Contents
PageDraw Help

PageDraw is a powerful drawing program. Using PageDraw you can create illustrations composed of graphical shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, polygons, bezier curves, and text. PageDraw has powerful tools for drawing, editing and transforming graphical objects. After you have drawn a few objects, you can select an object or a group of objects, and transform them. Objects can be edited even after transformation. To edit an object, select the object and drag any of the handles that become visible.

The following two sections describe the tools available on the tool bar on the left. To select a tool, click on the button representing the tool on the tool bar. Operations started using any tool can be canceled at any time by selecting another tool from the tool bar. Note that the shift key can be used to modify the operation of most tools.

How to draw

Line

Horizontal line

Vertical line

Rectangle

Square

Ellipse

Circle

Arc

Curve

Polygon

Text

After you have drawn an object, you can transform the object in a number of ways. You can transform an object independently or you can select a group of objects to be transformed together. PageDraw treats text and graphics uniformly during transformation.

How to transform objects

Move

Scale

Rotate

Skew

Reflect

How to...

Include your drawing in Microsoft Word or other word processors

Change orientation to portrait or landscape mode

How to zoom in and zoom out

How to change color of lines, fills or text

Change line thickness, color or dash style

Change fill color or pattern

Draw arrow heads at line ends

Pick color, pattern and other attributes from one object and apply it to another

Group objects

Align and space objects

Miscellaneous

Interoperability with other applications

Send me your comments, bug reports, and request for new features

PageDraw is FREE software

NO WARRANTY

This Help file was written for PageDraw Version 2.0


How to draw a line

Select the line tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the line to start. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to the point where you want the line to end.

To constrain the line to a vertical or horizontal line, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.


How to draw a polygon

Select the polygon tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the first vertex of the polygon. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to the point where you want the second vertex, then release the button. Click the left mouse button where you want the next vertex and release the button. Click and release the left mouse button where you want the next vertex, and the next, and so on. When you come to the last vertex, double click the left mouse button.

To draw a closed polygon, double click on the first vertex, as the last vertex.


How to draw a rectangle

Select the rectangle tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the first corner of the rectangle. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to the point where you want the opposite corner of the rectangle.

To constrain the rectangle to a square, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.


How to draw an ellipse

Select the ellipse tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the center of the ellipse. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse till the ellipse has the desired size and shape.

To constrain the ellipse to a circle, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.


How to draw an arc

Select the arc tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the center of the arc. Click the left mouse button where you want the arcs starting angle. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse anticlockwise to the ending angle, while also moving away from the center till the arc has the desired radius.


How to draw a pie slice

Select the pie tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the center of the pie. Click the left mouse button where you want the pie slices starting angle. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse anticlockwise to the ending angle, while also moving away from the center till the pie slice has the desired radius.


How to draw a curve

Select the curve tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the first vertex of the curve. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to the point where you want the second vertex, then release the button. Click the left mouse button where you want the next vertex and release the button. Click and release the left mouse button where you want the next vertex, and the next, and so on. When you come to the last vertex, double click the left mouse button.

To draw a closed curve, double click on the first vertex, as the last vertex.

To create a corner vertex as opposed to a smooth vertex, hold down the shift key while creating the vertex.


What is transforming?
Transforming means moving, scaling, rotating, skewing or reflecting objects.


How to draw text

Select the text tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button where you want the text to start. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to draw a rectangular text-frame, then release the button. Now start typing. When you reach the right edge of the text-frame the cursor will move to the next line automatically. The text-frame will automatically increase in height to accommodate the new line. If you resize the text-frame, text will reflow automatically. To resize the text-frame, select the selection tool from the tool bar. Then select the text-frame and drag any of its handles. You only need to set the width of the text-frame. PageDraw determines the height of the text-frame automatically.

To edit existing text, select the text tool from the tool bar and click the left mouse button on the baseline of the text you would like to edit. Use left and right arrow keys to position cursor. Use backspace key to delete characters.

To use a different font, select Font from the Text menu. The font dialog only lists PostScript fonts. Fonts are listed by their PostScript names.

