Version 3.4.1r August 14, 2010

Added a new export format, CSV (comma separated values). This is a simple text format compatible with spread sheet and database applications or for use with any text editor. The values in the table are Bezier vertices and control points for all line art found in the drawing. Text and images are not included in the export. The vertices and control points of each graphic are presented on one line in the export destination text file. Documentation is complete, use search phrase CSV to learn more.

Made several improvements to Export for the TIFF, PNG and the other bitmap. PNG now has support for gray scale colors. TIFF export for CMYK was optimized and is about 70 times faster now (a text export that took 1 minute 10 seconds before now completes in less than 2 seconds). All bitmap exports may now be larger in size, previously most systems would fail at around 100 meg for export image size, now most systems should be able to create 1 gigabyte images without crash and rather quickly as well. TIFF export now supports more color space options including alpha (opacity) masks.

This version has improvements to the color accuracy for TIFF, PNG and the other bitmap exports. Recent versions of EazyDraw would have small changes to some colors (out of gamut colors), when the bitmap was generated. Now the RGB and CMYK components are faithfully passed to and saved in the export bitmap. This allows matching of colors for web graphics; for example, saving a web graphic with a particular rgb component set will now match the web page exactly when the same rgb components are specified as a CSS background color. These issues relate primarily to the operating system, ColorSync technology, and ICC profiles. There are basic problems in this area for OS X versions 10.4 and 10.5. The small color variations will still be present for EazyDraw users on 10.4 and 10.5 - there is no solution possible. EazyDraw users on Snow Leopard (OS X version 10.6) do now have precise calibrated color bitmap exports for TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF (note that JPG's compression algorithms can be expected to introduce slight color shifts). Test have been conducted on all the current popular web browsers and background colors of EazyDraw export graphics do match exactly with CSS hex color specifications on all browsers (but only when using EazyDraw on Snow Leopard). When checking colors with the Color Picker spy glass or the utilities application Digital Color Meter: ICC corrected colors are reported for the EazyDraw drawing window but uncorrected Calibrated colors are measured for exported bitmap images viewed in Preview this discrepancy is unavoidable at this time, options to this behavior will need to await further operating systems advances.

Version 3.4.1p July 29, 2010

Fixed problem with refresh of Morph panel. If the panel was over the drawing area (not in Graphic Details drawer area) and to the right of the actual working drawing area (window was wider than the drawing area), updates were not correct and old static images of the panel could appear after a scroll.

Fixed problem using morph on multiple graphics, especially likely when morphing several (10's or more) graphics. The morph would be correct on the first graphic but could have problems on others.

Fixed problem with new extended cursor, setting the line weight for the extended cursor on the Preferences pane. Settings were rounded to nearest 100% - and would go to 0% for values less than 100%. All fixed now.

Fixed further issues using a Dimension with Form set to Nothing. If Nothing was in use and no additional text was used (nothing and nothing) the bounding area of the dimension would erroneously include the drawing origin. This is now corrected.

Fixed problem introduced with last beta, dragging a layer from one drawing to another using the Layer's drawer on each drawing. That is back and operational now.

Version 3.4.1n July 25, 2010

New capability for extended live cursors. This is accessed from the Graphic Details drawer, when nothing is selected. A new popup menu is present that allows selection for the new extended cursors, a full screen cursor, half screen (to ruler) and ruler edge. The Nothing selection turns extended cursors off. There is a new setup panel accessed from the main Preferences window. There are several options including a new live cursor read-out option that may be used in conjunction with the extended cursors. Documentation is complete, use search phrase "extended cursor" to access the documentation.

New options available on the Layers drawer. It is now possible to Lock a layer, this is a lock against move and delete. This is set with a new check box column on the layers table list. There is a new option to show the active layer above all other layers. Copy and Paste to and from the layers drawer has been expanded to accept graphics dropped on a layer and allows more fluid copy and paste between layers - previously one often needed to explicitly click back on the drawing or the layers drawer for different paste actions.

Improved and corrected a few things with Graphic Details display of Bezier control points. Previously a closed Bezier would show too many vertices or segments, now the display computes these correctly as they appear on the drawing. Now when a Bezier control is simply clicked the focused segment is changed to the appropriate clicked segment, previously the control point would need to be moved in order to change the displayed focused segment. Continuous Bezier Graphic Details now shows values in yellow that are not actually "smooth" at the vertex, implying that any change here will adjust both vertex controls to satisfy the smooth continuous constraint. Leading and Trailing control designations for the Continuous Bezier details display were logically reversed, these were switched.

Corrected several issues with the special Select Tools palette. Several of the options had various problems, the select back first cursor was not changing as it should and the settings for the radio buttons at the bottom of the palette were not always respected for selecting behavior. All the special select functions have been extensively tested and are quite robust.

Fixed problem saving a new default snap sound on the Grids panel. Normal setting of temporary or permanent default snap sound (other than nothing) did not work. Now all works properly.

Version 3.4.1k July 7, 2010

Expanded the Select Special submenu (Edit main menu) to include selecting graphics with Patterns, Gradients, Arrows, and Dashes.

Fixed problem on Graphic Details reporting the position - when using a scale with offset origin and when the selection included multiple graphics. The location is now reported correctly.

Fixed problem on Advanced Duplicate / Linear Duplicate - when using a scale with non-default axis direction. The sign of the offsets could sometimes change each time the linear duplicate was used. This is now fixed.

