LXFree

Copyright © 2018-2020
Claude Heintz Design

Format Menu

The Format menu allows you to modify graphic objects that have been selected in the main window using the selection tool.

Advanced commands in the Format menu are not available in LXFree.

The first item under Format is the Font submenu. The Font menu operates on selected text objects. You can change the font of these objects directly using the commands, Bold, Italic, Bigger, etc. Or, you can use Show Fonts to open the font panel which allows you to change the font family, set the size, etc.

All text objects that are attached to a symbol or position share a font with other objects created with the same field. For example, all fields displaying channels share the same font and style. Changing the font/size/style of one of these fields changes all similar fields in the document. Depending on the option selected in the automatic tab of the preferences, info text fields can also have a common text color.

The Font menu can also be used to modify the font used in reports. To change the font of a column in a report, select the column by clicking on its header at the top of the table.

The Text menu can also be used to select the horizontal alignment of text in text fields.

The Tool submenu contains options for how tools draw new objects.

The Set Text Tool to Styled / Plain / Channel / Circuit commands select the type of text field that is created using the text tool.

Plain text fields have a single font and do not wrap their text. All of the text in a plain text field is always visible.

Styled text areas have rich text paragraph type formatting with multiple fonts and styles and will wrap their text inside their box. The size of a styled text area is not limited by its text. It can be sized so that some text is outside the box and hidden.

Channel text fields can associated with a channel or command that is different than their displayed text using the Inspector's info table. Channel text fields are useful for exporting a display configuration to LXConsole or a magic sheet to EOS family consoles. Channel text fields can display a level by checking the box in the Inspector's info table. Channel control text fields are automatically created when you copy a row from a group summary report, generating graphic objects. A channel control text field has a channel or list of channels separated by "&" or by ">". You can edit this by selecting the channel control field and using the Inspector's info tab. These channels can be controlled by the Inspector's intensity slider when the channel control text field is selected.

Circuit text fields represent a circuit location. Circuit text fields can be marked used when a light is assigned to the circuit in it's info properties. A circuit text field can be manually marked as used by checking the box in the Inspector's info table.

Draw 3D Objects causes the line tool and the rectangle tool to draw 3D versions of those shapes. See "Convert to/from 3D" below.

"Click-to-draw mode" changes the behavior of the drawing tools. When this mode is enabled, instead of clicking and dragging to draw graphics, individual clicks define the boundaries of the object being drawn. For example, the first click with the line tool in this mode sets a point. The next click draws a line from the first point to the second. When a tool is locked on while this mode is enabled, subsequent graphics are drawn from the end point of the previous object.

Reshape Mode changes the editing mode for path objects and imported graphics. When it is enabled, the individual points that define a path's shape can be adjusted. Reshape mode also allows cropping of unrotated imported graphics.

The cursor can be used to set a number of locations with the next click. The Next Click Sets submenu toggles the next click mode. The next click with Map Point enabled sets the vertical mapped location of selected positions. The next click with Focus Point enabled sets the focus point of selected lights at the current beam plane.

The Arrange submenu is used to change the drawing order of selected graphics. This makes one graphic appear in front of, or on top of another. For example, the Send To Back command places the selected graphics behind all of the others in the current layer.

Send to Layer... moves the selected objects from the layer to which they belong to a layer that is chosen in a dialog sheet.

Items in the Arrange->Section menu control the sorting of objects for display in a section view tab.

Send Positions To Back moves the current layer's positions to the rear of the drawing order. Auto Arrange also moves the positions to the back and then places lights in the order they appear in an instrument schedule. Other objects float to the front of the layer.

Auto-Arrange attempts to arrange objects so that positions are drawn behind all lights and the lights are drawn in the order that they would be sorted for an instrument schedule report.

The Align submenu contains commands for adjusting the position of objects so that their centers match either horizontally or vertically.

The Cleanup command will "snap" selected lights into place on their positions.

The Rotate to Focus commands rotates selected lights so that they are aimed toward their focus point.

The Distribute commands can be used to evenly space objects, either between the outside objects, or at a set distance.

The Insert submenu contains commands for adding elements to the drawing. Objects placed in the drawing by Insert menu commands are ordinary graphic elements that can be moved and edited.

Add Center Line places a center line running from top to bottom of the current layer. Add Zero Line places a dashed line running side to side and through the origin in the current layer.

Add/Update Title Block inserts a graphic with the show name, venue, designer and date at the center of the current layer. (If a title block already exists, it is replaced.) The title block consists of a group of text fields enclosed in rectangles with a dividing line. To customize the title block, ungroup its elements and edit them the way you would any other graphics. (If you ungroup the title block, it will no longer be recognized and replaced.)

