causes objects in the Layout Editor to appear as if they had increased in size.

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The objects will remain the same size during the zooming operation. When using this function, the center of the newly displayed area is the spot where you clicked the cursor. This gives the developer more control over the area to enlarge than the Zoom In menu function.

The Reshape tool

The Reshape tool changes the shape of an object. The tool allows the developer to change the sweep angle of an arc to the desired angle. The default angle of the arc is 90 degrees. The use of this tool is necessary to change it to another value. When performing freehand graphics, the tool causes special drag handles to appear on the object. These handles can be used to reshape the object. The Reshape tool allows the developer to move any vertex (corner) of a rectangle or rounded rectangle that has been rotated to another position.

Graphic Shape Tools

The Layout Editor Tool Palette uses eight tools to create graphic shapes.

The Rectangle ToolThe tool in the third row, first column, is the Rectangle tool. It has a square rectangle as a button symbol. You can create a rectangle by placing the cursor at the position where you want a corner to exist. Then click and drag the frame to obtain the desired size. If you want to ensure that the object is a square, hold the shift key while dragging the object.

The Line Tool The tool on the third row, second column, is the Line tool. Draw a line by clicking where you want the original endpoint to be, and then drag the line to the other endpoint. Holding the shift key down while dragging the line ensures that it is vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

The Ellipse Tool The Ellipse tool is located on the fourth row, first column. This tool is used to draw circles or ellipses. To draw a symbol, place the cursor at the intersection of the top and left most edge axis'. Hold the button down and the shape the box that will appear. The box is a temporary device showing where the edges of the ellipse will appear. The ellipse will fit inside the box. If the box is square, a circle will be drawn.

The Arc Tool The Arc tool is used to draw an arc. To draw an arc, position the cursor where you want the first tip of the arc to begin. Press and hold the mouse button while dragging the arc. The end point of the arc will be the position of the mouse insertion point when the mouse button is released.

The Polygon TToolThe Polygon tool, on the fifth row, first column, creates polygons. Do this by selecting the tool, clicking once at each vertex, and double-clicking on the last vertex. The editor completes the polygon frame by drawing a line from the last vertex to the beginning of the frame. Holding down the shift key causes the line segment to be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

The Polyline tool creates a shape similar to a polygon, except that the last vertex is not automatically joined to the first vertex when double-clicked.

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