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| | + | {{DISPLAYTITLE:Drawing Basic Shapes}} |
| | + | {{Documentation/DrawBasicShapesTOC |
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| | + | |PrevPage=Documentation/OOoAuthors User Manual/Draw Guide/Toolbar |
| | + | |NextPage=Documentation/OOoAuthors User Manual/Draw Guide/Lines and arrows |
| | + | }}__NOTOC__ |
| | This is Chapter '''2''' of '''OpenOffice.org 2.x Draw Guide''' (second edition), produced by the [http://oooauthors.org/ OOoAuthors group]. A PDF of this chapter is available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOoAuthors Guides page] at OpenOffice.org. | | This is Chapter '''2''' of '''OpenOffice.org 2.x Draw Guide''' (second edition), produced by the [http://oooauthors.org/ OOoAuthors group]. A PDF of this chapter is available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOoAuthors Guides page] at OpenOffice.org. |
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| − | [[Documentation/OOoAuthors_User_Manual| << User Manuals page]]<br>
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| − | [[Draw Guide| << Draw Guide Table of Contents]]<br>
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| − | [[Draw Guide/Introducing Draw| << Chapter 1 Introducing Draw]] |
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| − | [[Draw Guide/Working with Objects|Chapter 3 Working with Objects >>]]
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| | = Creating simple drawings = | | = Creating simple drawings = |
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| | This chapter describes how to draw simple shapes. All shapes, whether they are simple lines, rectangles, or more complicated shapes, are called ''objects''. This is common notation in vector drawing software. You can create 2D and 3D objects in Draw. | | This chapter describes how to draw simple shapes. All shapes, whether they are simple lines, rectangles, or more complicated shapes, are called ''objects''. This is common notation in vector drawing software. You can create 2D and 3D objects in Draw. |
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| | The Drawing toolbar is normally located at the bottom of the window. If you do not see it, activate it from the '''View > Toolbars '''menu. As in all OpenOffice.org components, you can place the toolbar on the Draw window wherever you wish.'' | | The Drawing toolbar is normally located at the bottom of the window. If you do not see it, activate it from the '''View > Toolbars '''menu. As in all OpenOffice.org components, you can place the toolbar on the Draw window wherever you wish.'' |
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| − | = Custom shapes in Draw 2 =
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| − | Draw 2 offers the ability to create ''custom shapes''. These correspond to “Autoshapes” in Microsoft Office. The ''shape elements'' used in version 1 of OOo are still available, but you are encouraged to use custom shapes instead, because current and future development is focused on these rather than shape elements.
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| − | The two types of shape differ in their properties and are dealt with separately in the relevant chapter of this Guide. The main differences relate to the behavior of 3D objects and text handling. Beginners can safely ignore both for the present.
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| − | Text frames in Draw 2 have their own geometric format.
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| − | = Drawing basic shapes =
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| − | Basic shapes include:
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| − | * Lines
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| − | * Arrows
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| − | * Rectangles and squares
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| − | * Ellipses and circles
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| − | * Curves and polygons
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| − | * Connectors
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| − | * Lines and arrows
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| − | '''Note:''' If you draw a basic shape or select one for editing, the Info field in the status bar changes to reflect the action taken: Line created, Text frame xxyy selected, and so on.
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| − | Figure 2 shows part of the Drawing toolbar with the icons needed in the following sections. The Text icon is also included.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-2.png|DG2-2.png]]<br>''Figure 2: Part of the Drawing toolbar.''
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| − | == Drawing a straight line ==
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| − | We begin with the drawing of the simplest element – a straight line.
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| − | Click on the Line icon [[Image:DrawLineIcon.png]] on the Drawing toolbar and place the mouse pointer at the point where you want to start the line (see Figure 3). Drag the mouse while keeping the mouse button pressed. Release the mouse button at the point where you want to end the line.
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| − | A blue or green selection handle appears at each end of the line, showing that this is the currently selected object. The colors depend on the standard selection mode – green with a normal selection and blue if you are in the point edit mode (this effect is easily apparent if on the ''Options'' toolbar both Simple Handles and Large Handles are switched on.
