I've sent this yesterday, but I have bnot seen it on the list. I think my local IP may have got blacklisted, so I am trying again.

Js ->

On Friday 29 August 2003 6:04 pm, Simon Budig wrote:

Hi all.

Here is an overview on the current state of the path tool as well as a summary of its usage.

Please try to use the tool and tell me about problems. If you have suggestions on how to improve the tool, please discuss them on the list.

Bye,
Simon

Overview on the current state of the path tool. -----------------------------------------------

The path tool has three major modes. The Edit-Mode allows to create anchors/handles as well as moving of anchors/handles/curve-segments.

The Insert/Delete-Mode enables you to insert anchors on curve-segments, connect strokes as well as deleting anchors and segments (splitting up a curve).

The Move Mode moves whole strokes or the whole vectors object.

Changing between modes: -----------------------

You can change between these modes either by clicking in the tool options or by using the CTRL/ALT modifiers. If CTRL is pressed the tool will switch to the Insert/Delete Mode, ALT does the same for the Move Mode.

When you selected the mode in the tool options please note, that the CTRL/ALT modifier will switch back to the Edit-Mode when released.

Edit-Mode:
----------

If there exists no vectors object, a click will create a new one. If a stroke exists and there is just one marked anchor at the end of a stroke a click in the canvas will extend the stroke. If there is no marked anchor or it is in the middle of a stroke a new stroke will be started. You can click on open ends of strokes and extending will continue there.

If you click over an anchor or handle you can move them around. When dragging around handles the SHIFT-Key will restrict the opposite handle to symmetric movement. (Also after pressing down the mouse button to place the anchor you can drag out control handles and position them until you release the mousebutton. Both anchors will initially move symmetrically. If you want to break the symmetric movement you can push down and release the SHIFT key while dragging. This is a special case to enable quick creation of bezier strokes).

If you click over a segment you can drag it around without the need to add more anchors to the curve. Also pressing SHIFT restricts the movement of the adjacent handles to symmetric ones.

Insert/Create Mode: -------------------

This tool only works when over the curve or over anchors. If over a handle. Clicking on the curve will insert a new anchor, you can drag it around directly afterwards. SHIFT-Clicking on a node will delete it.

Clicking on an endpoint of a stroke enables you to drag out a straight line you can drag to another endpoint to connect these strokes. Please note that the resulting connection will be curved according to the existing handles. You can delete a segment of the curve by clicking on it while SHIFT is pressed.

Move Mode: ----------

That one is easy. Click-Dragging on a anchor/curve drags the complete stroke. SHIFT-Click-Dragging will move the complete vectors object around.

PROBLEMS: ---------

Right now the behaviour is a bit inconsistend with respect to selecting/unselecting anchors. This is work in progress.

Also I am not sure if the modifier-behaviour CTRL/ALT for switching modes is the most sane solution. It is a bit hard to use two on-off modifiers to three modes in a sane manner.

Also I am not sure if the current selection of CTRL for mode switching and SHIFT for mode-specific toggeling is consistent with jimmacs proposel some weeks ago. I like it better that way.

Undo does not yet work.

FUTURE PLANS: -------------

Besides removing the above mentioned problems there are missing two major things: Libart stroking (esp. important for thin lines) and Im/Export of Paths into files.