tutorial

Online Tutorial - Work with graphics

Objectives	Learning the basic principles of work with Stratum 2000 graphics.
Creation of new project Fast creation of the new project	Whenever you start up Stratum 2000, you begin with an empty workspace. You therefore have two options: you can either begin a new project or open an existing one for editing. Initially, we will begin a new project. To create quickly a new project, click the mouse on the Fast creation of a new project button on the Standard Tool Bar. New project is created. The project is presented as a set of files located in the separate directory. The files contain object descriptions, graphic information, initial model conditions and other data. By fast creating a project and a project directory will be named by default. Another way to create a project is to execute the File - New - Project command. In this case the dialog Creation of a project is open, and you can input the object name and directory.
Drawing Tool Bar	Use the Drawing Tool Bar to draw something on the scheme:
Creation of graphics objects	Draw a line. Press the line creation button on the toolbar. The mouse pointer is changed, showing that now we can draw a line. Click the left mouse button and holding it down draw a line. Then release the button. Draw a rectangle. Press the rectangle creation button on the toolbar. The mouse pointer is changed, showing that now we can draw a rectangle. Click the left mouse button and holding it down draw a rectangle. Then release the button. Draw a Rounded Rectangle, Circle, Sector and Arc using the same operations as stated above. Insert a text. Press the text creation button on the toolbar. The mouse pointer is changed, showing that now we can insert the text. Click the left mouse button to add the text on the scheme. The Text dialog box is open. Here you can input your text and change its properties. Then press Ok button. Insert a PolyLine. Press the polyline creation button on the toolbar. The mouse pointer is changed, showing that now we can draw a polyline. In order to edit the points of the polyline click the left mouse button first (the object is getting selected) and click the right mouse button.then choose the Edit points line. Now you can edit any point you want. Insert a Picture. Choose the Insert on the main menu and then the line From File. The dialog box Open file is open. Now choose the picture you like.The .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .pcx, *.wmf and other graphic formats are supported.(You can also insert picture from the file by clicking the right mouse button on the scheme and choosing the line Insert From File or press the Insert From File button on the control panel).
Changing objects properties	To change object properties you can double-click on the object or click the right mouse button and then choose the line Object Properties as well. The Properties of 2d object dialogue is open. Here you can change sizes, coordinates, colour and other properties. Then press Ok button.
Selecting objects	To select a group of objects, position the mouse pointer in front of the first object you wish to select and then press and hold down the left mouse button. Now drag the mouse until the black highlighting has covered all the objects you wish to select before releasing the left button.
Grouping objects	Press the group creation button on the toolbar. The mouse pointer is changed, showing that now we can create a group. Now pressing and holding down the left mouse button select objects. Then release the button.
Moving and Copying objects The Edit Cut button The Edit Copy button The Edit Paste button	In order to move or copy a selection of objects, we make use of what is known as the paste buffer or clipboard. Select an object and then click the left mouse button on Edit - Copy: This copies the selected object to the clipboard. Then, move the mouse pointer to anywhere you like on your scheme and select Edit - Paste. You can paste the object from the clipboard as many times as you wish to produce multiple copies of that object. The process of moving object is much the same, except that you use Edit - Cut instead of Copy. Note that the editing buttons illustrated on the left can be used instead of using the menu commands. There is another way. Position the mouse pointer in front of the object or the group of objects. Now drag the mouse pointer to anywhere on your scheme when pressing and holding down the left mouse button. Then release the left button. The selected object is moved to the new place. This process is called as drag-and-drop. To copy an object position the mouse pointer in front of it. Then move it anywhere you like when pressing the [Ctrl] key and holding down the left mouse button.
Deleting objects The Delete button	Select the object or the group of them and press the [Delete] key to remove them altogether.
Scaling and Rotation of objects	Click the left mouse button on any object, the frame will appear: In order to change the size of the object position the mouse pointer in front of one of resizing points. Then move the mouse pointer holding down the left mouse button. Now release the button. The size of the object is changed. To rotate the object press the [SpaceBar] key on the keyboard. The spot of rotation center appears. By default the spot is placed in the frame centre. But you can move the centre to another place holding down the left mouse button . Now you can turn the object using drag-and-drop on frame spots .
Editing polylines	Select object - polyline. Press the edit points button on the toolbar. All points will be marked by small squares. You can move this points using the drag-and-drop operation. If you need to add a point, press the [Ctrl] key and holding it down click the left mouse button on the required polyline segment. To delete points press the [Shift] key and holding it down click the left mouse button at the required point.
Views of a Scheme	There are many ways in Stratum 2000 to view your scheme during the editing process. Move button - enables a fast review of scheme mode. To disable the mode press this button once again or click the right mouse button. Lens button - enables fast rescaling. Click the left mouse button to zoom the scale, and the right - to decrease it. To disable the mode press this button once again. Scale Box -enables inputing the exact scheme's scale.

Back : Index : Forward