The polyLine/polyBezier is a collection of nodes, or vertices (maximum 50). These are connected
by straight lines/cubic Beziers. These two objects are distinct from all the other 'stock' objects because the stock
objects all have pre-determined shapes and pre-defined handles which are used to simply change the shape.
The polyLine/polyBezier has no such constraints. The operations that are unique to these two are:
Create a new object: Click on the object button to get a 'pen' cursor. Then click multiple times on the draw panel to create new nodes. (For the polyBezier, you can drag after clicking, in order to extend the Bezier control arm.) Terminate with the 'Enter' or 'Escape' key. Edit nodes: Drag the red square handle to move the entire object. Drag a brown circle to move a single node. For the polyBezier - drag a green/blue circle to modify a Bezier control arm. - drag a red highlighted segment to reshape the entire segment. Select a different node either by hovering the mouse or by using the 'Page Up/Down' keys. There are three polyLine/polyBezier operations that are enabled by holding down the Ctrl key and simultaneously clicking the left mouse button: Rotate object: drag anywhere to rotate the object. (This also works on all the 'stock' objects.) Delete node: click on a brown circle to delete a node. You will be asked to confirm. Insert node: hover over a line segment until it turns red. Then click to add a node. You will be asked to confirm. To insert a node between the start point and the end point, choose the option 'Closed' in the Edit Panel. Then select this new segment and click to add a point. |