WMS:Drawing Tools

The Annotation toolbar.

Drawing tools allow the user to manual manipulate and create certain objects depending on the active module when the Map, Terrain, or Drainage modules are activated. These objects are created in layers, like sheets of paper stacked on top of one another. Only one tool is active at any given time.

Tools

Create Line

The Create Line tool can be used to create single line segments or polylines (a series of connected segments). An arrowhead can be placed on either end of the line. Lines are typically used in conjunction with text strings to highlight key features in a plot. A line is created by clicking on a series of points on the screen with the mouse and double-clicking to end the line. The color, line style, and arrowhead options of a line are edited with the Attributes dialog.

Create Rectangle

The Create Rectangle tool is used to create wire frame or filled rectangles. Rectangles can be used to represent buildings, frame a series of text strings, etc.. Rectangles are created with this tool by dragging a rectangle with the mouse at the location on the screen where the user wishes to place the rectangle.

Create Oval

The Create Oval tool can be used to create wire frame or filled ovals. Ovals are created by dragging a rectangle with the mouse at the location on the screen where the user wishes to place the oval. The rectangle width and height determine the major and minor axes of the oval.

Create Text

The Create Text tool is used to create a single line text string. The location clicked on defines where the text string will be placed. After clicking on a location, the Text Attributes dialog appears allowing the user to enter the text string and choose the font, color, etc.

Select Drawing Objects

The Select Drawing Objects tool is used to select the previously created text, rectangles, ovals, and lines. Once selected, a drawing object can be moved to another location by clicking on the object and dragging it to a new location. Lines, rectangles, and ovals can be resized by dragging the handles that appear on the corners or ends of the object when the object is selected. The Select Drawing Objects tool is also used to edit the graphical attributes.

Arrangement Tools

The arrangement tools allow moving drawing objects up or down in the layers.

Move to Front

Brings the selected object to the front (or the top) of the layers, so all other layers are below it.

Move to Back

Moves the selected object to the back, so all other layers are above it.

Shuffle Up

Moves the selected object up one layer.

Shuffle Down

Moves the selected object down lone layer.

Drawing Objects Menu

The Map module includes a set of tools for adding simple graphics and annotations to a plot. These tools are not intended to be a full-featured drawing package as would be found in products like AutoCAD or Corel Draw. However, they can be very useful for adding titles, arrows, and other annotations to a plot so that the plot can be directly included in a project report without the need to import the plot into an external drawing package prior to reporting generation.

The types of drawing objects that can be created in the Map module are text, lines (including arrows), rectangles, and ovals. Drawing objects are created and edited using the Drawing Object tools in the Tool Palette. Drawing objects are saved in the Map file along with feature objects.

Drawing Object Attributes

Each type of drawing object has a set of graphical attributes that can be edited by selecting the object with the Select Drawing Objects tool and selecting the Attributes command in the Drawing Objects menu. The attributes can also be edited by double-clicking on an object.

Text Attributes

If a text object is selected, the Attributes command in the Drawing Objects menu brings up the Text Attributes dialog. The dialog can be used to change the font, the color, or the text string itself. An option is also provided to fill a rectangle just containing the text with a user-specified color. This option can be useful to help the text stand out from the objects being drawn behind the text.

Rectangle and Oval Attributes

The attributes for both rectangles and ovals can be edited with the Rectangle/Oval Attributes dialog. Rectangle and oval attributes include line style, line color, and line width. An option can also be set to either draw only the outline of the rectangle or oval (no fill) or fill the object with a user-specified fill pattern and color.

Line Attributes

The attributes for lines are edited with the Line Attributes dialog. The line attributes include line color, line width, and line style. The arrowheads associated with a line can also be edited. The length and width of the arrowhead can be defined along with the placement of the arrowheads. The arrowheads can be placed at the beginning of the line, the end of the line, or at both ends of the line.

Default Attributes

When a new object is created, it inherits the default attributes for that object type. The default attributes are defined by selecting one of the drawing object tools (line, rectangle, oval, or text) and selecting the Attributes command in the Drawing Objects menu.

Drawing Depth

Drawing Objects dialog

In some drawing packages, the drawing takes place in a purely two-dimensional medium. However, since the objects in WMS can be three-dimensional, the drawing objects must be positioned in three-dimensional space. This is accomplished by utilizing a drawing depth when drawing objects are created. When drawing objects are first created, they are created in a plane that is orthogonal to the current viewing angle. For example, in plan view, objects are drawn in an XY plane. When drawing in a plane, a depth must be defined for the plane. For example, when drawing in the XY plane, the drawing depth is the z coordinate of the XY plane.

The drawing depth is designated with the Drawing Depth command in the Drawing Objects menu. Two options are provided in the associated dialog: the objects can either be drawn at the average depth of the visible objects or drawn at a user-specified depth.

Drawing Object Order

The order in which drawing objects in the Map module are displayed becomes important whenever a rectangle or oval is displayed in the color fill mode. The order of drawing objects can be controlled using the Move to Front, Move to Back, Shuffle Up, and Shuffle Down commands of the Drawing Objects menu.

Move to Front

The Move to Front command causes the selected drawing object to be drawn last. In other words, it appears on top or in front of all other drawing objects.

Move to Back

The Move to Back command causes the selected drawing object to be drawn first. In other words, it appears at the bottom or in back of all other drawing objects.

Shuffle Up

The Shuffle Up command causes the selected drawing object to be displayed one object later than it is currently displayed. This causes it to appear in front of the object which is currently being displayed just ahead of it.

Shuffle Down

The Shuffle Down command causes the selected drawing object to be displayed one object sooner than it is currently displayed. This causes it to appear behind the object that is currently being displayed just behind it.

Related Topics

• Tool Palettes
• Map Module
• Display Options