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Overview Tools Inspector Main Plot Window Menus Report Window Help Index |
LXFree is an application for creating light plots and the associated paperwork. LXFree functions much like a standard drawing application. It allows you to draw and manipulate graphics. LXFree differs from a simple drawing program because it includes special graphics, light symbols and positions, that have information attached and can interact with each other. The information attached to these graphic objects can be displayed as text fields on the drawing (light plot) and can be sorted into reports (paperwork). The drawing portion of LXFree has many of the standard features you might expect: You can draw a number of shapes, lines and curves. You can select a shape and move it; vary the width and color of its stroke (outline); set the color of the fill (interior). You can arrange how shapes overlap by moving them forward and backwards. You can group graphics so they move as a unit. Graphics can be further organized into layers that can be selectively hidden or arranged. LXFree also gives you direct control of graphics' metrics. For example, you can enter a number specifying the length of a line. In addition to having attached properties, the graphic objects, hanging position lines and light symbols, can also interact with each other. For example, when you draw a light symbol so that it intersects a hanging position line, the symbol finds the position and enters its name in the position field. The hanging position then looks for other symbols and updates their unit numbers, keeping the position numbered as you draw. The information attached to graphics is edited by using the inspector window. But, the information can also be sorted into spreadsheet-like tables to produce paperwork reports. For instance, sorting the lights by their channel number field yields a channel list report. Reports are interactive. So, in addition to using the inspector to edit the properties of a light, you can change that information in a report as well. |