Add/Update Key Block inserts a graphic showing the types of symbols used in the plot at the center of the current layer. (If a key block already exists, it is replaced.) The key block consists of a group of symbol graphics and text field labels. The number of rows of symbols in the generated key block can be set in the Format Preferences. The key block includes an example symbol showing the displayed text fields of a single symbol selected from the plot. If the symbol is pointing up, the fields are shown in the same relative positions. If the selected symbol is not at 0 rotation, the fields are shown in their default locations. To customize the key block, ungroup its elements and edit them the way you would any other graphics. (If you ungroup the key block, it will no longer be recognized and replaced.)

Ruler Block inserts a grouped line of alternating shaded rectangles spaced every 1'-0"/0.5m centered on the origin. The inserted ruler block can be horizontal or vertical and it can include text indicating distances on either side of the shaded rectangles. You can also specify the distance the ruler block extends in each direction from the origin.

Add Gobo Symbol or Add Iris Symbol creates a circular designation object for each selected symbol. This gobo or iris indicator can be automatically grouped with the light symbol when the option is selected n the Automatic tab of the preferences. If creating groups with these commands, note that you must option-click a symbol that is part of a group to edit it's information. Add Gobo Symbol only inserts a gobo symbol when a light's tem[late field is not blank.

To add an accessory symbol to selected lights, choose the symbol to insert from the Inspector's symbol tab. When the type of symbol is a kind of accessory, you will have an option to either add the symbol or replace the selected symbols. (When the new symbol is not an accessory, the selected symbol(s) are always replaced). The Placement property of the accessory key entry determines where, in relation to the light symbol, the accessory is placed. The first letter is the location with respect to the receiving light. f=front, l=lens, c=center, b=base. The second letter determines the insertion point with respect to the frame of the accessory. l=left, r=right, t=top, b=bottom, c=center.

Connect Device is a shortcut to entering the OwnerID for a device symbol. When a device symbol and a light symbol are the only objects selected, Connect Device will enter the ID information for the light symbol into the device symbol's OwnerID field. The connect device action also occurs if a light symbol and device symbol are grouped together by themselves.

Auto Fill is the same as clicking the button in the Inspector's tools tab. The advantage of this command is that because the "start with" number automatically advances, auto fill can be done from the keyboard once it is set up.

Create Dimensions places dimension lines between selected symbols. The lines are created at the distance/direction set in the Inspector's Tools tab.

Add Connection Lines inserts a group of lines indicating a connection between the selected lights. The lines are created at the distance/direction set in the Inspector's Tools tab. Holding down the option key changes the function to Create Connection which adds connection lines and also sets the lights channel, circuit and dimmer info to be the same.

The Transform menu contains commands that either directly change a selected graphic or control how the graphic can be changed.

The Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical, and Scale... commands alter the selected object(s) directly.

Size to Fit sets the size of a plain, channel, or circuit text field to be just large enough to fit it's text.

Reset Cropping removes any cropping from an imported graphic.

Group can set drawing properties controls a setting that determines if an object (when inside a group) has its drawing properties altered when they are changed for the group.

Reverse Path exchanges the start and end of line, curve, and path shapes.

Reshape Path changes the editing mode for path objects. When it is enabled, the individual points that define a path's shape can be adjusted. Reshape mode also allows cropping of unrotated imported graphics.

The Selection to Path command converts the selected objects into a single path graphic. Objects are added to the path in their drawing order. Line and curve segments are connected to the end of the path as they are added (when possible).

The Path to Segments command breaks apart a path into its component lines and curves.

The Symbol to Graphic command converts a symbol into an uneditable graphic. Converted symbols do not have information attached and do not appear in reports. Any info text fields belonging to the symbol are converted to independent objects. Other information belonging to the symbol is discarded.

The Dimension to Line command converts selected dimension lines into plain lines, removing the automatic dimension field.

The Text Field conversion commands change a selected text field from one type into another. The To Styled command converts selected text fields into styled and paragraph formatted text areas. The To Plain command converts selected text fields into simple labels. The To Channel and To Circuit commands convert selected plain text fields into objects with settings in the Inspector's info tab and additional behaviors.

The To/From 3D command converts selected line or rectangle shapes into a 3D version of the shape. 3D shapes have start and end heights associated with them. 3D shapes' vertical aspect appears in a the section and model views. They can also be exported in a DXF or .faces file.

A 3D line is a vertical face with an upper and lower height which is set in the measurement tab of the Inspector. Optionally, a 3D line can have 2 sides (which is only apparent in the model window).

A 3D rectangle forms a rectangular solid with a top and 4 side faces. The upper and lower heights are set in the measurement tab of the Inspector. Optionally, a 3D rectangle can also have a bottom face when set to "2 sides". This is only apparent on export or in the model window (if the underside is visible).

