Overview of the Toolbox

The Toolbox appears on the left of the screen when you start Sketchpad, and includes six tools.

· Selection Arrow tools: Use this tool to select and drag objects in your sketch. The three variations of the tool allow you to drag-translate (move), drag-rotate (turn), and drag-dilate (shrink or grow) objects.

· Point tool: Use this tool to construct points.

· Compass tool: Use this tool to construct circles.

· Straightedge tools: Use this tool to construct straight objects. The three variations of the tool allow you to construct segments, rays, and lines.

· Text tool: Use this tool to create and edit text and labels.

· Custom tools icon: Use this icon to define, use, and manage custom tools.

Choosing and Using Tools

To use any of Sketchpad’s tools, click the desired tool in the Toolbox. Then move the mouse over the sketch and click or press and drag to use the tool.

The Selection Arrow and Straightedge tools each come in three variations. To change from one variation to another, press and hold the Selection Arrow tool or Straightedge tool in the Toolbox until a menu pops out. Choose a different variation of the tool from this menu to make it active.

You can change the active tool by using the keyboard instead of the mouse. Hold down the Shift key and press the up or down arrow key to change the active tool. You can also hold down the Shift key and press the right or left arrow key to switch the Selection Arrow or Straightedge tool from one variation to another.

Windows users who have a mouse wheel can change the active tool by turning the wheel, and can switch between varieties of the Selection Arrow or Straightedge tool by pressing the wheel.

Once you’ve chosen a tool, that tool remains active until you choose a different one, so there’s no need to click the same tool repeatedly to use it multiple times.

Using Tools to Scroll the Sketch Window

You can use any of Sketchpad’s tools to scroll the sketch window and see different parts of the sketch. Hold down the Alt key (Windows) or the Option key (Macintosh) and press and drag in the sketch to scroll the entire sketch in the direction in which you drag. This feature works no matter which tool is active in the toolbox.

Hiding and Showing the Toolbox

You may want to hide the Toolbox when making presentations.

Hide or show the Toolbox by using the Hide Toolbox and Show Toolbox commands at the bottom of the Display menu.

See also
Hide/Show Toolbox

Moving, Resizing, and Docking the Toolbox

To move the Toolbox, (Windows or Macintosh) grab it by the title bar or (Windows only) by the gray area surrounding the buttons and drag it to a different location on the screen.

Windows users can dock the Toolbox to the left, top, right, or bottom edge of the application window. When the Toolbox is not docked, Windows users can also resize the Toolbox by dragging a border of the Toolbox window.