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| − | Hold down the ''Shift'' key while you draw a line to restrict the angle of the line to a multiple of 45 degrees (0, 45, 90, 135 and so on).
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| − | [[Image:DrawLine.png|Drawing a straight line]]<br>''Figure 3: Drawing a straight line.''
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| − | Keep the ''Ctrl'' key pressed while drawing a line to have the end of the line snap to the nearest grid point.
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| − | '''Caution:''' The effect of the ''Ctrl'' key depends on the settings of the option Snap to Grid on the '''View > Grid''' menu:<br>Snap to Grid on: ''Ctrl'' deactivates the snap option for this activity.<br>Snap to Grid off: ''Ctrl'' activates the snap option for this activity.
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| − | The spacing (resolution) of the grid points can be adjusted under '''Tools > Options > OpenOffice.org-Draw > Grid''' (see also Chapter 8).
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| − | Hold down the ''Alt ''key while drawing a line results in the line extending outwards symmetrically from the start point (the line will extend out equally each side of the starting point). This lets you draw lines by starting from the middle of the line.
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| − | The line just drawn has all the standard attributes (such as color and line style). To change any of these line properties, select the line by clicking on it, then right-click and select '''Line'''.
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| − | While you are working with this line, look at the information field on the status bar. A description of the current activity or status of selection is shown when you are working with an element or elements; see Figure 4 for two examples.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-4a.png|Information area in status bar]] [[Image:DG2-4b.png|Information area in status bar]]<br>''Figure 4: The information area in the status bar.''
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| − | == Drawing an arrow ==
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| − | Arrows are drawn like lines. Draw classifies arrows as a subgroup of lines: Lines with arrowheads. They are shown in the information field on the status bar only as lines. Click on the [[Image:DrawArrowIcon.png]] icon to draw an arrow.
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| − | == Drawing lines and arrows ==
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| − | Click on the small black triangle on the button ''Lines and Arrows'' [[Image:DrawRectIcon.png]] to open a floating toolbar with 10 tools for drawing lines and arrows (Figure 5). Alternatively you can click directly on the symbol to repeat the last used command chosen from this toolbar. In both cases the last used command will be stored on the toolbar to make it quicker to call it up again.
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| − | [[Image:Arrows-toolbar.png|Lines and Arrows toolbar]]<br>''Figure 5: (Lines and) Arrows toolbar.''
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| − | == Drawing a rectangle or square ==
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| − | Drawing a rectangle is similar to drawing a straight line, except that you click on the rectangle icon [[Image:DrawRectIcon.png]] on the Drawing toolbar, and the (imaginary) line drawn by the mouse corresponds to a diagonal of the rectangle. In addition you will see the outline of the future rectangle change in shape as you drag the mouse around. The outline is shown as a dashed line until you release the mouse button, when the rectangle is drawn.
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| − | [[Image:DrawRectangle.png|Drawing a rectangle]]<br>''Figure 6: Drawing a rectangle.''
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| − | Draw considers squares to be rectangles with equal length sides. Hold down the ''Shift'' key to draw a square. Hold down the ''Alt'' key while dragging with the mouse to create a rectangle with its center (rather than a corner) at the start point.
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| − | == Drawing ellipses (ovals) and circles ==
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| − | To draw an ellipse (also called an oval) or a circle, click on the Ellipse icon [[Image:DrawEllipseIcon.png]] on the main Drawing toolbar.'' ''(A circle is simply an ellipse with both axes the same length.) The ellipse drawn is the largest ellipse that fits within the (imaginary) rectangle drawn by the mouse; see Figure 7.
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| − | [[Image:DrawEllipse.png|Drawing an ellipse]]<br>''Figure 7: Drawing an ellipse.''
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| − | There are three ways to draw an ellipse or a circle:
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| − | * Hold down the ''Shift'' key while dragging with the mouse to draw a circle.
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| − | * Hold down the ''Alt key'' (together with the ''Shift'' key) to draw a symmetrical ellipse (a circle) with the center point as the starting point.
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| − | * Hold down the ''Ctrl'' key while dragging with the mouse to draw an ellipse or circle that snaps to the nearest grid points.
