Drawing with Graphics Editor

Use Graphics Editor drawing tools to create specialized graphics.

Graphics Editor figures overview

A figure is the smallest independent element of a graphic, for example, a circle. Figures are graphically represented TGML elements.

All figures in a graphic are displayed in a tree structure in the Objects pane. The TGML root object is always present in the tree structure and cannot be deleted. The TGML root object properties define the size and color of the work area. The position of the objects in the tree structure reflects the relationship between figures in the graphic. The closer in the tree structure a figure is to the TGML root object, the further back it is located in the work area. You can move the figures in the tree structure. When you move a figure in the tree structure, it is dynamically moved back or forward in the work area.

NOTE: Apart from the two surface coordinates, x and y, figures also have a hidden stacking order known as the z-coordinate or the z-order. The z order means that more recently added figures are put in the front and older ones in the back. Thus, more recent figures can cover previous figures in the graphic.

NOTE: To change the order of the figures, select a figure in the Objects pane and click the Move up or Move down button.

When you select a figure in the work area, the figure and its elements are selected in the Objects pane. You can also select an element in the Objects pane.

NOTE: Before you can select a figure in the work area, confirm that the layer where the figure is located is active.

To create certain elements on an object, right-click on the object and then click the element in the Objects pane. Use this method to create the following elements on an object:

  • Bind
  • Link
  • Animate
  • TargetArea
  • Metadata
  • Chord
  • AnimatedImage
  • Expose
  • Script

Drawing tools overview

Use the Graphics Editor drawing tools to add lines, polylines, curves, polygons, rectangles, ellipses, arcs, pies, texts, and textboxes to a graphic.

For more information, see the following topics: