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OvationPro

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Specification: 2 Object Handling

2.1 Drawing Objects

Ovation Pro supports two object types; Frames which are used to contain text and pictures, and Lines which are for graphical effect only.

Objects may be rectangular, elliptical or any irregular shape drawn using straight and curved line (Bézier) segments. They may be moved (constraining to horizontal or vertical movement if required), or resized by dragging their handles (constraining to a square or to the original aspect ratio if required). Precise adjustment may be achieved by 'nudging' the pointer using the cursor keys.

You may select a number of objects and manipulate them in a single operation, or Group/Ungroup them permanently. Options are also provided to change the stacking order of objects i.e. Front, Back, Forwards and Backwards.

In addition to cutting, copying and pasting objects via the clipboard, they may be 'drag and dropped' directly onto another page or even into another document.

Duplicate allows selected objects to be replicated a number of times at specified vertical and horizontal offsets.

2.2 Drawing Aids

To help align objects you may overlay a grid. If grid lock is enabled, objects will snap to the grid.

Objects may be snapped to horizontal or vertical ruler guidelines which are drawn from the page rulers.

Object snap causes the edges of one object to snap to the same edges of another allowing them to be easily aligned.

Grid lock, guideline snap and object snap may all be independently enabled and disabled.

2.3 Editing Object Shapes

A rectangular object may be changed to an elliptical object of the same overall size, or vice versa. In addition any object may be changed to a regular polygon with a specified number of sides, or converted to a series of straight and curved line segments.

Path Edit Mode allows straight and curved line segments to be edited. One or more control points may be selected and dragged to change the shape. Options include:

Straight - Change segment to straight segment
Curve - Change segment to curved segment
Move - Change segment to a 'move'
Horizontal - Make segment horizontal
Vertical - Make segment vertical
Add point - Add point in segment
Delete - Delete selected segments
Flatten path - Smooth join between two curves
Open/close - Open or close the path
Snap to grid - Snap selected points to grid

2.4 Rotating Objects

Selected objects may be rotated using the rotate tool or by setting an angle of rotation in a dialogue box or on the info palette. The centre of rotation may be specified by dragging a crosshair, or positioned on the corners or sides of the object. After rotation, text remains fully editable.

2.5 Embedding Objects

An object or group may be embedded in text so that it moves with its associated text. An embedded object may be deleted, cut, copied and pasted just like the surrounding text. The embedded object is aligned to the baseline of the text, but may be shifted up or down as required.

2.6 Modify Objects

Objects may be modified in a wide range of ways:

Origin X, Y - Set precise position of object.
Width, Height - Set size of object.
Angle - Angle of rotation of object (Range: -179° to +180° to 2 decimal places).
Skew - Skew object forwards or backwards (Range: -80° to +80° in 1° steps).
Radius - Make frame corners specified radius.
Inset - Distance inside frame that text is repelled.
Fill colour - Set background colour using colour picker.
Top - Vertically align text to top of frame(default).
Centre - Vertically align text to centre.
Bottom - Vertically align text to bottom.
Justify - Justify text vertically to fill frame depth.
Columns - Set number of columns for frame.
Gutter width - Set gutter between columns.
Column width - Set width of column.
Column guide - draw guide in gutter
Guide width - Set width of column guide.
Guide colour - Set colour of column guide.
Lock - Lock object to prevent accidental modification.

If object is a line then Width, Colour, Pattern, Join and Endcaps may be specified (as in Draw).

2.7 Frame Borders

A range of simple borders styles may be applied to regular or irregular frames. Styles include single, double, triple and dotted lines, and you may specify the thickness and colour. If the frame is rectangular, you may choose on which sides to apply the border. A Drop shadow may be added to rectangular frames with any offset and colour.

2.8 Text Flow

Text flow controls how text flows around frames:

None - Flow text behind frame (no runaround).
Frame - Flow text around frame (default).
Picture - Flow text around irregular graphic, setting the standoff curve to picture shape.
Wider - Flow text around widest side.
Left - Flow text around left side.
Right - Flow text around right side.
Both - Flow text around both sides.
Neither - Flow text above and below only.
Standoff - Distance outside frame that text is repelled.

Frames have an inset curve defining where text flows inside a frame, and a standoff curve defining where text flows around a frame. Both curves may be edited in Path Edit Mode.



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