Auxiliary Objects

ConceptDraw Project offers advanced features for working with objects: you can create objects, change their properties, assign them texts and hyperlinks. Convenient ConceptDraw Project tools are connectors which change objects automatically at their repositioning.

ConceptDraw Project gives a lot of tools for working with objects. You can draw segments and figures, group some objects into one, connect them with connectors and do many other things. Except for objects created in ConceptDraw Project, you can insert pictures of various graphic formats.

What Objects You Can Use

Figures

Figures consist of one or more elementary segments. There are 4 types of elementary segments: LineTo, SectorTo, ArcTo, SplineTo.

The segments connected among themselves form a continuous chain called geometry . If the beginning of the first segment coincides with the end of the last one, the geometry becomes closed and is filled in by default.

A figure may contain several geometries. Externally it can look as a group of several objects. Unlike objects within a group, all geometries have identical properties (line thickness, filling color, etc.). A group may include any objects with various styles of lines, filling colors, etc.

ConceptDraw Project supports creating and working with special objects: connectors, pictures, OLE objects. Connectors are created by means of the application, pictures and OLE objects are imported from other program.

Connectors

A connector connects 2 objects. Its basic property: a connection does not break off while operating with linked objects, e.g., repositioning, resizing, etc.

There are 2 modes of connecting objects: to the entire object (the connector may change its connection point depending on the exit direction ) and to a particular connection point of an object.

Groups

A group unites several objects. While making various operations a group behaves itself as an object. However you still have access to editing internal objects. For simple operations such as change of the text, color of lines or setting fill properties you can select an object within a group.

Pictures

Pictures can be imported in ConceptDraw Project from files of various graphic formats: BMP (Windows bitmap), JPG, GIF, PNG, WMF (Windows Metafile (in Windows versions), PCT (Macintosh PICT), TIFF, TGA (TARGA).

For this object type only limited editing (resizing, rotating, etc.) is supposed.

OLE-objects

ConceptDraw Project supports Object Linking and Embedding capabilities (i.g, it is an OLE-compatible application). Due to this feature you can work with objects from other programs, inserting them into a ConceptDraw Project. In the ConceptDraw Project application you can only resize an OLE-object, other properties can be changed in the application where this OLE-object has been created.

You can find more detailed information in the Working with OLE-Compatible Applications section.

Creating Objects

To create a new figure you can use tools from the toolbar : Line , Sector , Arc or Spline .

Then the selected segment is drawn using your mouse. To add another segment , start its drawing from one of the endpoints of an existing segment. This will increase the size of the chain of segments - its geometry.

In case you start drawing at any position, but with the Ctrl (in Windows) or the Cmd (in Mac OS) key held the segment will be added to the selected object, but in a new chain of segments - the object will consist of two (or more) fragments which are not linked between themselves.

While creating a segment with the Shift key pressed and held you can draw in the constrained mode. The way in which segments behave in this mode depends on the segment type.

Basic segments

Line Segment: a linear segment. It can be created with the Line tool. In the constrained mode the line angle will change with the 45-degrees scale.

Note: to switch to the Line tool, you can also press Ctrl+3 or select the Line from the Tools / Create Object menu.

Sector Segment: a circular sector. It can be created with the Sector tool. The direction in which you first drag the mouse determines which way the curve bows. The point where you release the mouse button defines the other endpoint of the sector. To change the direction in which the curve bows, hold down the Shift key when you drag.

To switch to the Sector tool, you can also check Sector Segment in the Tools/Draw menu, or press Ctrl+4.

Arc Segment: a sector of an ellipse. It is created while using the Arc tool. While creating the sector angle is 90 degrees.

Note: To switch to the Arc mode press Ctrl+5 or select the Arc tool from the Tools / Create Object menu.

Spline To: a smooth curve (also called the spline). It can be created with the Spline tool. In the ConceptDraw Project free drawing is realized with the help of this tool. Once drawn, the spline is easy to be modified by adjusting its vertices and adjustment handles.

To switch to the Spline tool, press Ctrl+6 or select the Spline option from the Tools / Create Object menu.

Elementary figures

Rectangular: a filled rectangular is created. In the constrained mode (with the Shift key pressed) a square is drawn instead of a rectangular.

Note: To switch to the Rectangular mode you can press Ctrl+7 or select the Rectangular option from the Tools / Create Object menu.

Ellipse: a filled ellipse is created. In the constrained mode (with the Shift key pressed) a circle is drawn instead of an ellipse.

Note: To switch to the Ellipse mode you can press Ctrl+8 or select the Ellipse option from the Tools / Create Object menu.

Text box: a text object is created. In the constrained mode (with the Shift key pressed) a square text object is drawn. After you release the mouse button, the Edit Text mode switches on, and you can type the text in the box.

Figures in ConceptDraw Project can consist of several continuous chains of segments called geometries. Any figure can have one or more geometries.

The submenu Operation in the Figures menu contains commands for working with figures and geometries. For creating complex figures you can use the Combine command. This command is convenient to be used for creating figures consisting of several geometries.

