Tab Creation Cursor

The Tab Creation Cursor is used for drawing lines, paths, or curves that may have multiple segments. EazyDraw uses this method of creation for several different shapes. The Toolbar buttons for the shapes that use this method are shown below. The Tab Creation Cursor becomes active when one of these buttons is selected.

How to use the Tab Creation Cursor
There are two ways to create multiple segment paths with the Tab Creation cursor. The first is a combination of click and drag that uses the Tab key to advance to the next segment of the path or curve. The second method uses multiple sequences of click and drag, one click and drag sequence for each segment of the curve. There are no settings or preferences that control which method is used. The desired method is simply determined by your actions.

The Tab key method requires 2 hands but may be more convenient in some cases. To use this method keep the mouse key down and continue the drag operation until the curve is completely drawn. As you drag the mouse, click the Tab key whenever a new segment is needed. A vertex will be placed at the mouse location at the time of the key click. The drawing operation is completed when the mouse is lifted at the end of the drawing sequence.

In some cases it may be more convenient to use a sequence of individual click and drag mouse motions to specify the segments of the curve. In this case when the mouse key is released at the end of the first segment you will note that the Tab Cursor remains in effect. This is your visual clue that the curve is not complete. The next mouse down will begin a new drag sequence that will add the next leg of the curve. This cycle of click-drag may be continued until the desired number of path segments have been created. The process is completed with either a double click of the mouse or when the mouse moves off the window that contains the drawing. Sometimes flicking the cursor off the window is a convenient way to complete a curve and there is no chance of getting another segment if the double click is too slow.

Don't be concerned if the curve is not placed and sized exactly as desired during the creation procedure. You may easily move and resize the curve after creation. Undo and redo always works too. If you need to place the curve vertices at particular positions, this may be accomplished after the creation step by using the Graphic Details Drawer to modify the specific location of each vertex of the newly created curve.

Left handed users will find it more convenient to use the "Enter Key" instead of Tab. Enter is usually found on the right side of the key board. There is no preference to set for this feature. Either key will work. The first one clicked will be used for the rest of the creation procedure. The next time the other key may be used if desired.

At any time you can step back one segment by using the Delete Key. Each click of the delete key will remove one vertex of the curve.