Version 3.4.1h July 6, 2010

New menu command for Abstract Fill ("Bucket" Fill - or Flood Fill) is available - this is found on the Tools main menu, Combine submenu. This action will analyze an area of a drawing that is bounded by various graphic paths and curves then form a new shape conforming exactly to the interior region, fill that shape with the current default color, and add the shape to the drawing behind all other graphics on the current Active layer. This is a vector counterpart to the Paint-Bucket tool commonly found in Painting applications. The algorithms are fully vector and hence more complex than a simple pixel color-flood. The algorithms are heuristic and recursive, they focus and act only on the portion of the drawing that is visible in the drawing window (the display screen) - not the full drawing. The algorithms may perform differently at different zoom amounts, for best results zoom in and roughly center the region of interest before executing the command. There is a customizable toolbar button (a paint-bucket icon) available on the main tools-Customize palette, the tool is not installed on the default toolbar. Documentation is complete, use search phrase "Abstract Fill" to learn more on the use of this new feature. The command uses multi-threading on OS X 10.5 Intel and newer, on older machines and 10.4 the full analysis does not begin until the final mouse click and processing may take several seconds - all should be instantaneous on new systems with multi-core Intel processorss.

Documentation was added for the Services menu. Details on the use of EazyDraw with the LaTeX utility LaTeXiT were added. If the core TeX utilities and LaTeXiT are installed, the services menu allows one to enter LaTeX mark-up plain text in an EazyDraw Text Box and convert the mark-up to fully typeset pdf vector content (a mathematics expression or equation). The implementation uses LinkBack technology to exchange the content with the LaTeX utilities, thus one may edit the source markup by double clicking on the typeset pdf content.

Version 3.4.1g June 25, 2010

Serious Bug fix. Problems related to certain tools on the toolbar and use of Contour Annotation in a drawing cause a file to not open. This is a recent development.

New Abstract Fill is available - feature is not complete and there is no documentation. Use is not recommended.

Version 3.4.1d June 17, 2010

Expanded the capabilities for Gradients. Bitmap gradients are now supported. There are 4 new gradients available on the Gradient Fill panel, Effect popup menu - they are at the bottom. Previously all EazyDraw gradients were drawn with vectors, this implementation technique has many advantages but in some cases a traditional bitmap gradient can have advantages. The bitmap implementation will often have better behavior for gradients that use transparency with colors. Vector gradients will often have banding when working with transparency. One caution: transparency is not supported with bitmap gradients when printing to PDF - transparency is supported for vector gradients when printing to PDF. The primary use for the bitmap gradients is for the design of PNG and TIFF icons such as those used for iPhone and iPad user interface elements.

On-screen adjust for Gradients is now available. This is an option found on the Gradient Fill panel, the new default "factory" setting is for the "on" state. Gradients that have a direction and/or position will show an new adjuster handle when the hosting graphic is selected.

Documentation has been updated for the new Gradient Fill capabilities. Study the Help pages to learn more about the difference between Vector and Bitmap gradients.

Improved the PDF and EPS ungroup. A new parameter is found on the Images submenu of the Format main menu. This menu controlled setting is named: "Auto Combine Text". When ungrouping PDF (and EPS) images, EazyDraw applies algorithms to attempt to reconstruct the higher level ordering of text characters. The PDF format does not actually define things like a text block or paragraph (nor even a word or line of text). In many cases the combined text generated by EazyDraw will be convenient for editing but the typesetting will not be faithful to the placement of the characters on the PDF page. Turn this option off to get an ungrouping that favors precise placement of text characters over automatic assembly of paragraphs and text boxes.

Corrected a bug in the SVG interpreter - a very specific issue relating to paths whose value string ended with a single number and no decimal point. This occurrence is now fixed and should have been quite rare.

Version 3.4.1c June 14, 2010

Added a new feature to automatically snap a line (or any straight path segment) to the Tangent (or Perpendicular) of a curved segment. For example, this allows one to easily draw a line from a defined point to the tangent point on a circle. The "t" and "p" keys provide a convenient shortcut - note this is just the keys alone, no command key modifier. Simply hold down the "t" key while adjusting one end of a line, if your line approaches the solution point for the tangent of a curved segment the line will snap to the solution. Use "p" to get a perpendicular solution. This is a "one-shot" snap, different than a normal vertex snap. This is because a tangent solution can be "broad" and perhaps not readily discernible, so the one-shot snap has a better and more distinctive feel. The "one-shot" behavior allows the length of the snapped-line to continue with adjusting, hence one step allows the snapping of the line and setting of the desired length. Documentation is complete - use key phrase "snap tangent" for full details on the new feature.

Improved the Vertex Insert tool. It now will do multiple inserts with a single invocation. The key point is to allow detection of intersections and insert two vertices exactly at the intersection of two graphics. Another advantage is that a series of vertices can be added on an exact straight line. The documentation has been updated to reflect the new capability, use search phrase "insert tool". The new behavior is obvious from the indicators. The command key modifiers work in the same fashion as defined for the knife tool, these are useful for inhibiting the intersection detection.

Added a new Convert capability - convert to Filled Shape(s). This new command is found on Tools main menu, Convert submenu. This conversion will convert a graphic that has an outline (stroke) to an equivalent constructed with only fill and now outline. For example a dashed line would be converted to a series of rectangles. A circle with a fill and stroke color is converted to two circles, one larger than the other, both having no outline/only-fill, the larger one has the color of the original outline and the smaller one has the color of the original fill. This technique will work with solid fill color, gradient fill, and pattern fill. It works with most graphics including Bezier paths, curves and smooth curves. It does work with dashes on straight lines but no other dashed-graphics.