To change line spacing select Leading from the Text menu. Leading is the distance from the base of one line to the base of the next line.

You can also left-align, center, right-align or justify text by selecting the appropriate alignment command from the Text menu.

The text tool will only work if you have installed Adobe Type Manager (ATM) software. PageDraw requires ATM Version 2.01 or later. Only ATM fonts, i.e., PostScript Type 1 fonts are supported. TrueType and other font formats are not supported in this version of PageDraw.

What is Adobe Type Manager?

Adobe Type Manager software enables other application software such as word processors and graphics programs to display high quality scaleable PostScript Type 1 fonts on the screen, as well as print them on laser and dot-matrix printers. ATM is more powerful than the TrueType functionality built in to MS-Windows because ATM is capable of applying arbitrary transforms (such as skewing) to fonts.

Where to get Adobe Type Manager?

If you have installed a word processor such as Word Perfect or Ami Pro on your machine, you may already have ATM. Visit your local software store, or contact Adobe Systems Inc. at (800)833-6687 to obtain the latest version of Adobe Type Manager.


How to move objects

First, select the objects you would like to move. Click the left mouse button on the edge of (not inside) any one of the selected objects. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse until the objects have been moved to the desired position; then release the button.

To undo move, select Undo from the Edit menu before unselecting the objects.


How to scale objects

First, select the objects you would like to scale. Select the scale tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button on the origin, i.e., the point about which you would like to scale the objects. Move the mouse away from the origin. Click anywhere and without releasing the mouse button, drag the mouse until the objects have been scaled to the desired size.

To scale objects uniformly in horizontal and vertical directions, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.

To undo scale, select Undo from the Edit menu before unselecting the objects.


How to rotate objects

First, select the objects you would like to rotate. Select the rotate tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button on the origin, i.e., the point about which you would like to rotate the objects. Move the mouse away from the origin. Click anywhere and without releasing the button, drag the mouse until the objects have been rotated through the desired angle.

To rotate the objects in steps of 15 degrees, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.

To undo rotate, select Undo from the Edit menu before unselecting the objects.


How to skew objects

First, select the objects you would like to skew. Select the skew tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button on the origin, i.e., the point about which you would like to skew the objects. Move the mouse away from the origin. Click anywhere and without releasing the button, drag the mouse until the objects have been skewed to the desired shape.

To constrain the skewing to either horizontal or vertical direction, hold down the shift key while dragging the mouse.

To undo skew, select Undo from the Edit menu before unselecting the objects.


How to reflect objects

First, select the objects you would like to reflect. Select the reflect tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button on the origin, i.e., the point about which you would like to reflect the objects. Move the mouse away from the origin. Click anywhere and without releasing the button, drag the mouse until the objects have been reflected about the desired line.

To undo reflect, select Undo from the Edit menu before unselecting the objects.


How to select objects

Select the selection tool from the tool bar. Click the left mouse button in an empty area near the objects you would like to select. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse until the selection marquee encloses the objects you would like to select. An object need not be enclosed entirely within the selection marquee in order to get selected. If a small portion of the object falls within the selection marquee, it will be included in the selection.

You can also toggle the selection status of an object, i.e., remove an object from the selection if it is already included in the selection, or add it to the selection if it is not already included. To toggle the selection status of an object, hold down the shift key while following the same steps as when you select an object.

To unselect all objects, click in an empty area on the page.


How to import your drawing into a word processor

Drawings created using PageDraw can be included in documents created using LaTeX, Microsoft Word, Ami Pro, or other word processors. To import your drawing into a word processor, save your drawing in EPS format. Use the EPS inclusion capability of your word processor to include the drawing in a document. Since EPS files created by this version of PageDraw do not contain a preview, the drawing will only appear as a rectangle in the word processor. However, when the document is printed on a PostScript printer, the drawing will appear correctly in its place.

To save your drawing in EPS format, choose Export from the File menu. Then change the Save file as type to EPS.

