Lines can be created using the line tool under "New Objects".
To create a line, proceed as follows:
- Select the "Drawing Tools" from the toolbar.
- The simple line tool is located in the first row.
- Click at the point in the document where you want to draw the line and hold down the left mouse button.
- Now drag the mouse to the point where the line should end.
- Afterwards, you can edit the line.
ℹ When lines are drawn while holding the Shift key, a straight line is created. When reshaping or moving with the Shift key, the point or line is only moved horizontally or vertically.
Here you can find an animation showing how to draw and edit lines in Stylo.
A rotated line can only be moved with the mouse, but cannot be reshaped.
How can lines be styled?
How are graphic objects positioned and resized in Stylo?
How can a specific line thickness or color be assigned to the line?
The drawing tools include various line tools – which one should I choose?
Indeed, there are various tools under the drawing tools that can be used to create line-like objects. One may not be recognizable at first glance. Below is a graphic that highlights the different tools.
This chapter specifically addresses the red-bordered line tool (1). You can edit the tool at its endpoints and change their position – which also changes the size of the line. It is not possible to modify this tool in such a way that other anchor points are added.
This is possible with the two Polygon tools. The left (circular and blue-bordered) tool (2) may look closed, but you do not have to close a polygon. If you open this object, you can set individual anchor points. These are always square by default. If you want to create an arc or wave-like line, select the circular green-bordered tool (3) in the row.
Finally, there is also the line tool (4) in the shapes, which is highlighted in orange in the above illustration. With this, you draw a line just like with the first line. Since it is a polygon, you can add more points at any time.
Please note that the "Line Ends" function is not available for the polygon line tools.
In the following demonstration, you can see a small demonstration of the behavior:
Line Ends
This dialog allows you to assign line ends. This refers to the endings of simple lines, as well as arrow ends.
The dialog can be accessed via the context menu of a line or through the graphic palette when a line has been selected.
First tip/Last tip: Here you can define the line end. By default, the ends are corners. This style can be changed using the "round" checkbox.
Length: The length of the arrow tip.
Width: The width of the arrow tip.
Round: Ensures that the ends of the arrows are rounded.
The Properties of Lines
Through the toolbar and the context menu, you can access the properties dialog of lines. In this dialog, you will find many options to make specific settings for graphic objects.
Access via the toolbar:
If you prefer to access via the context menu, select the first entry "Properties" from the menu.
Navigation
Through the navigation of the properties dialog, you can choose the various options.
The extent of the functionality provided depends on the assigned rights.
Preview
At the bottom left of the dialog is the icon for the preview. When activated, you see the left icon; when deactivated, the eye is crossed out. By default, the preview functionality is turned off.
Value assignment only occurs when you
- press the "Assign" button or
- switch to another section within the properties.
Back to the original values
This is a "mini-undo" – with this button, you return to the values that were last assigned to the paragraph. This is helpful when you have tried different things and want to revert to the original value without having to close the dialog.
Close
The properties dialog will be closed. Changes that have not yet been assigned will be lost. No confirmation will be requested.
Assign
The changes made will be assigned.
Basis
x: Position of the objects in the horizontal.
y: Position of the objects in the vertical.
Width: Specify the width for the selected objects. The width of the display is not changed by increasing the width of a line.
Height: Specify the height for the selected objects.
Bracket: If the bracket is activated, the width and height will be changed proportionally.
Proportions are observed:
Proportions are not observed:
Rotation: You can set the rotation angle of an object. The rotation occurs around the center of the object. To rotate, you can use the small point as a control element. It snaps in 45° increments. If exact values need to be entered, click on the value in the middle of the rotation input and enter the desired value there.
Crop
With these parameters, the crop can be defined by the display frame.
Three options are available. In the displayed examples, images are used as the effect is easier to recognize.
Crop at the display frame: Normally, objects are cropped at the inner edge of the display frame. If you do not want this, you will find the switch at that point.
| On (default): | Off: |
|---|---|
Crop at the inner display frame: If you have a multiple frame as the display frame, you can specify that the object is not cropped at the outer display frame, but at the inner one. This option is usually disabled:
| On: | Off (default): |
|---|---|
Flexibility
This section contains settings for Vertical Alignment and Growing Height.
Vertical Alignment Settings
V-Factor top: Vertical alignment factor for the distance upwards. The factor is an integer. The absolute value in the display results from the space to be distributed.
V-Factor bottom: Vertical alignment factor for the distance downwards. The factor is an integer. The absolute value in the display results from the space to be distributed.
Distance top: If you have graphic objects that have been linked via the vertical alignment function, you can read and change the minimum distance to the predecessor object here. The value will be entered there as soon as the vertical alignment group has been fixed.
Distance bottom: If you have graphic objects that have been linked via the vertical alignment function, you can read and change the minimum distance to the successor object here. The value will be entered there as soon as the vertical alignment group has been fixed.
Growing Height
With this function, you can achieve that objects change their size depending on others. A step-by-step guide can be found here.
Top: Specifies an offset value by which the growing height is increased upwards.
Bottom: Specifies an offset value by which the growing height is increased downwards.
Death Cross
Specify the settings for a death cross created from a line. Only very simple variants are possible here. For more complex crosses, we recommend using graphics.
The "Death Cross" function is used together with the "Growing" function, which you can find under the "Flexibility" tab.
Death Cross active: Activates the death cross functionality for the object.
Distance from top: Specifies the distance of the crossbar. The specification is absolute.
Width: Specifies the width of the crossbar of the death cross.
Graphic
Influence on display height: If the option is set, a graphic object will be considered when determining the height of the display. Otherwise, you can also place the object in the cut-off at the end of the display. Text frames have this property by default; all other graphic objects do not.
Rights
At this point, the rights can be defined. The following rights are available:
Position: If set, the objects cannot be moved anymore. Stylo displays a symbol that makes this clear:
Size: Objects cannot be manually enlarged or reduced if this parameter has been set by you.
Content: The content cannot be changed if the option has been activated by you. The fact that the content is unchangeable is indicated by a red image symbol.
Delete: If this option is set, the object cannot be deleted. If an object has been protected from deletion, this will be indicated to the user by a lock symbol.
Please note that these restrictions on changes are limitations that prevent the user from making manual changes (e.g., in dialogs, working with the mouse, or touch actions). Automatic changes, for example, through text input or because other elements influence this object, are not affected.
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