Corrected problem with Free Transform graphics contained in a Group (in particular in a Uniform Interaction special group). If the outer group was scaled in size (such as a change in size with the Uniform Interaction graphic) then subsequent moves of the outer group would have problems - the embedded Free Transform graphic would move more than it should ("scooting" out of the enclosing group). This is now fixed.

Corrected rare problem using connector with cloaked vertices. This could cause an unexpectedly quit. This combination is not typical for a connector or dimension. The situation is now stable, will not crash and will default back to a reasonable behavior.

Corrected problem flipping arc graphics by 90 degrees. The flip was in the wrong direction. The bug was introduced with version 3.3 when Arc flips and rotations were improved. The problem was not particularly noticeable unless the arc was included in a group and the group flipped. All is fixed now.

Corrected problem with the Line Weight toolbar buttons and Line Weight toolbar menu button. The "thicker" and "thinner" line weight actions were reversed with respect to the icon indicators. Those are now switched and will work as expected.

Corrected problem changing a dimension from the special form: "nothing", when there is no additional text. Then switching back to a normal form, such as Decimal, the dimension value would not appear. This sequence of events now works properly.

Corrected Advanced Duplicate - when using "inverted" axis directions. The duplication values (+ and -) were offsetting the new graphics in the wrong direction. Now the axis direction is reflected properly in the duplicate's offset.

Decreased the minimum allowed distance between tab stops from 0.2 inches to 0.08 inches.

Corrected several typing errors and a few broken links in the EazyDraw Help pages.

Corrected updating of check-marks on the Font Panel and Colors menu items on the Font submenu (Text main menu). This were often "out-of-sync" with the actual open state of these panels. Now their check-marks reliably reflect the open / closed state of the respective panels.

Version 3.4.1b May 3, 2010

Corrected problems with Option-Drag duplicate of various (but not all) kinds of graphics. After the Option-Drag the new copy could have trouble updating on the screen. This was introduced at 3.4.1, all corrected now.

Corrected possible problem reading multi-page PDF. If your setting for page numbering was "across-first" then the multiple pages were added "across" which is not correct for a multi-page pdf. Then only the first page of the multi-page PDF was shown. All is fixed now, numbering is changed to "down first" for the multi-page PDF.

Corrected a possible problem with Annotations, in particular rotated annotations. If several were in use, in close proximity to one another it was possible that CPU usage by EazyDraw would climb dramatically for a few seconds. For larger drawings on older CPUs this spike could cause a lock-up of EazyDraw. All is corrected now. And CPU usage in these situations is now cleared back to normal amounts for this situation.

Version 3.4.1a April 25, 2010

Corrected SVG import problem that was introduced with version 3.4.1.

Corrected problem with the refresh and updating of the Easy-Look panel. The problem related to inspecting of multiple drawings and use of the drawing selection popup menu on the Easy-Look panel. The root cause of the problem likely starts with drawings that were made by a copy of a full drawing or "Save As". The panel then would not update properly when switching between the to copies - even after changes were made to the drawings. In other cases of normal random stack of drawings all would probably work fine. All cases now update correctly. The bug was present since the introduction of the Easy-Look capability.

Version 3.4.1 April 20, 2010

Added capability to snap a vertex "on" a line or path. To explain with an example: this allows one to extend a line to exactly meet another line, anywhere along the line - no just at the ends and midpoints. The works with any line, path or curve, both as a target and as the editing graphic. There is no new user interface setting, the new capability is "on" when vertex snapping is enabled. This means there are now 3 kinds of snap for a vertex snap: a vertex or midpoint, an intersection, and now along a path. The 3 kinds of snap are indicated by color, the momentary snap colors are: green for a vertex or midpoint, red for an intersection, and yellow for "on" a path. For lines (as the editing graphic) this works with Pinned Angle and with Shift key angle constraints.

Added a control checkbox for showing the leading zero of a Dimension. In the case of a fraction value less than one it is sometimes desirable to not show the leading zero (save drawing space). This is now possible using a new checkbox found on the Dimensions palette, Datum tab. The checkbox should be self explanitory. Documentation is complete use search phrase Dimension to learn more.

Added new virtual paper sizes for the iPad. On Page Setup when using the Buttons and Icons virtual printer, new sizes for iPad launch screen in both landscape and portrait orientations. There are now virtual paper sizes for required graphic elements for iPhone and iPad development: main icon, iTunes store icon, small (settings and search) icon, iPhone and iPad launch screens - both orientations. These are all accessed from the Page Setup panel, choose Buttons and Icons for the virtual printer then select from the Paper popup menu.

Corrected a bug with Copy and Paste. The problem appeared with EazyDraw version 3.4.0. In some cases of Copy-and-Paste ( on the same drawing) and Duplicate With Offset, a Group graphic would have an incorrect bounding box indicator and perhaps misplaced graphic locations. This somewhat rare but a serious problem, making 3.4.0a a recommended upgrade. There will likely be a follow-on version 3.4.1 soon to address this issue.

Fixed problem with print-across-first on Page Layout. This setting would not always persist when the drawing was closed and re-opened. All works properly now.

Version 3.3.0p Mar. 18, 2010

Fixed problem entering negative angles, on Graphic Details drawer, for Lines and Paths, when using Y-axis plus down. This combination now works properly.