Technical information for advanced users: About the EPS file format

EPS stands for Encapsulated PostScript. PostScript is a powerful graphics language understood by printers which are equipped with a PostScript Interpreter. An Encapsulated PostScript file contains PostScript code designed to be included as a part of another page, rather than being sent to a PostScript printer directly. All EPS files contain PostScript code. However, PostScript code is in general only understood by printers equipped with a PostScript interpreter. Word processors do not understand PostScript code, and therefore cannot directly display PostScript files on the screen. To solve this problem, EPS files may contain a preview bitmap in addition to the PostScript code. When you insert an EPS file into a word processor, your word processor ignores the PostScript code that it cannot understand, and instead depends on the preview bitmap to display the drawing on the screen. But when the word processor prints the document, it sends the PostScript code to the printer instead of the bitmap. This assumes your printer is equipped with a PostScript interpreter. If it is not, your word processor sends the preview bitmap to the printer, resulting in relatively poor quality.

Now, not all EPS files contain preview bitmaps. When you insert an EPS file which does not contain a preview bitmap into a word processor, the word processor will not be able to display the drawing on the screen. Your word processor may instead display some details about the EPS file such as its name and the date it was created. Even though the EPS file does not contain a preview bitmap, it still contains all the PostScript code necessary to print the picture. So when you print the document, the word processor sends the PostScript code to the printer and the drawing will appear in the output. Again, this assumes that your printer is a PostScript printer. If it is not, the word processor will not be able to print the graphic.

EPS files created by this version of PageDraw do not contain a preview bitmap. So your word processor will not be able to display the drawing on the screen. But it will be able to print the drawing, assuming your printer can understand PostScript.

Trouble shooting

If your word processor is unable to print the EPS drawing you created using PageDraw, check the following:

1. Does your printer support PostScript? If it does not, consider purchasing one that does. If you plan to print plenty of graphics you need a printer that supports PostScript. PCL printers are fine if you only plan to print text, but if you want good quality graphics output you must have a PostScript printer. PageDraw produces higher quality output on printers that support PostScript. 600 DPI PostScript laser printers are available today for less than $1000.

2. Does your printer driver know that your printer supports PostScript? If your printer supports both PCL and PostScript you may be using a PCL printer driver. Install the PostScript printer driver that came with your printer.


Drawing programs and Painting programs

Drawing programs are vector-based. They let you modify objects such as circles, lines, rectangles etc. Drawing programs do not let you modify individual pixels. PageDraw is a drawing program.

Painting programs are bitmap-based. They let you modify individual pixels. However, painting programs do not let you modify objects such as rectangles, circles etc. An example of a painting program is Paintbrush.

Drawing programs print at the highest resolution supported by your printer. Output from painting programs look grainy.


How to change orientation
How to change orientation to portrait or landscape mode

You can change the orientation of the page at any time to portrait or landscape mode and continue drawing. Select Orientation from View menu and choose the orientation you want to change to. Since orientation is only a view mode, you can switch from one orientation to another and back as many times as you want.


How to change fill style

To change the fill style of objects, first select  the objects which you want to change. Then choose the pattern or color you want from the Fill menu. The fill style you choose will remain in effect for the objects you draw later, until you change the fill style again.


How to change line style

To change the line style of objects, first select  the objects which you want to change. Then choose the dash style, line width or color you want from Line menu. Note that dashed lines can only be 1 point wide. The line style you choose will remain in effect for the objects you draw later, until you change the line style again.


How to change color of lines, fills or text

Select the objects you want to change. Then choose Color from the Line menu to change line color, or Color from the Fill menu to change fill color. To change color of text objects choose Color from the Fill menu.

The color dialog

The color dialog lets you specify color in one of three different color models -- HSB, CMYK or RGB. HSB is the most intuitive color model while CMYK is preferred by graphic artists. In the HSB color model, colors are specified using three parameters called Hue, Saturation and Brightness. Hue specifies the color of the color, such as blue or yellow. Saturation specifies the concentration of the selected hue with respect to the overall intensity. Less saturated color has some white light mixed in. If the saturation is set to 0, you get a shade of gray. Brightness specifies the overall intensity of light. If the brightness is set to 0, you get black.