The To Position command converts selected line, curve, or path shapes into a position. Curved or path positions are always laid out from their start and they map points based on the mapped offset from their start.

The To Key Entry with Custom Symbol command is not available in LXFree. In LXBeams, it creates a key entry with a custom symbol using the current selection. The Key Entry sheet requires you to choose a "kind" for the entry which determines what data fields are used to describe the properties of the symbol. If a single path type object is selected, the symbol created will be path based. If multiple objects are selected, the symbol created will be displayed as a group of objects. If the option key is held, the menu command changes to Use Selection as Symbol which will replace the symbol of the currently selected key entry. Replacing a symbol is not undoable. Excluding library symbols, if you want to keep a copy of the current symbol, make sure it is saved elsewhere before replacing it.

Graphics can be packaged so that they behave as a single unit using the Group command. The Ungroup command separates graphics that have been joined in this manner.

You can access a single individual graphic that is part of a group (without ungrouping) by clicking on it while holding down the option key. This allows editing of only that object instead of the whole group. When the group is selected (without one object being singled out) any change to the properties of the group will be applied to all objects in the group. To control what drawing properties can be set for an object when it is inside a group, use the Format->Transform->Group can set drawing properties... command

The Lock command allows you to prevent a graphic object from moving or being reshaped. Symbols, however, can still be changed to another symbol when locked. Unlock frees a locked graphic.

Focus submenu items, Copy Focus Info and Paste Focus Info act to ease transfer of the focus location (x, y, height) and use fields between selected symbols. Paste Relative Focus sets the focus of the selected light(s) to the same angle/direction from its(their) location(s) as the beam of the previously copied light. Paste Focus with Offset will offset the focus location by the amount shown in the Inspector's Tools tab. If multiple lights are selected, the offset is increased by the set amount for each light.

The Update Pan/Tilt command calculates the pan and tilt settings (if applicable) for the current focus point. If the selected symbol has an OwnerID, the focus of the owning light is used.

The Set Focus Point to Beam Plane command adjusts the selected lights' focus info so that the focus point is expressed in coordinates at the height of the beam plane.

Update Focus Point Location is used to manually update lights that are linked to a focus point symbol by their "Use" fields. This is only necessary if the Preferences Focus->Disable Focus Point Linking option is selected.

Next Click Sets Focus Point will set the focus point of the selected lights to the next location where the mouse/trackpad is clicked.

Position submenu items operate on lights assigned to a selected position. Lights are automatically assigned to a position when their symbol intersects the position on the drawing.

Auto-number causes selected positions to auto-number their lights. This normally happens automatically when a light is moved onto or off of a position line. Update Numbering auto-numbers lights in the same layer that intersect the selected position line or have the same position name. If a position has multiple line segments (the layer has more than one position with the same name),Auto-number treats them as a single position for numbering purposes. The sort order is determined by the position being updated and can be changed in the Inspector's Position tab.

Update Lights causes selected positions to "capture" any intersecting lights. This assign the position's name to the intersecting lights overriding whatever is set as the current name. Update Lights then causes the positions to auto-number.

Cleanup Lights will cause lights assigned to the selected position to "snap" into alignment using the position's layout setting.

Info Fields submenu items pertain to text objects created to display a symbol or position's info properties. You can move text field objects independently by selecting them individually. Info text fields are linked to their "owner" and will move when it moves, keeping the same relative position.

The locations of text objects relative to the owning object's center can be copied using the Copy Field Locations command. The Paste Field Locations command then allows you to apply these locations to similar text objects owned by other symbols or positions. Copied locations are stored according to field type and only existing text field objects are affected by these two commands. You can also reset info fields back to their default positions relative to their "owner".

Copy/Paste/Reset field locations commands can be applied to all info fields of selected symbols/positions. These commands can also be used when selecting individual info fields themselves. Paste/Reset can be applied to a single row of information across a number of selected objects. You do this by right-clicking (or hold down the control key and click) on the row in the Inspector's Info table to popup a menu. This makes it possible, for example, to copy and paste only the relative location of the channel field across a number of selected symbols.

The Mirror Locations commands transform copied info field locations by applying the selected transformation.

Mark All Used Circuit Fields will automatically set the status of the drawing's circuit text fields based on if any light contains a matching circuit number in its info properties.

Selecting Set Default Visible Info Fields when a single light is selected will remember all of that light's visible info fields. When new lights are drawn, those same fields will be set to visible by default. With nothing selected, this command changes to Clear Default Visible Info Fields.

The Disable Info Field Selection option causes a click on an info field to select the light or position it belongs to rather than the info field itself. This behavior can be toggled by holding down the option key when clicking on an info field. The Disable Info Field Selection option is remembered and recalled when a view is saved.