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| − | '''Note:''' If you first press and hold the ''Ctrl'' key down, and then click on one of the icons for Line, Rectangle, Ellipse or Text, a “standard” sized object is drawn automatically in the work area – the size, shape and color are all standard values. These attributes can be changed later if desired.
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| − | == Adding ellipse and arc tools to the Drawing toolbar ==
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| − | In previous versions of OOo a long-click on the ellipse button opened a new toolbar that contained tools for drawing elliptical and circular arcs. This function is not directly available in Version 2.
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| − | If you really need this tool, you can add an ''Ellipse'' toolbar to the Drawing toolbar. Click on the arrow on the right hand end of the Drawing toolbar and select Customize Toolbar. On the Toolbars page of the Customize dialog box, select the Drawing Toolbar, click Add, choose category Drawing, command Ellipse (second one) and then Close, OK to complete the process.
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| − | [[Image:Add-ellipse-toolbar.png|Adding the extended Ellipse toolbar]]<br>''Figure 8: Adding the extended Ellipse toolbar.''
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| − | You should now see an ellipse icon [[Image:Ellipse2Icon.png]] on the Drawing toolbar. If you use this icon in place of the standard ellipse icon on the Drawing toolbar, all the extended ellipse functions (from Version 1) are available. Clicking on the black arrow by the icon opens the floating toolbar Circles and Ovals (Figure 9). If you wish, you can now remove the simple ellipse icon from the Drawing toolbar (either deactivate it or delete it completely).
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| − | [[Image:CirclesOvals.png|Circle and Oval toolbar]]<br>''Figure 9: Circle and Oval toolbar.''
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| − | == Drawing elliptical and circular arcs ==
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| − | To draw an arc, choose the appropriate ''Arc'' symbol. Drag with the mouse to create the circle or ellipse.
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| − | [[Image:DrawArc1.png]]
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| − | Release the mouse button and move the cursor to the position where you want the arc to start. In the status bar you can see the actual angle. Single-click this point; the circle (or ellipse) disappears and moving the mouse creates the arc. Again the status bar shows the current angle.
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| − | [[Image:DrawArc2.png]]
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| − | When you have drawn the arc to the length you want, click once more. The drawing of the arc is complete.
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| − | [[Image:DrawArc3.png]]
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| − | == Curves ==
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| − | The tools for drawing curves or polygons are on the toolbar that appears when you click the [[Image:DrawCurvesIcon.png]] icon on the Drawing toolbar. This toolbar contains eight tools (Figure 10).
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| − | '''Note:''' Up to version 2.3 of OOo, hovering the mouse over this icon gives a tool tip of ''Curve''. If you convert the icon to a floating toolbar, however, the title is ''Lines'', as shown in Figure 10. This is rather confusing but is expected to be corrected in a future version.
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| − | [[Image:CurvesToolbar.png|Floating Curves toolbarg]]<br>''Figure 10: Floating Curves toolbar (incorrectly titled “Lines”).''
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| − | If you move the mouse cursor over one of the icons, a tooltip pops up with a description of the function. For a more detailed description of the handling of Bézier curves (curves and filled curves), see Chapter 10 (Advanced Drawing Techniques).
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| − | * ''Polygons'': Draw the first line from the start point with the left mouse button held down. As soon as you release the mouse button, a first corner point is drawn and you can move the mouse to see how the second line will look. Every mouse click sets another corner point. A double-click ends the drawing. A filled polygon automatically joins the last point to the first point to close off the figure and fill it with the current standard fill color. A polygon without filling will not be closed at the end of the drawing.
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| − | * ''Polygon 45<sup>0''</sup>: Just as with ordinary polygons, these will be formed from lines but with angles of 45 or 90 degrees between them.
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| − | * ''Freeform line'': With this tool you can draw just like with a pencil. Press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse. It is not necessary to end the drawing with a double-click. Just release the mouse button and the drawing is completed. If you have selected the ''Freeform line – filled'', the end point is joined automatically to the start point and the object is filled with the appropriate color.
