Stykz • Help - Manipulating Figures

# Working With Figures (Select Tool)

## Manipulating Figures

Last updated on 11/7/2010

## Moving a Figure

You can move one or more selected figures using one the following methods:

(1) Click on the drag node of a figure and drag it to where you want it.

(2) Click on a segment of a figure and drag it to where you want it. This only works if the preference at Edit* > Preferences... >> Nodes/Segments > Node Options > Can only move figure using drag node has been unchecked.

(3) Use the arrow keys to nudge the figure in 1-pixel increments. If you hold down the Shift key while using the arrow keys, the figure will move in 10-pixel increments.

NOTE: If you have more than one figure selected, using any of these methods will move all of the selected figures.

## Scaling, Rotating, Flipping, and Aligning Figures

Stykz lets you do all of these things, which are covered in detail in the Setting Figure Properties help topic.

## Manipulating the Segments of a Figure

There are three different things you can do to manipulate the segments of a figure:

Pivoting Segments

To change the angle of a segment with the mouse, you click on a pivot node for that segment and drag; as you do so, the segment (and all of the segments attached to it) will rotate, pivoting around the node that's at the other end of the target segment. You can use either the Select tool or the Subselect tool to perform this action.

Stretching Segments

To stretch a segment, use the Select or Subselect tool and hold down the Command key (Mac) or Control key (Win) and click and drag on the pivot node of the segment you want to stretch. The target segment will extend and follow the mouse, and any segments connected to the segment being stretched will move with it. During this operation you can also adjust the angle of the target segment so it's a combination "stretch and pivot" maneuver. When you have things the way you want them, release the mouse button:

Distorting Segments

To distort segment, use the Select or Subselect tool and hold down the Command and Option keys (Mac) or Control and Alt keys (Win) and click and drag on the pivot node that you want to distort. The segments on either side of the node you clicked on will stretch to follow the mouse, much like stretching the middle of a rubber band that has its ends pinned down. Only the two segments on either side of the node are affected; all other segments are left as they were. When you have things the way you want them, release the mouse button:

Adding/Deleting Segments

To delete a segment, it's a simple as Option-click (Mac) or Alt-click (Win) on an existing pivot node. To add a segment, you can use the Add Line and Add Circle tools, or you can right-click and drag from an existing node of a figure. For more information, see Adding/Deleting Segments.