Toolbar

Diagram Designer

Toolbar

• opens a new diagram using a standard Windows® dialog.  Dialog prompts to save any existing diagram, if necessary.  Opens the Page Properties dialog to allow setup for a new page (size, etc.).

• opens a standard Windows® dialog for selecting an existing diagram (.DDD) file.

• opens a dialog to easily select (open) one of the last 5 (maximum) diagram files.

• opens a standard Windows® dialog to save the existing diagram file (if not previously saved), or just re-saves the existing file (if already saved/named).

• cuts the selected object(s) to the clipboard - objects are removed from the diagram.

• copies the selected object(s) to the clipboard.

• pastes the clipboard contents (object or objects) to the diagram.  Objects are pasted near the original (if copied or cut from the diagram) and may be moved to another position.  Diagram Designer can also paste text or images copied to the clipboard by other applications; images are inserted as bitmaps regardless of their original format.  Such objects are pasted near the current top of the Diagram pane.

• undo last operation (eg. cut, paste, move, etc.).  Objects affected by the last operation are restored to their previous state.  The number of undo operations available (ie. Undo history size) is set in the Options dialog (ie. File/Options).

• redo the last undo.  If undo was used, this operation restores the objects to their state before the undo was executed.

• allows the user to set a fixed zoom value from the combo box (eg. 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 400%, 800%) or enter an arbitrary zoom by typing in the box (with or without the % sign).  The placement of the diagram in the Diagram pane after the zoom is somewhat arbitrary - it is governed by the left and top margins (ie. gap between the diagram page) and the pane edge.

• selecting this tool allows the user to zoom incrementally (factors of 2) up to 1600% by clicking the mouse.  The left button increases the zoom factor (eg. 100% to 200%), centering the zoom on the magnifying glass cursor.  Using the right mouse button decreases the zoom (eg. 200% to 100%) in a similar manner.  The + (plus) and - (minus) keys are shortcuts for zoom center; zoom is centered on the mouse cursor.  Using the + or - keys does not change the current mode (edit mode is retained, etc.).
  When this mode is invoked, the corresponding toolbar button is highlighted, like .

• this tool allows the user to grab the canvas (ie. diagram) and drag it to a different position.  This amounts to a diagram pan.
  When this mode is invoked, the corresponding toolbar button is highlighted, like .

• selecting this mode cancels the Move canvas or Zoom (center) mode, if either is in effect, and returns to normal editing mode.  In this mode, objects can be selected, moved, edited, etc.
  When this mode is invoked, the corresponding toolbar button is highlighted, like .

• initiates a line draw operation.  After selecting this tool, left click once (and hold) on the diagram to place the first endpoint (snaps to a grid point) then drag the mouse and release the left button to place the second endpoint.  The line may be manipulated or edited after drawing.  If the right mouse button is pressed during the operation (while still holding the left mouse button down), a new line segment is started.  Line segments drawn in this way are linked (but not grouped) together.
  Draw line mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

• initiates an arrow draw operation.  After selecting this tool, left click once (and hold) on the diagram to place the first endpoint (snaps to a grid point) then drag the mouse and release the left button to place the second endpoint; the arrowhead is placed automatically on the second endpoint.  The arrow may be manipulated or edited after drawing.  If the right mouse button is pressed during the operation (while still holding the left mouse button down), a new line segment is started.  Line segments drawn in this way are linked (but not grouped) together.
  Draw arrow mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

• initiates an connector draw operation.  A connector is similar to an arrow, except it contains a built-in crook (direction change).  After selecting this tool, left click once (and hold) on the diagram to place the first endpoint (snaps to a grid point) then drag the mouse and release the left button to place the second endpoint; the arrowhead is placed automatically on the second endpoint.  The connector may be manipulated or edited after drawing.  If the right mouse button is pressed during the operation (while still holding the left mouse button down), a new line segment is started.  Line segments drawn in this way are linked (but not grouped) together.
  Draw connector mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

• initiates a curve draw operation.  Drawing a curve is similar to drawing a line; the first left click (and hold) initiates the operation, releasing the left mouse button terminates the curve draw.  Using a right click during the curve draw adds a node to the curve, through  which the final curve will pass.  Curve shape is dependant on these nodes, but also on the tangential direction portions of the curve on either side of the node.  The final curve appears to be derived from a second order (parabolic?) equation; curve portions do not have a single center point.
  Draw curve mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

abc

• Adds a piece of text in your diagram. The editing box automatically appears after placing it. This can be useful to insert editable text in grouped items or metafiles. Insert text mode is indicated by the greyed button, like abc .