Version 3.3.0m Mar. 18, 2010

SVG import is now complete and available for use. SVG Export has completed testing and debugging from beta tester's input (thanks). Full SVG support is now complete and ready for general release. Exchange of SVG drawings between Adobe Illustrator (CS4) and EazyDraw, both directions, has been tested extensively. The SVG open format should provide a reasonable workflow to and from ai-CS4. A large set of the W3C SVG test suite was tested for proper import into EazyDraw. Performance is optimized for importing very large drawings. Output of SVG from EazyDraw was tested and confirmed with Safari and Opera which seem to be the two best SVG supporting browsers, two were used because some esoteric situations are not properly supported by one or the other of the two browsers. The export SVG is accessed from the Export menu command, SVG drawings are imported with the normal Open command - select SVG for File Type. Documentation is complete, use search phrase: svg. EazyDraw provides high quality 512 icons for SVG files, if you have other SVG authoring applications their icons may take precedence. A double click on an SVG file will open and import in EazyDraw, this behavior depend on Finder settings and the presence of other SVG authoring applications - use Get Info from the Finder to manage SVG Finder opening and Icons display behavior. The Additions Pack has a SVG folder with a set of test files from the W3C archives, these are also useful templates or examples if you wish to author drawings with XML code.

Several performance optimizations for User Libraries were dropped in favor of improved image quality. These optimizations involved cached images of library elements. Recent years improvements of hardware, OS X core technology and EazyDraw graphic display performance allow this improvement.

Corrected problem with Text Bubbles, the radius rectangle version. If the radius was changed from default, and the drawing closed and re-opened the changed radius was lost. This is now fixed. There were undo-redo situations where the text bubble pointer would not properly undo an interactive change - all works now.

Corrected problem with Move Image setting (main Preferences panel). The selection Live Graphic was not persistent across a quit and restart of EazyDraw. Also dragging from the drawing to another drawing or library did not work when Move Image - Live Graphic was in use. Both of these issues are corrected now.

Corrected problem exporting PDF with White Background. The popup menu would show a blank entry and the exported pdf would still have a clear (nothing) background. Now the White Background setting is respected with a PDF export.

Corrected problem printing with x or y mirror. The mirroring option inherited problems with recent (beta) changes. This is now operational again.

Corrected problem adding libraries in the icon-button mode to the menu system. This would cause a crash of EazyDraw - all is corrected now.

Version 3.3.0h Feb. 21, 2010

Added new custom Arrows for drawing Entity-Relationship diagrams. These new arrowheads conform to the conventions for "crows-foot" notation of one-to-many, one-to-zero-or-one, etc relationships. A new user library with simple tool buttons for all possible relationship connectors is available - contact EazyDraw support if this is of intreats, it will be included in the next release of the Additions Pack, it is now available on CD and Boxed versions of EazyDraw. The new arrowheads are accessed from the Arrows palette, Custom Tab, the Name popup menu. These are installed automatically for new users. Existing users (those who have ran EazyDraw and accessed the Custom Arrow Tab) will need to remove the Arrows.plist file from the EazyDraw Applications Support folder ( ~home -> Libraries -> Applications Support -> EazyDraw ). One must quit EazyDraw then remove the Arrows.plist folder, then restart EazyDraw; the Arrows.plist file will be re-created by EazyDraw with the new custom arrowheads. If you have custom arrow heads - then keep the Arrows.plist file and move your custom arrows into the new file (contact EazyDraw support if you need help with this).

Corrected problems related to flipping radius rectangles by 90 degrees. There was a problem with the 90 degree CCW flip, if in a group the flip would distort after the file was saved and re-opened. All is correct now.

Corrected problems with Graphic Details entries for Text Graphics when using Comma as decimal delimiter for Region settings such as Germany. Some of the numeric entries and sliders were not working, causing very large values upon entry. Also many of the text fields did not respect the system settings and displayed numerical values with the period as the decimal delimiter. All is correct now.

Corrected anomalies with Send command, when multiple graphics were selected for a single Send To Back. The drawing order of the selected graphics was reversed by the send. Corrected problems related to Send to Front with graphics containing inserted text. Corrected problems sending graphics forward or back over a graphic with inserted text. And corrected some issues of the above cases that would not undo or redo-of-undo correctly. All seems to be working properly now.

Corrected problem with move of a shadow applied to a Uniform Scale graphic of an image. The shadow would remain fixed on the drawing. All is correct now.

Corrected a small extraneous white border that was added to images in groups with a bitmap shadow applied to the group. This was only noticeable in the above situation when the edge of the image or photo was not white.

Corrected issue with a Free Transform of an image in a Uniform Scale interactive state with a Flip (90 deg. cw etc) applied. A subsequent move of the graphic did not execute properly (the graphic moved in a wrong, unflipped direction). This situation is now handled correctly.

Corrected problem with the reported size of a group that contained a rotated text box positioned near one edge of the group. The rotation was not applied to the size and position calculation. All is fixed.

Version 3.3.0g Jan. 23, 2010

Corrected problem converting Flow-Around Text to Bezier paths. This would only work right after a resize of the text box, most of the time the Flow-Around layout was not respected on the converted glyphs. All is corrected now, the converted text should be positioned exactly glyph for glyph as the flowed-typeset text.

Corrected a few esoteric cases for the newly optimized Annotation text, relating to shadows on the annotation and colored annotation text.

Corrected a few issues with converting Annotation to Bezier paths, when the text style for the annotation used outlines or colored fill.

Version 3.3.0f Jan. 23, 2010

Fixed problem running on OS X version 10.4. The public beta version 3.3.0b and later did not run on Tiger. Now all works again.

Fixed problem converting Annotation to Bezier paths on PowerPC running OS X version 10.5 (Leopard). This problem was present on the last release (EazyDraw 3.3.0). It now seems corrected as tested on a PowerPC mac-mini running OS X 10.5.8. Please report any problems in this area as our available PowerPC hardware is limited and the root cause of this issue is still somewhat in doubt.

