Navigation:  Forms >   POLYGON EDITOR

 

 

Run Polygon Editor

 

The Polygon Editor is separate application that can be started from Windows Explorer or from this menu item.  The polygon editor allows you to draw custom shapes that can be saved as a bitmap or as a polygon file.  The polygon file can be filled to show the current level and the bitmap can be used as background images.

 

 

Polygon editor allows you to make new polygons to be used in EVENTS

 

The polygon editor has menu commands and button commands that do the same action.  The four button commands above the Line Width selection box are:

 

Select polygon.

Add points or draw polygon.

Save the polygon.  File is named:  FileName.evd

Show the point boxes toggle.

 

You can also insert a bitmap as a background to draw around.  Use the File | Open command and select the file type as *.bmp to open a bitmap.  Move the bitmap by changing the X position (left) and Y position (top) in the Edit menu.

 

 

The selection boxes are used to select different polygon properties.  You can select:

 

Line width of the polygon object.

Line color of the polygon.

The polygon color inside the object.

The fill color when filled (0 to 100%).

Background color or form color.

 

 

When a selection box is changed, the polygon shows the change.  The polygon is drawn in the top-left of the screen because the (0,0) point is at the top-left.  By keeping to polygon near this point you will use less space on your form when you select a polygon object.

 

 

 

                       

File menu shows you can save the  normally,               The Edit menu

save as and save as a bitmap.

 

 

 

CREATING A NEW POLYGON

 

When you open the polygon editor, you can either start drawing points on the screen or load an existing file by selecting:

File | Open command.

 

Polygons  are closed objects and need at least three points to be complete.  You can save the polygon at anytime as a bitmap if you want an open polygon object.  The first polygon point is also the last polygon point.  To complete the polygon, click the first polygon red dot.

 

 

 

SELECTING A POLYGON

 

When a polygon has been created or loaded from a file, you can select the polygon and move it on the form.  When you select the polygon, the cursor will change to a hand.  You move the polygon with the by pressing the left mouse button down and dragging the object or by pressing the Ctrl key with the Up, Down, Right, or Left arrows.  If the cursor shows a hand, you can move the polygon.

 

 

 

ADDING NEW POINTS

 

You can add new points to your existing polygon by selecting the pencil tool (draw polygon) and clicking on the form. The last point will be moved to the new click location.  Be sure to finish to polygon again by clicking on the first point.

 

 

 

MOVING POINTS

 

After a polygon is finished, you can move the polygon and you can move the points.  When the cursor changes to a plus symbol, you are over a point.  You can select the point and move it by pressing the left mouse button down and dragging the point.  You can also use the Ctrl key with the arrow keys to move the point.  To use the keyboard keys, position the mouse over a point with the plus cursor showing.  Then press the Ctrl key and Up, Down, Left or Right arrows.  The point will be moved in the arrow direction.

 

 

 

SAVING POLYGONS

 

Save the polygon be selecting the save or save as menu commands.  If it is a new polygon, you will be prompted with a dialog box to select the file name and directory.  Be sure to save the polygon in the "project directory" if it is being used by EVENTS.  EVENTS looks in the project directory for polygon files being used by a form.  The file is saved as a *.evd file (i.e. reservoir.evd).  The polygon component in EVENTS will use this file when opening and closing.

 

 

If you have loaded a polygon file into the editor and press Ctrl S or press the save menu item, the current polygon file will be overwritten.  You may want to use the "Save As" command first if you want to modify an existing file.

 

 

 

SAVING BITMAPS

 

You can also save your drawing as a bitmap file.  This file can then be loaded into EVENTS using the Add Image tool.  The bitmap file can be saved at any time.  You can save a file when the polygon is open or when it is filled or empty.  Bitmap files are not filled and used only as background files in EVENTS.