• initiates a rectangle draw operation.  Clicking (and holding) the left mouse button positions the upper-left corner of a filled rectangle (initially filled with white); releasing the left mouse button positions the lower-right corner of the rectangle.
  Draw rectangle mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

• initiates an ellipse draw operation.  Clicking (and holding) the left mouse button positions the upper-left corner of a bounding box for the ellipse; releasing the left mouse button positions the lower-right corner of the bounding box.  The bounding box is an imaginary box which "exactly" contains the final ellipse; the ellipse extremities touch the edges of the box.  The final ellipse is a filled shape (initially filled with white).
  Draw ellipse mode is indicated by the greyed button, like .

• opens a dialog to set line width.  This dialog can exhibit 2 distinct behaviours:

  1. If objects are currently selected, the line width entered is applied only to those objects.  The default width in the dialog is the line width of one of the objects selected.  The default line width (for future objects) returns to its previous value after changing the line width for any pre-selected objects.

  2. If no objects are currently selected, the line width entered becomes the default line width for objects subsequently drawn.

  Line width is shown in 1/4 point increments; entering 12 for line width results in a 3 point width.  One point = 1/72 inch, or approximately 1/3 millimeters.  For reference, the following table may help in determining actual line width (in final printed copy):

1/4 pts

mm

inches

The line width icon changes to reflect the current default line width (approximate only).

2

0.7

0.02

4

1.4

0.05

6

2.1

0.08

8

2.8

0.11

10

3.5

0.14

• Lets the user use curves instead of corners in connectors and rectangles. The corner radius icon changes to reflect the current default corner radius. This dialog can exhibit 2 distinct behaviours:

If connectors are currently selected, the corner radius entered is applied only to those connectors.  The default corner radius in the dialog is the corner radius of one of the connectors selected.  The default corner radius (for future objects) returns to its previous value after changing the corner radius for any pre-selected connectors.

If no connectors are currently selected, the corner radius entered becomes the default corner radius for connectors subsequently drawn. This is not valid for rectangles.

• opens a standard Windows® dialog to set line color.  This dialog can exhibit 2 distinct behaviours:

  1. If objects are currently selected, the line color entered is applied only to those objects.  The default color in the dialog is the line color of one of the objects selected.  The default line color (for future objects) returns to its previous value after changing the line color for any pre-selected objects.

  2. If no objects are currently selected, the line color entered becomes the default line color for objects subsequently drawn.

  The line color icon changes to reflect the current default line color.

• opens a standard Windows® dialog to set object fill color.  This dialog can exhibit 2 distinct behaviours:

  1. If objects are currently selected, the fill color entered is applied only to those objects.  The default color in the dialog is the fill color of one of the objects selected.  The default fill color (for future objects) returns to its previous value after changing the fill color for any pre-selected objects.

  2. If no objects are currently selected, the fill color entered becomes the default fill color for objects subsequently drawn.

  The fill color icon changes to reflect the current default fill color.

• opens a standard Windows® dialog to set object text color.  This dialog can exhibit 2 distinct behaviours:

  1. If objects are currently selected, the text color entered is applied only to those objects.  The default color in the dialog is the text color of one of the objects selected.  The default text color (for future objects) returns to its previous value after changing the text color for any pre-selected objects.

  2. If no objects are currently selected, the text color entered becomes the default text color for text in objects subsequently drawn.

  The text color icon changes to reflect the current default text color.