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| − | == Gluepoints and connectors (basics) ==
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| − | === Gluepoints ===
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| − | All Draw objects have associated invisible ''gluepoints''. Most objects have four gluepoints (see Figure 11).
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| − | [[Image:Gluepoints.png|Four gluepoints]]<br>''Figure 11: Four gluepoints.''
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| − | '''Note:''' Gluepoints are not the same as the little blue or green “handles” of an object. You use the handles to move or change the shape of an object, but the gluepoints are used to “glue” a connector to an object.
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| − | Gluepoints can be customized using the toolbar of the same name (Figure 12). They become visible if you click the Gluepoints icon [[Image:GluepointsIcon.png]]. You can find a more detailed description of the use of gluepoints in Chapter 9 (Flow Diagrams, Organization Charts and More).
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| − | [[Image:GluepointsToolbar.png|Gluepoints toolbar]]<br>''Figure 12: Gluepoints toolbar.''
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| − | === Connectors ===
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| − | Connectors are lines or arrows whose ends automatically dock to a gluepoint of an object. Connectors are especially useful in drawing organization charts, flow diagrams and mindmaps. Even when objects are moved or reordered, the connectors remain attached.
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| − | Figure 13 shows two Draw objects and a connector.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-13.png|DG2-13.png]]<br>''Figure 13: A connector between two objects.''
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| − | Draw offers a range of different connectors and connector functions. The floating Connector function list can be opened by clicking on the [[Image:]] icon (Figure 14).
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| − | [[Image:DG2-14.png|DG2-14.png]]<br>''Figure 14: The Connector toolbar.''
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| − | For a more detailed description of the use of connectors, see Chapter 9 (Flow Diagrams, Organization Charts and More).
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| − | = Drawing geometric shapes =
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| − | Geometric shapes include:
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| − | * Basic shapes
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| − | * Symbol shapes
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| − | * Block arrows
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| − | * Flowcharts
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| − | * Callouts
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| − | * Stars
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| − | '''Note:''' Independent of which type of geometric shape you draw or select for editing, the information field in the toolbar shows always only “Create Shape” or “Shape selected”.
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| − | Figure 15 shows part of the Drawing toolbar with the icons necessary for the following sections. They open floating toolbars with the relevant work tools.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-15.png|DG2-15.png]]<br>''Figure 15: Part of the main Drawing toolbar.''
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| − | '''Tip:''' The use of all these tools is similar to that of the Rectangle tool, even though they produce different geometric shapes.
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| − | == Basic shapes ==
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| − | The icon [[Image:]] makes available the range of tools for drawing basic shapes (Figure 16).
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| − | If you choose the rectangle tool from this toolbar it looks the same as a rectangle drawn using the Rectangle tool on the Drawing toolbar. The only differences you will see are in the information field in the status bar.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-16.png|DG2-16.png]]<br>''Figure 16: Basic shapes toolbar.''
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| − | == Symbol shapes ==
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| − | The icon [[Image:]] brings you to an array of tools for drawing the various symbol shapes (Figure 17).
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| − | [[Image:DG2-17.png|DG2-17.png]]<br>''Figure 17: Symbol shapes toolbar.''
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| − | == Block arrows ==
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| − | The icon [[Image:]] opens the Block Arrows toolbar (Figure 18).
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| − | [[Image:DG2-18.png|DG2-18.png]]<br>''Figure 18: Block arrows.''
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| − | == Flowcharts ==
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| − | The tools for drawing flowcharts are accessed by clicking on the icon [[Image:]] (Figure 19).
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| − | The creation of flowcharts, organization charts and similar planning tools are described in Chapter 9 (Flow Diagrams, Organization Charts and More)''.''
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| − | [[Image:DG2-19.png|DG2-19.png]]<br>''Figure 19: Flowchart.''
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| − | == Callouts ==
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| − | With the icon [[Image:]] you can open the Callouts toolbar (Figure 20).
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| − | [[Image:DG2-20.png|DG2-20.png]]<br>''Figure 20: Callouts.''
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| − | '''Note:''' These new callouts replace the old ones in Version 1. If you still need the old ones, you can add them manually to this or another toolbar.
