Selection modes

Getting Started with OpenOffice.org 2.x

Chapter 8: Getting Started with Draw

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• The Workplace
• The basic drawing shapes
• Selection modes
• Selecting objects
• Moving and dynamically adjusting an object's size
• Special effects
• Editing objects
• Inserting pictures from other sources
• Exporting objects and files

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There are three selection modes: moving and changing size, rotating, and editing points.

The default mode for selecting objects depends on whether the Points button on the Drawing toolbar is active (appears lit) File:DrawPointsActive.png or not inactive (appears dark or dimmed) inline:graphics19.png .

When the Points button is not active, the default mode is for selections to be moved or changed in size; these selections are indicated by small green squares.

When the Points button is active, the default mode is for selections to be edited; these selections are indicated by blue squares. Some objects will have one or more extra handles, which are larger or colored differently. This is explained in more detail in the Draw Guide.

Selections for rotating objects are indicated by small red circles and a symbol representing the center of rotation. To choose these selections, click on the Effects drop-down button File:DrawEffectsIcon.png from the Drawing toolbar.

Changing the selection mode

To go from one mode to another, you can do one of the following:

• If necessary, toggle the Points button on the Drawing toolbar to switch from the simple selection mode to the Points mode File:DrawPointsActive.png. You can also use the keyboard shortcut F8 (Points).

• Choose the Effects drop-down button from the Drawing toolbar File:DrawEffectsIcon.png to activate the Rotation mode for a selected object.

• By choosing the Rotation Mode after Clicking Object button File:RotationModeIcon.png from the Options bar, you can cycle through normal and rotation modes just by clicking on the object. This can be more convenient than clicking the object, then clicking the Rotate button from the Drawing Toolbar.