Using the Interface Elements

Using the Interface Elements

As you work with FreeHand there are many different interface elements that you click, drag, and otherwise manipulate. Although you most likely know how these work from other applications, FreeHand does have a few unique elements.

Tabbed panels

Tabbed panels allow you to choose between different features. Click the tabbed panel to make those features active

Figure 43. Click to choose a tabbed panel.

Fields

Fields allow you to enter specific information that might not appear in a menu. Click to insert the cursor into the field and then being typing

Figure 44. Click inside to enter text into a field.

TIP

Use the Tab key to jump from one field to another. Type Shift-Tab to move backward from one field to another.

Buttons

Buttons allow you to apply settings or commands. Click to apply the command indicated on the button

Figure 45. Click to activate a button.

Icons

Icons are graphic symbols applied to buttons. Many icons change their display depending if they are on or off. Click to choose the icon

Figure 46. Click to choose an icon.

Checkboxes

Checkboxes are options that when chosen display a small check next to their description. Click to turn the checkbox command on or off

Figure 47. Click inside a checkbox to turn it on or off.

Radio Buttons

Radio buttons are similar to checkboxes. However, when one radio button is on, the other option is automatically turned off. Click to turn the radio button on or off

Figure 48. Click to turn a radio button on or off.

Keyboard Prompts (Win)

An underlined letter in an element or a dialog box means you can press that letter on your keyboard to go to that command

Figure 49. Type the underlined letter to apply the keyboard prompt.

Pop-up Menus

Pop-up menus can pop up or down depending on their position on the screen. Click to open the menu . Once the menu is open, you can move the mouse to choose a specific entry.

Figure 50. Click to open a pop-up menu.

Wheels

Wheels are dragged around to change a value . Most wheels are used to set amounts such as rotation angles.

Figure 51. Drag to rotate a wheel to change its values.

Sliders

Sliders are dragged to set a specific value . Most sliders also have fields that you can enter the values in directly.

Figure 52. Drag the square box to change the values controlled by a slider.

Plus/Minus Signs (Win)

Plus/minus signs are used to open and close lists in the Windows version of FreeHand

Figure 53. Click the plus/minus sign (Win) to open or close a list entry.

Twist triangles (Mac)

Twist triangles are used to open and close lists in the Macintosh version of FreeHand

Figure 54. Click the twist triangle (Mac) to open or close a list entry.

Panel menus

Some panels, such as the Layers panel, also have their own menus with commands that apply to the panel. Click the small triangle on the top-right corner to open the panel menu

Figure 55. Click the triangle in the upper right corner of a panel to open the panel menu.

Sub-menus

Sub-menus are adjuncts of the main application menus. Move the mouse over to choose the items in a sub-menu

Figure 56. Click to choose an item in a sub-menu.