In the color dialog, different hues are arranged around a color wheel. As you move towards the center of this wheel, saturation decreases. The dialog also has a brightness bar. As you move upwards on the brightness bar, the brightness increases.

To select a color, first select a hue by clicking at an appropriate angle on the color wheel. Now adjust the saturation by moving towards or away from the center. Next click on the brightness bar. Move up or down to adjust the brightness. The currently chosen color is visible in the little square next to the brightness bar. Click OK to select the color.


How to pick color and other attributes from one object and apply it to another
How to pick color, pattern and other attributes from one object and apply it to another

Select the object you would like to pick color, pattern, line style and other attributes from. Now click on the eye dropper button on the toolbar. The current paint style will be set to the paint style of the selected object. Next, select the objects you would like to apply the current paint style to. Then click on the brush button on the toolbar.


How to draw arrow heads at ends of lines

To draw arrow heads at ends of lines, first select the lines you are interested in. Then choose any of the last four items in the Line menu, depending on whether you want no arrow heads, arrow head on the first end, arrow head on the second end, or arrow heads on both ends. Three different arrow styles are available--Small, Big and Fancy. To change the arrow style, select the lines you are interested in. Then choose the style you want from the Arrows menu. To access the Arrows menu, click on Style menu and then click on Arrows.


handles
Handles are little squares that become visible when you select an object. If the handles are white that means that the object is grouped and cannot be edited.


How to align and space objects

To align objects, select the objects you want to align. Then choose an appropriate command from the Align sub-menu in the Arrange menu.

Space Evenly in the Arrange menu rearranges selected objects such that the distance between them is uniform. The distance between objects can be either the distance between centers of the objects or the space between edges of the objects.


How to group objects

Select the objects you would like to group. Then choose Group from the Arrange menu. Group objects if you want a set of objects to behave as one object. If you select an object that is part of a group, the entire group will be selected. This ensures that you do not accidentally dismantle the group by moving or editing one of the objects in the group. Note that grouped objects have white handles instead of black. White handles indicate that the selected object cannot be edited. If you want to edit an object that is part of a group, you must Ungroup the objects first.

Text objects that are part of a group can be edited without ungrouping first.


Interoperability with other applications

Export your drawing in EPS format to insert the drawing into your word processor. This version of PageDraw cannot import or export drawings in WMF format because of limitations of the WMF format. For the same reason, PageDraw cannot communicate with other applications via the clipboard.

Drawings created using PageDraw can be opened in other drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator 4.1, CorelDraw 6, Micrografx Windows Draw 4.0 and SmartSketch 95. First select Export from the File menu in PageDraw. In the Export dialog, change Save file as type to Adobe Illustrator. Enter a file name and click OK. Your drawing will be saved in Adobe Illustrator 88 format. This file can now be opened in any of the above programs.

To open a drawing created using any of the above programs in PageDraw, first start the application that created the drawing and export the drawing in Adobe Illustrator 88 format. Then in PageDraw choose Import from the File menu. PageDraw can import the AI format file you created.


How to zoom in and zoom out

Select the zoom tool from the toolbar. Click and drag a rectangle around the area you would like to zoom in on. To zoom out, click anywhere and without moving the mouse, release the mouse button.


How to send in your comments
PageDraw is FREE software

PageDraw is Copyright (c) 1993-96 Rajeev Karunakaran

Feel free to make copies of PageDraw for your coworkers and friends. No charges are due to the author for using PageDraw.

Permission is granted to distribute unmodified copies of PageDraw, without any charges being due to the author.

PageDraw is distributed with NO WARRANTY of any kind. The author or distributors of this software do not accept responsibility for any damages arising from the use of this software.

How to send in your comments

You are invited to send me your questions, comments, any bugs you have found, or suggestions for the next version of PageDraw. If you have access to the Internet, please send me e-mail at the address:

rajeev@netcom.com