Contents - Index

Menu options


The vector editor main menu contains a File menu, an Edit menu and a Tools menu. In addition, a Done option appears to the right of the Tools menu if the editor is opened from the Edit Object dialog box. By selecting Done you accept any changes made to the icon and return to the Edit Object dialog.

The following tables describe available menu options:

File option Description
Append (std) Imports a vector icon from the standard component library ATPDraw.scl into the editor and appends it to what is present. The imported icon becomes selected as a group. 
Append (sup) Imports a vector icon from a support file on disk (sup) into the editor and appends it to what is present. The imported icon becomes selected as a group. 
Import (txt) Imports an vector icon on an internal text format from a disk file.
Export (txt) Exports an vector icon on an internal text format to a disk file.

Edit option Description
Cut Deletes the selected element(s).
Copy Copies the selected element(s) to the windows clipboard in a special declared format.
Paste Paste vector elements in from the windows clipboard if available. The pasted elements becomes selected as a group. 
Duplicate Same as Copy+Paste
Copy to metafile Copy the graphical content to the windows clipboard as a Window meta file. Can from this be pasted into other programs.
Select all Select all elements
Delete all Delete all elements (select does not matter)
Zoom in Zoom in 100% (full window is 200 % zoom)
Zoom out Zoom out 100%
Node grid Toggles on/off the node grid indicating available node positions (only each ten pixel). Red lines indicated the centre. Icons do not need to be placed in the middle.
Arrange Change the drawing order of selected element(s)
Flip&Rotate Rotate and flip selected element(s). Rotate only by 90 deg.

Tools option Description
Select Normal mode of operation. The user can select elements by clicking on them with the mouse. A selected element is drawn enclosed by 8 black squares. Click on the squares to resize, and in the middle to move. Hold down the shift key and use the arrow key to fine-tune one pixel. Already selected elements are given priority. If the element's brush style is set to clear you have to hit its border to select it. Click outside to unselect. If only one element is selected its properties are given in the upper right table. Select several element by holding down the Shift key or by dragging a rectangle around the elements. 
Edit points The points of the selected shapes (does not work for text) are marked with a cyan rectangle. Click on these rectangles to move each node individually. Fine-tuning is also possible directly in the Points grid to the right. For (Bezier)-curves only the curver points (1-4-7-10-) are drawn in a cyan color, while the control points are drawn in red with a line to its control point. The red points control the derivative of the curve.
Move all Move all the elements without selecting them
Move nodes If the Nodes are turned on (Node check box) they can be moved by the mouse. They will only move in steps of ten units as they forces to stay on the grid. The node name will align outwards from the Frame, and best results is achieved when they are place on the Frame border.
Text Add an element of type text to the icon. Click in the window to place it. Type in the max 8 character text string in the properties grid to the right. Specify font and color in the properties grid. Fine tuning of the position (middle of text) could be needed.
Line Click to place the starting point an click one more time to place the end point. The previous pen color is used. Select the line color (pen) in the properties grid or directly by left clicking the color bar. 
Rectangle Click to place the upper-left an click one more time to place the lower-right corner. The previous pen and brush color is used. Select the line color (pen) and the fill color (brush) in the properties grid or directly by left/right clicking the color bar. Force the rectangle to a square by holding down the shift key and click on the corner.
Ellipse Click to place the upper-left an click one more time to place the lower-right corner. The previous pen and brush color is used. Select the line color (pen) and the fill color (brush) in the properties grid or directly by left/right clicking the color bar. Force the ellipse to a circle by holding down the shift key and click on the corner.
Polyline Click with the left mouse button to place points and the right button to place the final point (maximum 255 point allowed).The previous pen color is used. Select the line color (pen) in the properties grid or directly by left clicking the color bar. 
Polygon Click with the left mouse button to place points and the right button to place the final point to enclose the polygon (maximum 255 point allowed). The previous pen and brush color is used. Select the line color (pen) and the fill color (brush) in the properties grid or directly by left/right clicking the color bar.
Arc First click the upper-left corner and the lower-right corner just as for an ellipse. Then click two moretimes to place the cut points. The previous pen color is used. Select the line color (pen) in the properties grid or directly by left clicking the color bar.
Curve Click to place the curve points. The control points are estimated internally. If the Brush style is set to Clear only the curve is drawn otherwise it is filles with the brush. Use Edit points mode to tune the points.
Pie Same as curve but now filled with the brush.
Node conn. Click on a node (grid-snapped) and the on the other end-point. The node end-point is marked with a ring around the node. This shape type is used internally to programatically turn on/off or change thickness of node connections more easily.