This version included performance improvements for drawings with heavy usage of Annotation Text. The responsiveness of EazyDraw is now significantly improved when working with Annotation Text. Beta testers should keep an eye on the drawing of Annotation Text, as with all optimizations there is the possibility of missed refreshes of the drawing or misplaced graphics, thanks.

SVG Import is a work in progress, it is enabled and available for this beta. It is not complete, it should not crash but there is no support for importing text at this time. SVG export is fully operational, complete, and robust. Please report any problems noted with the export of SVG graphics.

Version 3.3.0e Jan. 17, 2010

Minor refinements on SVG Export, nothing major. Work continues on SVG Import but this is not enabled on this release.

Corrected problem setting default font from the main system font panel. The "Set Current as Default" operation was setting color and other text attributes (bold, italic, ...) but not the actual font family and font point size. All is correct now.

Version 3.3.0d Jan. 10, 2010

Added export support for SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). SVG export is accessed from the main Export panel (File main menu). Documentation is complete, use search phrase SVG to learn more. It is a full complete robust export that supports all EazyDraw graphic formats including gradients, shadows, text (annotations and typeset). All defined SVG profiles are support including the TINY profile for hand-held devices. Includes ability to export embedded font families and glyphs.

Added capability for Line-Over for Text. This will add a "Bar" over characters or a range of characters, the "Bar" is the common mathematical notation for the Average of a variable. The Text -> Style submenu has the menu command for this attribute and it is found on the Attributes bar with a - "Oh with line over" icon (note the use of the attribute must be verbally described in this Text Edit file because Apple's standard text technology does not support this text attribute).

Fixed a conflict in the menu short-cut keys for Ungroup Graphics. There was a duplication of the key selection on the Format->Images submenu. The caused problems for some (but not all users?) - now corrected.

Version 3.3.0c Nov. 19, 2009

Improved AppleWorks drawing import. Corrected issues relating to strings with embedded graphics. These graphics caused the import to crash, now the import does not crash. The embedded graphics are not imported as EazyDraw does not support strings with inserted graphics.

Corrected issues with inserted JPG images that contain meta-data size transformations. These had trouble when rotated and cropped, the problem related to opening a saved drawing. Now Rotate and cropping of these graphics works properly, saves properly and reopens properly.

Version 3.3.0b Nov. 19, 2009

Significant improvements for PDF ungroup. Improvements were in the area of reconstructing and formatting text content. Several new text encoding constructs are now understood by EazyDraw. In general the improvements relate to pdf's created on Windows and Windows Vista.

Significant improvements to the ClarisDraw import. Support for Claris Draw files saved in the Slide mode is now fully supported. Note that EazyDraw's pdf export now supports "layers as pages" with a master layer, this will facilitate re-export of good quality vector images for import into Keynote or PowerPoint.

Improved performance when typing and entering text. Some users with large numbers of fonts and a slower or loaded processor would experience performance degradation when typing quickly. The issue related to updating the font menu on the Attributes bar. This process is now optimized and rapid typing now introduces negligible load on CPU computations.

Corrected problem resizing different forms of rectangles using the Shift and Control keys. These now work to constrain the aspect ratio (CMD key) or constrain to equal height and width - square shape with the Shift key.

Improved behavior for creating polygons. There are several modes for creating polygons, to accommodate users from users familiar with other older drawing applications. The problem happened when the polygon was completed with an extra double click at the originating first point of the polygon. Of course we don't need to do that as it is a tedious extraneous step. EazyDraw would mistakenly take this as an error and the polygon would disappear. Now this method works correctly if used.

Version 3.2.0n Oct. 13, 2009

Added 4 new tools on Technical tool palette. The new tools are text bubbles that can be used as call-outs on technical drawings, enhanced sticky-notes, or speech balloons as in cartoon drawings. They have all the properties associated with a normal text box with the added decoration of the bubble Bezier graphic. Creating text bubbles is just like creating a normal text box. On screen interactive handles are provided to position and shape the pointer tip for the text bubble. There is a new panel on the EazyDraw preferences toolbar, this panel is used to set the default attributes for new text bubble graphics. There are a few parameters provided on the panel for convenience but there are many other parameters such as a color gradient or pattern that may be used with these graphics. To manage defaults for other properties simply draw a text bubble and design it as desired then drag and drop it on the Text Bubble preferences panel. Documentation is complete for these new tools enter search phrase "text bubble" to learn more.

Added the ability to insert Soft Returns in text. This is a Shift-Return which will insert a line break but not a paragraph break. There is a reference menu command now found on Text main menu, Typing Aids submenu. But normal use will be via keyboard entry of Shift-Return. Note this is a new combination of accepted keyboard entry and not a menu key shortcut. The Shift-Return menu key shortcut is blocked by the operating system. Net result is that all should now work as expected with text focused applications. Documentation is complete for the new feature, to learn more follow Help menu links to the Typing Aids submenu.

Several minor bug fixes mostly related to new features introduced since the 3.2.0 release. This is a release candidate so documentation should be complete. All new tools and features are now robust. Tutorials and libraries are being updated to correspond to the new features and complete the testing and transition to Snow Leopard.

Version 3.2.0m Oct. 1, 2009

Added the capability to interactively adjust the position of Annotation Text. Previously the position of an Annotation along a path was set with the Position parameter (numeric and slider input) found on the Annotation panel. This worked fine but the adjustment sometime was too coarse forcing use of the numeric input. Now there is an additional interactive adjustment handle provided, when selected, for graphics with annotation. simply slide this control handle along the graphic's path to position the Annotation. The normal parameter inputs are still available on the Annotation panel. Documentation is complete, use search phrase "annotation" to study the full specification for this new capability.