The Scattering operation, on the contrary, splits a complex figure into separate geometries. The Join command lets merge several figures into one, thus "sticking together" the conterminous ends of geometries.

Manipulating Objects

Selecting objects

To work with an object, you need to select it. Selected objects are surrounded with a green or dark blue dashed line. It is an object alignment box.

In most cases the Select mode is used for selecting objects. To switch to this mode use one of following ways:

  1. To click the Select button in the toolbar
  2. To select the Object Select Mode item in the Tools menu
  3. To use the keyboard:
    Ctrl+1 Cmd+1, Enter

To make an object a selected object, you should click it. The selected object has handles which you can drag for modifying it. Depending on the chosen tool, handles can have various forms and operate in different ways. In the figure shown below you can see how handles at an object look if Select, Line, Arc tools have been selected:

Multiple Selecting

Multiple selecting is accessible when using the Shift key. Holding the pressed Shift key you can, using a mouse, click select/undo selecting for objects separately, without losing the selection of other objects. (The Shift key may also be used while working with the Select Box).

In the Select or Rotate modes you can use the Select Box for multiple selecting objects. For this purpose click some empty place and drag atop of those objects which you want to select. All objects touched by the box appeared become selected objects after releasing the mouse button.

Note: in the Connection Point and Edit Text modes you can choose objects without quitting the current mode. For this purpose while selecting keep the Ctrl key (in Windows) or Cmd key (in Mac OS) pressed. For multiple selection use the Shift key in addition.

To select all objects on a page use the command Select All from the Edit menu or use:

Ctrl+A Cmd+A

To deselect objects, click an empty place or select Deselect in the Edit menu.

The primary selected object

Two types of the selected objects are distinguished: the object selected first is marked with the green color (primary), the others are displayed with blue handles(secondary objects).

Some operations distinguish between these qualities. A few operations use the first object as the standard one (for aligning objects, balancing distances between objects, etc.), the other ones apply actions only to the first object, ignoring the rest ( Information, Hyperlink, Connection Points, etc.).

You can reassign the primary object among the selected objects just clicking it.

Selecting an Object within a Group

Objects may also be selected in case they are a part of a group.

Unlike common objects, objects selected within a group display gray handles. This indicates that grouped objects are protected against some operations. For instance, repositioning and rotation are inaccessible, however you can change colors, properties of a line, fills, assign the text, etc.

To select an object within a group, select all group first, and then click the required object. If the group comprises other groups it may be necessary to click a few times, until the required object is selected.

For more free editing (repositioning, rotation, adding / deleting of segments, etc.) within a group Group Editing is convenient to use. It is called by the command Edit group from the Figure menu.

While working you can copy objects and insert them in other places of the document, duplicate and delete them.

Copying And Inserting

You can make information interchange within the ConceptDraw Project application as well as between ConceptDraw Project and other programs using a clipboard. The Clipboard is the place where the system keeps the data used for copying and carrying between documents and other applications. With the help of standard editing commands - Cut, Copy, Paste - you can copy the selected text or objects in the Clipboard and then insert them into other places.

Cut and Copy

The Copy command places a copy of the selected objects or the text in the Clipboard.

It is accessible from the menu Edit/Copy or with the help of the Copy tool in the toolbar.

Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Ins Cmd+C

The contents of the clipboard can be inserted into the same document, in other documents or other applications.

The Cut command is a combination of two operations: Copy and Delete, i.g., copying of all selected objects in the Clipboard, and then their removal from a document. It is called from the menu Edit/Cut or from the toolbar by pressing the button Cut .

Ctrl+X, Shift+Del Cmd+X

Note: For information interchange with other applications on Mac OS platform ConceptDraw Project uses the PICT format.

Paste

The Paste command inserts the contents of the clipboard into the cursor position. This command is accessible from the menu Edit/Paste or selecting the Paste tool in the toolbar.

Ctrl+V, Shift+Ins Cmd+V

Note:
As a rule, objects from other programs will be inserted as OLE-objects.
In the version for Mac OS the program only inserts objects or the text from the clipboard. If the clipboard of the system has the text, then at presence of selected objects the text will be inserted into the primary object (with the green Select Box). If there are no selected objects, a text object will be created and this text will be inserted into it. If the buffer contains the image in the PICT format, the program will offer you to transform the image into ConceptDraw object(s) or insert it as a picture.

Paste Special

In Windows with the help of the Paste Special command you can choose in what form to insert into the document the contents of the buffer (a picture, the text, etc.). This command is accessible from the Edit menu or from the keyboard:

Ctrl+Alt+V

Paste in Place

If the clipboard contains a ConceptDraw object, the when using this command this object will be placed into the same position on the page from which it has been copied or cut. To call this command, select the Paste in Place option from the Edit menu or use keys:

Ctrl+Shift+V Cmd+Shift+V

It is especially convenient while copying or moving objects to another page of the document.

Note: For objects from other programs this command works similarly to the Paste command.

Duplicating Objects

For creating a duplicate of a selected object select the menu Edit/Duplicate item.

Ctrl+D Cmd+D

The object copy will appear just a little to the right and below of the original.

