Re: lines

[Lars Clausen <lrclause cs uiuc edu>]

On Thu, 12 Sep 2002, Alan G. Isaac wrote:
> Hi.  I am completely new to Dia, but
> it seems great so far.  (I am using
> the Windows binary.)

Thanks!

[...]
> 
> I understand this is a user-to-user list.
> Please let me know if basic questions are
> inappropriate for this list.

They're fine.

> In other drawing programs I have used, one
> can force a line to vertical or horizontal
> by holding down the shift key while drawing.
> This is very useful since otherwise completely
> horizontal or vertical lines are hard to draw.

This can be done with the Control key in Dia.  It restricts all movement to
horizontal/vertical.

> Similarly, in other programs, holding down the
> shift key forces ellipses to draw perfect circles, which
> is useful for the same reason.
> 
> How is this done in Dia?

This isn't really done yet.  It could possibly be done similarly to
Control... actually, you're giving me an idea.  Let me get back to you.

Come to think of it, it might make sense to have Control restrict aspect
ratio when resizing an Element.  And maybe we should change to Shift to
conform to other drawing programs.

-Lars

-- 
Lars Clausen (http://shasta.cs.uiuc.edu/~lrclause)| Hårdgrim of Numenor
"I do not agree with a word that you say, but I   |----------------------------
will defend to the death your right to say it."   | Where are we going, and
    --Evelyn Beatrice Hall paraphrasing Voltaire  | what's with the handbasket?