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| − | == Stars and banners ==
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| − | These tools are associated with the icon [[Image:]].
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| − | You can add text to all these shapes. See [#Using text elements in Draw objects|Using text elements in Draw objects]].
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| − | [[Image:DG2-21.png|DG2-21.png]]<br>''Figure 21: Stars and Banners.''
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| − | [[Image:]]
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| − | = Adding text to objects =
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| − | Draw offers two ways to add text to a drawing: in a dynamic text frame as an independent Draw object or as text in a previously drawn object. In the latter case the text is integrated with the object.
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| − | == Using dynamic text frames ==
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| − | The text tool is activated by clicking on the icon Text [[Image:]] for horizontal or [[Image:]] for vertical script (to be able use this latter option you must activate support for Asian languages under '''Tools > Options > Language Settings > Languages''').
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| − | Text frames can be moved and rotated like all draw objects. For more details on text input, see Chapter 10 (Advanced Drawing Techniques).
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| − | After activating Text command mode, click at the location where you want to position the text. A small text frame appears. It contains only the cursor. You can move the frame if desired. The Text Formatting toolbar appears (Figure 22) and you can choose the font type, font size and other text properties and begin to type in your text.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-22.png|DG2-22.png]]<br>''Figure 22: Text Formatting toolbar.''
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| − | The text frame grows with the text. You can insert a line break with the ''Shift+Enter'' key combination. The ''Enter'' key begins a new paragraph. Neither line breaks nor new paragraphs terminate the text frame.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-23.png|DG2-23.png]]<br>''Figure 23: Text input in a dynamic text frame.''
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| − | Observe the information field in the status bar: it shows that you are editing text and also provides details about the current cursor location - paragraph, line, and column numbers.
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| − | Text properties can also be changed during text input. Any changes will be reflected from the cursor position onwards (Figure 24).
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| − | [[Image:DG2-24.png|DG2-24.png]]<br>''Figure 24: Changing text properties.''
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| − | After choosing the Text icon, you can also draw a frame with the mouse to contain future text. Line breaks are inserted automatically at the right edge of the frame when the text fills the frame width (Figure 25). You can however—just like when editing other text—insert your own line breaks, begin new paragraphs or change any of the text properties.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-25.png|DG2-25.png]]<br>''Figure 25: Text frame window.''
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| − | == Using text elements in Draw objects ==
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| − | A text element is associated with most Draw objects. By means of these elements text can be added to an object (see Figure 26).
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| − | The exceptions to this are control elements like buttons or list boxes, as well as 3D scenes and their associated elements and groups.
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| − | If the button [[Image:]] on the ''Options'' toolbar is active, you can start editing an object by double-clicking on it (or by pressing the function key ''F2''). In the middle of the Draw object you will see a black bar as the text cursor; start typing to input text. The status bar shows at lower left “Text Edit” and the position of the cursor within the text.
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| − | Text can contain paragraphs and these can be in the form of bulleted or numbered lists. For a new line without beginning a new paragraph, use (as in text documents) the key combination ''Shift+Enter''. To end the text input, click next to the object or press the ''Esc'' key.
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| − | [[Image:DG2-26.png|DG2-26.png]]<br>''Figure 26: Adding text to objects.''
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| | {{CCBY}} | | {{CCBY}} |
| | [[Category: Draw Guide (Documentation)]] | | [[Category: Draw Guide (Documentation)]] |
This chapter describes how to draw simple shapes. All shapes, whether they are simple lines, rectangles, or more complicated shapes, are called objects. This is common notation in vector drawing software. You can create 2D and 3D objects in Draw.
In this chapter we will restrict ourselves to producing 2D drawing objects. The following chapters of this Guide describe how to work with and edit such objects.
The drawing tools are found on the Drawing toolbar. Figure 1 shows the standard form of the toolbar as installed with Draw. You can configure any and all of the toolbars to your own needs and add, move, hide or delete toolbar icons as you wish.
The Drawing toolbar is normally located at the bottom of the window. If you do not see it, activate it from the View > Toolbars menu. As in all OpenOffice.org components, you can place the toolbar on the Draw window wherever you wish.