Duplicating Operation can also be carried out using the mouse. This is frequently more convenient as the new object can be positioned in the required place at once. Holding the Ctrl key (in Windows) or the Option key (in Mac OS) pressed, click the object and drag its copy to the required place.

Note: To copy objects onto other documents, use operations Copy/Paste.

Deleting Objects

Deleting is accessible only for selected objects from the menu Edit/Delete or by using the Del or Delete keys.

Pay attention to the fact that no handles were selected (the selected points have lilac color), otherwise they are deleted instead of the object.

Undo and Redo operations

Undo

While creating and editing objects mistakes and discrepancies arise inevitably. Then you will need to cancel previous operations and return to an initial state. The Undo command is used for this purpose.

To cancel the last action, click the Undo button in the toolbar or select the menu Edit/Undo item. It is always specified in the menu which operation will be cancelled.

Ctrl+Z, Alt+Backspace Cmd+Z

The amount of commands which may be undone (the retreat depth) is limited. The default value is 30. However you can change the retreat depth in the dialog Project Properties of the File/Project Properties menu. The more the retreat depth is, the more memory is required for the program for storing its actions.

Redo

The Redo command is inverse to the Undo command . The Redo is used to cancel an action of the last Undo command. To perform the reverse, click the Redo button on the toolbar or select the Redo from the Edit menu.

Ctrl+Y Cmd+Y

Object Properties

Each object has a set of its own properties which you can change: color, thickness and line style, the fill color and pattern, text parameters text, etc. In ConceptDraw Project each of these properties can be changed separately with the help of corresponding tools, or you can change some of them simultaneously in dialogues.

Line Parameters

Lines are a part of any ConceptDraw object. You may change their parameters using the Line dialog in the Format menu.

Ctrl+K Cmd+K

Or use buttons in the the Line and Fill toolbar: Line Color , Weight , Line Style , Arrow Style (for open figures, segments, connectors).

These buttons offer you the most widely used styles. To have a greater list, select the lowest option to call the Line Properties dialogue.

In the Line properties dialogue (Format/Lines) you can change various parameters of lines: style, color, width, the size and the arrow type.

Variants of Line Styles are as follows: no line, solid line, dashed line, various other styles (totally 17 styles). Select the desirable style from the drop-down Style box.

The drop-down Width box in the Line Style dialog offers you a set of 8 sizes.

Note: In the Object Parameters table it is possible to set zero Width of a line (0). Such a line is always displayed with its Width 1 unit, without any dependence on the image scale.

The Color button in the Line Properties dialogue allows to choose a color from the current palette. The full set of colors in a palette is 256 colors.

Note: the Color Tool lets select one of the first 16 colors of a palette.

In the Arrow Style section you can assign an arrow style to both ends of a line or any open figure. ConceptDraw Project offers 61 variants of line ends.

In the Lines Properties dialogue it is possible to assign arrows for the beginning and the end of a line separately. The size of the arrows is given in the Size box. The following sizes are available: Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge.

To assign the selected parameters, click OK. To leave parameters without any change, just close the dialogue.

Fill Patterns and Colors

For all closed figures you can assign fill patterns and colors. To change fill properties for selected objects, call the Fill & Shadow dialogue(Format/Fill & Shadow).

Ctrl+M Cmd+M

Or take advantage of buttons on the Fill & Line toolbar: Fill Color and Fill Pattern .

These buttons offer you the most often used variants. For having a greater list select the lowest option - in this way the Fill & Shadow dialogue will be called. The Fill & Shadow dialogue (Format/Fill & Shadow) allows to specify fill and shadows properties for selected objects. You can specify your foreground and background colors and the Fill Pattern too.

The Fill section is responsible for the fill color and the fill pattern of selected closed figures. The Foreground button specifies the main fill color (for plain fill #1 - this color is only used). Click the button to select one of 256 colors of the graphic palette. Similarly it is possible to choose the background color of a pattern. The drop-down Pattern list offers the choice from 38 plain and 4 gradient pattern styles.

To make a figure transparent (without any fill, select Pattern #0: None (it corresponds to the variant No Pattern if to use the Pattern button in the toolbar).

To fill a figure with the color specified for the foreground, select Pattern #1. Other patterns use both Foreground and Background colors.

Object Shadow Parameters are set in the same way.

You can assign shadow to objects, setting its color and pattern. It can be made in the Fill & Shadow dialogue (Format/Fill & Shadow).

Ctrl+M Cmd+M

Or it is possible to use the Fill Shadow Styles button in the Line and Fill toolbar.

This button offers to specify one of first 16 colors of the graphic palette for a shadow. For a greater list choose the lowest option - the Fill & Shadow dialogue will be called in this way.

In the Fill & Shadow dialogue use the Shadow section for assigning a shadow. The shadow, as well as its fill, can be plain or have some pattern.

In the drop-down Pattern box you can select one among 38 offered patterns. The foreground and background pattern colors are selected with the help of the same buttons. For a plain shadow specify Pattern #1 in the Pattern field - its color will be as the color of the Foreground button. To remove a shadow, select Pattern #0 (None).