♥ Hands-on exercises. See Ortelius File > New From Template > Exercises & Demos > 1-Shapes Exercise, 2-Paths Exercise, 3-Tracks Exercise.
Drawing Objects
Note that drawing tools work with both fill and line styles. For example, the Irregular Polygon can create filled areas when applying fill styles from the Symbols palette and linear objects when applying line styles.
Bezier Curves and Freehand Line
Bezier curves and freehand lines contain curve handles at points along the path. When Bezier curves are placed, their curve handles are symmetrical in length and direction. Freehand line curve handles may be asymmetrical in length as the line is drawn. Curves are easily adjusted after placement by dragging the curve handles, shown in blue.
When adjusting curve handles, the length of the left and right ends of the handle are adjusted independently. Modifier keys provide control over curve handle adjustments.
Hold the SHIFT key to constrain the angle of the handles to 15-degree increments.
Hold the ALT/OPTION key to keep the length of the curve handles symmetrical to each other when making adjustments.
Hold the CMND (Apple) key while moving the curve handles to adjust them independently of each other, including length and direction.
Connectable Tracks
Tracks are objects which are connectable with other tracks, special objects, and symbols. Use connector tracks when you want clean junctions and intersections with linear features, such as road networks and waterways. For more information, see “Using Linear Select.”
Rotate Directly
No more digging through menus to find the rotate command. With Ortelius you rotate objects directly. Notice the rotation handle (purple dot) on the selected drawing object. Ortelius lets you keep your attention where it ought to be – on your map. Simply use the Select tool to grab the rotate handle and spin.
To rotate an object around a specific point, drag the center target where you want it – the object will rotate around that point.
To rotate several objects around a common point, group them then set the rotation center for the group and rotate. Ungroup afterwards if required.
Locking an Object’s Position
Objects can have their positions locked independently of the general lock. In this state they are fully active except for being moved. This feature is accessible using Graphic > (OPT key) Lock/Unlock Position and also through the Object Inspector. The Select tool treats objects having a locked position as for a generally locked object – since it can’t be moved the select tool initiates a drag-selection if clicked in an object whose position is locked.
Locking the position of objects is helpful when working with map area features, such as from Shapefiles.
Object locking is in effect for the current session only, as the locked position setting will not be saved after the file is closed.