Added the capability to provide a center dashed line for the Walls, Roads, and Ribbons tools which are found on the Technical tool palette. Now the Dashes palette will apply the dash pattern to a central path that is drawn along the center line of the Wall graphic. This is useful for drawing roads, different dash patterns may be used to signify different types of roadways. The addition dashed line path will have the same characteristics (color and width) as the main outline path of the graphic. If more capability is needed to apply a different color or pattern, use the Arrow Along capability which now works with Walls, Ribbons, and Road - see release note on this addition below.

Added the capability to apply Along Arrow designs to Walls, Ribbons, and Roads. This capability is managed on the Arrows Palette, Custom Tab. These functions allow the ability to apply decorations along a path as a sequence of graphics attached to the main path. Some applications refer to these as "Brushes", an older term from '90s, in EazyDraw these are all fully vector graphics (as opposed to bitmap images) so they are managed as generalized "Arrow Heads." This capability is well documented in the PDF manual, the Help documentation, and a few tutorials specifically dealing with the topic. The addition is that these are now supported for Walls, RIbbons, and Roads. This is a rather powerful technique useful when drawing detailed visually rich maps. The Along-Arrow graphics may be used with solid fill, gradient fills, and now dashed lines to provide highly illustrative schematic representations of road ways (or rivers, hiking trails, rail-roads, .) for maps. There is a new tutorial (Roads_And_Maps) that covers this new somewhat advanced capability - the tutorial can provide useful "cook-book" instructions for those not experienced in the Arrows-Along capability.

Improved and expanded the Fillet and Chamfer operations. They now are more intelligent in forming a complex shape from a group of individual lines and paths. Before it was normally necessary to build the shape by selecting only two elements at a time and building the shape with a series of Fillet commands. Now one may simply select all the individual elements and execute the command a single time. The automatic logic now analyzes the relative positions of the elements, decides which should be the start and ending element, then orders them automatically with start-to-end ordering based on relative nearness of end points. Finally the logic analyzes if a new closed path graphic is indicated and automatically closes the graphic with a rounded (or chamfered) closing curve. The new automatic intelligence applies to Welded Bezier and Welded Group actions as well.

Added new tools for Text Call-Out Bubbles on the Technical tool palette. These are in progress, the first two are working in a preliminary fashion.

Added several new error messages for Save and Save As, these will provide more detailed information should there be an error when saving data.

Fixed issue with printing on OS X version 10.4. This applied only to the previous public beta versions. Now Printing should work on OS X version 10.4.

Fixed problems with small circles. There was a mode where they could collapse to zero radius when moving when a drawing was zoomed out far enough to make the circle about the same size as the adjusting handles. Another problem was that undo would not correct this and undo would not work properly if the small circle was re-sized. Now all works for even the smallest of display circle size.

Version 3.2.0h Sept 24, 2009

A new contextual attributes toolbar for Dimension graphics is now available. The primary focus for these contextual tools is the text formatting for the dimension's numeric values with prefix and suffix text. Operations like Bold, Underline, Kerning and typeface changes are now conveniently available with single click access.

This version has several enhancements to the ClarisDraw import. Full support for embedded EPS vector images is now working. Several cases for this construct are now supported with EPS version 1 and 2 inserts both with and without preview data (EazyDraw only displays the vector image - not the preview from the the EPS header). And issues related to drawings created with the Japanese version of ClarisDraw have been resolved, these related to Japanese fonts that were working properly before the Snow Leopard transition - all are back working correctly now.

Added the Send (Front - Ft, Forward - wf, Backward - bw, and Back - Bk) buttons to the Attributes bar (which is turned on and off with menu command near bottom of View main menu) for Text graphics. This has been requested by many, sorry it was not done that way in the first place, thanks to all for the input.

This version has several enhancements to the AppleWorks import. Additional embedded graphic types are handled. Added support for additional clip-art pasted graphic formats for the AppleWorks Import.

Added 3 new toolbar buttons for the viewing control of Charting, Stellate, and Math tool palettes. These were "missing" on the available tools for customizing the main window toolbar. They are now available for addition to the toolbar - use the Customize button or selection at the bottom of View main menu to add them to your toolbar.

Added the capability to have both a major and minor arc for the Flat Circle graphic, the one found near the bottom of the Technical Tools palette. The selection for the new option is found on the Graphic Details drawer, a new check box is found there. When creating, hold down the CMD key to switch between Major and Minor Arc choice. This only applies to the Flat Circle, not the Key or other Cut Circle tools.

Fixed problem when typing a prefix to an automatic dimension. In some cases the measurement number string would overwrite the prefix. This is back working correctly now.

A slight change was made to the dragging behavior. The change applies when a floating palette is positioned right over the active drawing area. If the floating palette has working area that can accept a drop of the moving graphic the drag and drop sequence is initiated. This rather specific set of events has given problems to some users when trying to drag an EazyDraw shape to the Custom Arrow shape area on the Arrow Palette. Previously one needed to drag the graphic off the drawing window then to the floating palette, this would be a problem sometimes on smaller screen systems where the palette was likely to be over the drawing area. This is somewhat non-standard Mac behavior but should not present a problem.

Fixed live resize of complex graphics, such as group graphics that contain a large number of graphics. The graphic was shown at the original size during the interactive editing of the size of the graphic (adjusting with the resize handles). The problem was introduced at Snow Leopard change-over. Correct now, original fast-responsive resizing is working well as in previous versions.

Further testing of the public beta on OS X version 10.4, zoom with "i" and "o" now work again on 10.4; the new export pdf capability is now operational on 10.4. Both of these had problems on the recent public beta versions.

