Graphics

Additional graphics can be added to complete a drawing.

 

The different types of graphic are drawn in a similar manner:

• Start by

  • selecting Insert -> Graphic -> <graphic type> from the Main Menu bar or by clicking on the desired button on the Graphic Toolbar

• Draw graphic

  • To select the start point, move the cursor to the desired location, then click and hold the left mouse button. Select the end point by moving the cursor to the desired location and releasing the mouse button.

  • If the graphic requires more than 2 input points, click and release the left mouse button to create the start point and then click on the subsequent input points.

  • During the drawing process, the system continuously draws the graphic.

• Select graphic

  • Closed, non-filled graphics are selected by clicking their outline whereas

  • closed, filled graphics can either be selected by clicking their outline or any point within it.

• Fill graphic

  • Closed graphics objects (i.e. rectangles, circles, ovals, polygons) can be filled/hatched by selecting the Hatch Tab in the Graphic Properties dialog.

 

Newly drawn graphics are automatically selected for further modification.

When drawing graphics with the copilot function switched on (Settings -> General -> Display ->Copilot), the size of the object in X and Y is dynamically displayed along with the cursor.

 

The display order of graphic elements can be changed by means of the commands Bring to Front, Send to Back, Bring forward, Send backward.

 

These functions can be applied to all selectable graphic objects in Project and Database Editor mode.

 

Change the shape of a graphic object

To edit an existing graphic element, right-click on it to display the context menu and select the Edit points command. The command is only available in the context menu, if exactly one graphic line or one rectangle or one polygon has been selected.

 

To reshape the graphic object, drag one of the points that form its outline.

 

Depending on the object selected, the context menu comprises different commands:

• To add a point to a graphic object, right-click where you want to add it and select Add point from the displayed context menu.

• To remove a point from a graphic object, right-click on the desired point and select Delete point from the displayed context menu. This option is only active if the context menu is activated on a point and if the object selected consists of at least three points.

• To remove a point from a graphic object, right-click on the desired point and select Delete segment from the displayed context menu. This option is only active if the context menu is activated on a segment of a closed object that consists of at least three points.

• To close a shape that was left open, right-click on it and select the Close shape command from the displayed context menu. This option is only active if an open object is selected.

• To leave the Edit points mode, select the Stop editing points command from the context menu.

 

Trim a graphic object

Graphic objects (lines, polygons, rectangles etc.) can be trimmed by using the Trim Graphic command.

Regarding graphic lines, it's possible to delete or cut intersecting graphic lines at crossings.

 

To do so, select the desired graphic line and then the Trim Graphic command in the displayed context menu. Afterwards, the selected graphic line is shortened from the digitized side to the intersection point.

 

 

See example:

 

To Draw a Line

To create a graphic of type Line

• Select the command Insert-> Graphic -> Line in the main menu or click on the symbol Linie in the toolbar

• left-click where the start point of line shall appear and

• hold the left mouse button while moving the cursor to the desired end position.

 

To Draw a Polygon

To create a graphic of type Polygon

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Polygon in the main menu or click on the symbol Polygon in the toolbar

• Left-click within the working area where the start point of the polygon shall be positioned,

• define further edge points for the polygon by left-clicking again or right-click where the next point shall be positioned and select the command Point in the context menu

• Closed Polygon

  • Left-click again on the start point

  • or right-click anywhere in the working area and select the command Close

• Open Polygon

  • Double left-click on the desired end point,

  • or right-click on the desired end point and select the command End in the context menu

 

 

To Draw a Rectangle

To create a graphic of type Rectangle

• Select the command Insert-> Graphic -> Rectangle in the main menu or click on the symbol Rectangle in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point of the rectangle shall be within the working area,

• keep the left mouse button pressed while you drag the cursor to the diagonally opposite corner.

 

To Draw a Circle

To create a graphic of type Circle

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Circle in the main menu or click on the symbol Circle in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the middle of the circle shall be within the working area,

• and keep the left mouse button pressed while zooming the circle to the desired size.

 

To Draw an Oval

To create a graphic of type Oval

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Oval or click on the symbol Oval in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point of the oval shall be within the working area,

• keep the left mouse button pressed while zooming the oval to the desired size.

 

 

To Draw an Arc

To create a graphic of type Arc

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Arc in the main menu or click on the symbol Arc in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the middle of the arc shall be within the working area,

• define the radius of the arc by left-click,

• move the cursor in the desired direction to define the center angle of the arc,

• left-click to define the end point of arc.

 

To Draw an Arc (3 point)

To create a graphic of type Arc (3 point)

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Arc (3 point) or click on the symbol Arc (3 point) in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point and the end point of the arc shall be within the working area,

• define the radius of the arc by left-clicking again.

 

To Draw a Cloud

To create a graphic of type Cloud

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Cloud or click on the symbol Cloud in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point of the cloud shall be within the working area,

• define further edge points for the cloud by left-clicking again or right-click where the next point shall be placed and select the command Point within the context menu

• Closed Cloud

  • left-click again on the start point,

  • or right-click in any region within the working area and select the command Close within the context menu

• Open Cloud

  • Double left-click where the desired end point shall be,

  • or right-click where the desired end point shall be and select the command End within the context menu

 

 

To Draw a Freehand Drawing

 

To create a freehand drawing:

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Freehand drawing from the main menu bar or click on the symbol Freehand drawing in the Graphic toolbar.

• Then create the freehand drawing by holding down the left mouse button or using the input pencil.

  Exit the Freehand drawing mode by pressing the Esc key or selecting the Draw freehand command in the main menu or the Graphics toolbar again.

 

Everything created in the active Freehand Drawing mode is grouped into one overall graphic when exiting the mode.

 

The grouping can be undone using the context menu of the graphic so that each graphic can be selected separately:

 

To Draw a Graphical Dimension Line

To create a Graphical Dimension Line

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Dimension Line in the main menu or click on the symbol Dimension Line in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point for the dimension shall be within the working area,

• keep the left mouse button pressed until you reached the end position of the dimension with the cursor.

  (Thus the current length of the dimension is displayed)

 

 

To Draw a Symbol as Graphic

To create a graphic of type Symbol as Graphic

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Symbol as Graphic in the main menu

  click on the symbol Symbol as Graphic in the graphic toolbar

• place the graphic symbol on the desired position in the working sheet.

 

 

To Draw a Curve

To create a graphic of type Curve

• Select the command Insert -> Graphic -> Curve in the main menu or click on the symbol Curve in the graphic toolbar

• left-click where the start point of the curve shall be within the working area,

• afterwards left-click successively on turning points of the curve,

• double-left-click on the desired end point of the curve.

 

Change the form of a curve

To change an existing curve right-click on the desired object and select the command Edit points within the context menu. The command will only be available if exactly 1 line is selected.

 

To change the form of a curve, drag one of the points which form the curve line to the desired new position. To delete a point select the command Delete Point within the context menu of a point. Afterwards, the curve is changed.

 

 

If Points are added, the curve will not change!

 

Select the command Stop editing points to finish the editing and to leave the mode or press the ESC key.