Version 3.2.0f Sept 15, 2009

Improved AppleWorks import, support added for several new formats of pasted clip-art.

Version 3.2.0e Sept 14, 2009

Bug fixes on the new Layers as Pages PDF export - see Sept. 13 entry below.

Fixed problem with ClarisDraw import from the Japanese version of ClarisDraw. A previous change to correct other Japanese font issues caused the bug. All should be fixed for all versions now.

Fixed Edit for text that is contained in another graphic. The Edit menu command on Text menu did not properly enter text editing mode when the selected text was contained in another graphic.

Version 3.2.0c Sept 13, 2009

Improved the PDF export capability. Now PDF export (accessed from Export on File main menu) supports multi-page formatting and mirroring. The multi-page formatting capability includes an option to export each Layer of a multilayer drawing as a PDF page. The Layers as Pages allows one layer to act as a Master layer and print on each of the pdf pages. The documentation is complete, use search phrase "export pdf" or click the Help button on the PDF export panel. Previously all pdf exports printed as one single large page, the Print then "Save As PDF" sequence was needed to get a multi-page pdf. Mirroring is used when printing to an appliqué used in "reverse" such as a t-shirt artwork project would require.

Version 3.2.0b Sept 8, 2009

Corrected problem with copy and paste and drag and drop of graphics between EazyDraw drawings of different scale. Graphics should paste with their proper "project" dimensions respecting the different scales. This worked in EazyDraw 3.1 but was broken with version 3.2, it is now working properly again.

Corrected problem with Walls, they could not be re-sized by clicking and dragging the end point handles.

Corrected problem with Ribbons, they were very slow and sluggish to edit - all back to normal.

Corrected problem with Text used in a graphic added to a user library, the Text was flipped up-side-down. This is now back to normal. This bug also flipped text graphics converted to Images.

Corrected problem with Classic PICT graphics, pasted into EazyDraw. In some cases, depending on the application that created the PICT, the image was shifted in the bounding rectangle - all back to normal.

Corrected typo in Graphic Details drawer for Center dimension graphic, it was mis-labeled as Cemter. This is a long term bug not related to Snow Leopard release.

Improved the cursor control for the zoom feature with the short-cut keys "i" and "o". Previously the cursor was positioned at the ""point of interest" and the "i" key was hit, but then for the next zoom in it was often necessary to move the cursor to the center of the screen. Now if you hit the "i" key a second time (or multiple times) within a few seconds, and the cursor has not move much, the next and subsequent "i" key hits will zoom in on the same new center defined by the cursor when the initial "i" key was hit. The same behavior is works with the "o" (for zoom out) key. This logic is of course much harder to put in words than it is to use; the easiest way to see the improvement is to do a few practice zooms with "i" and "o" by clicking the key a few times quickly. The sensing time interval is about 5 seconds so there is time to view the new zoom and decide the next action before the repeat state automatically clears.

Version 3.2.0 Aug 28, 2009

This release introduces the Easy-Look drawing inspector with focus on the hierarchal organization of the drawing, layers, groups and graphics with support for sub-group investigation. It is accessed from the top of the Format main menu. It provides an outline view of the drawing; using disclosure triangles to reveal graphics on each layer with Group graphics presented as a nested organization property. This new feature is not complete at the moment although it should be stable, there are no known crashes. Documentation is not complete at this time. Multiple selections are possible in the outline view. Click and hold on a graphic in the top view to "radar" the graphic on the drawing. The "gear" menu is operational for copy and paste to the keyboard and basic ancillary grouping actions. One of the most useful capabilities, as noticed by the author, is the use of this panel as a "super" selection tool. The rules of selection are as on any outline view on OS X; Cmd Shift click to add selections etc. The Gear menu allows the selections on the outline view to transfer to the drawing and a drawing selection set to transfer to the outline table for additional selection actions.

A second major new feature is the Pivot Interaction level. This is found on the Format main menu, Interaction submenu. This graphic form provides convenient rotation of a graphic about a define pivot point. The pivot point is set interactively or via the Graphic details drawer. An interesting capability is the ability to "nest" individual Pivot graphics. If a Pivot graphic is grouped with other graphics and the outer group is changed to Pivot interaction level, the nested Pivot graphic is show with interactive adjusting handles (when selected). This approach provide convenient modification of complex drawing that might contain naturally articulating components. A tutorial is provided on the download .

Version 3.1.0k Aug 22, 2009

Corrected issues displaying JPG images inserted in drawings. The problem related to JPGs at DPI resolution other than 72 DPI, the image would display properly but when the drawing was saved and re-opened the image size would be incorrect. This is now corrected, however drawings saved with the previous public beta with the problem will still have their images shown incorrectly as the bug related to the point in time when the image was added to the drawing meaning that the bug correction will not fix the image. One will need to delete the bad image from the drawing and add the original JPG to the drawing.

Further tweaks on Annotation spacing, the new improvements introduced last beta release now apply to reverse and mirror annotation placement.

Version 3.1.0h Aug 20, 2009

This release introduces a new drawing organization inspector with focus on the hierarchal organization of the drawing, layers, groups and graphics with support for sub-group investigation. It is accessed from the top of the Format main menu. It provides an outline view of the drawing; using disclosure triangles to reveal graphics on each layer with Group graphics presented as a nested organization property. This new feature is not complete at the moment although it should be stable, there are no known crashes. Documentation is not complete at this time. Multiple selections are possible in the outline view. Click and hold on a graphic in the top view to "radar" the graphic on the drawing. The "gear" menu is operational for copy and paste to the keyboard and basic ancillary grouping actions. One of the most useful capabilities, as noticed by the author, is the use of this panel as a "super" selection tool. The rules of selection are as on any outline view on OS X; Cmd Shift click to add selections etc. The Gear menu allows the selections on the outline view to transfer to the drawing and a drawing selection set to transfer to the outline table for additional selection actions.

Added a new Pivot Interaction level. This is found on the Format main menu, Interaction submenu. This graphic form provides convenient rotation of a graphic about a define pivot point. The pivot point is set interactively or via the Graphic details drawer. An interesting capability is the ability to "nest" individual Pivot graphics. If a Pivot graphic is grouped with other graphics and the outer group is changed to Pivot interaction level, the nested Pivot graphic is show with interactive adjusting handles (when selected). This approach provide convenient modification of complex drawing that might contain naturally articulating components. A tutorial is provided on the download .

Improved typesetting of Annotation text. Spacing and orientation of the text was often uneven especially on sharp or pinched paths and curves. This is has been improved significantly. The regressive curve analysis routines have been optimized to provide added computations for the improved positioning and orientation algorithms with no degradation of responsiveness. Drawings with annotations will have some changes when viewed with this new version of EazyDraw, some tweaks may be necessary but in nearly all cases the only change should be improved appearance. The optimizations will actually improve performance in several area which may be noticeable when working with drawings with large numbers of curves on older slower CPUs.

Added 3 new shapes for Cross Overs. These are "Line Break" indicators, with variations on the rotated Z shape to indicate a longer line than is drawn. They are found on the Cross Over palette.

Improved error messages when problems are encountered with saving a drawing to the disc drive. Previously there were situations where no or perhaps the delayed fail-safe error message would present. Now we have nearly every issue properly reporting with a OS X provided message concerning the cause of the problem.

Corrected an annoyance that would cause the grid snapping to sometime revert to off. The situation related to editing an existing text box and oddly enough related to the number of times the letter "g" was typed in the session. All fixed now, so one should not see grid snapping randomly reverting to "off."

Made a change to allow the Layers Drawer's table of layers to have a larger height. Before the height was limited to provide esthetic balance for the typical drawer and window size. But the limit reduced the number of allowable layers that could be visible at a time, for users with large screens. Now you can grow the layer table height by making the drawing window have a larger height on larger and higher resolution monitors where this is possible.

Fixed export of rotated text annotations to JPG and other bitmaps. Last public release these became "fuzzy" with a sometimes noticeable degradation of quality. Recent public beta versions had worse trouble with the annotation not showing at all. All is fixed now and quality is restored to the proper level as provided prior to version 3.0.

Fixed problem with opening and closing the Preferences panel. When Preferences panel opens, all open parameter panels close, when the Preferences panel closes the previously opened parameter panels were supposed to re-open. Problem was that these open states did not restore properly, typically several other panels would open unexpectedly. Now this is back to normal. Problem was introduced recently.

Corrected problem of possible interaction of text color of annotation with the host graphic (or possibly other color attributes). If the Color and Style palette was open and one of the Color Wells active, then editing and or changing the color of an associated annotation would change the Fill or Stroke color of the main graphic as well as the color of the annotation text. This is now fixed.

Version 3.1.0e Aug 5, 2009

Added a new Pivot Interaction level. This is found on the Format main menu, Interaction submenu. This graphic form provides convenient rotation of a graphic about a define pivot point. The pivot point is set interactively or via the Graphic details drawer. An interesting capability is the ability to "nest" individual Pivot graphics. If a Pivot graphic is grouped with other graphics and the outer group is changed to Pivot interaction level, the nested Pivot graphic is show with interactive adjusting handles (when selected). This approach provide convenient modification of complex drawing that might contain naturally articulating components. A tutorial is provided on the download .

Fixed a potential crash / unexpectedly quit situation when using the Orthogonal-Radius path tool as accessed from a user library custom menu, or from a library in the drag-n-drop mode. The problem is now corrected. The situation was isolated to this particular method of accessing the tool, normal access from the Technical Tool palette did not have the problem.

Changed the behavior of Flip for group graphics. Previously if the group graphics were symmetric upon flip, the flip of the group was disabled - for example a group containing a square and a circle. Now Flip is enabled for the group and flipping proceeds as expected.

Version 3.1.0d July 21, 2009

This version is a major "under-the-hood" revision. Minor (or none) changes to User Interface and features. Developed and compiled on Snow Leopard for Leopard (OS X version 10.5) in preparation for Apple's announced release of OS X version 10.6 (named Snow Leopard). The actual technology improvements are covered under our non-disclosure agreement with Apple so this vague statement is all that may be said at this time. Caution should be used in the situation of critical drawings and projects. Developers licensed to test pre-release Snow Leopard should use this public beta, this version of EazyDraw is fully operational on the current Pre-release versions of Snow Leopard.

Bug Fixes with version 3.1.0d

Fixed several issues with dimensions, especially when dimensions are embedded in groups. There were cases where snap points would jump unexpectedly and the dimension text would move position, and duplicating a dimension would create a new dimension with larger default set-back. All of these are corrected now. Extensive testing was completed on grouping, ungrouping, moving and snapping complex groups containing dimensions. All seems in good order at this point.

Improved error detection and messaging when saving data to disk. Situations where a save might fail without any warning or a vague poorly worded error message have been addressed. Saves to disk should be more reliable and error messages more specific as to cause in the case of failure.

Improved several issues related to closed paths and curves. In many situations an extra handle would be present at the closing vertex and this would need to be cut or edited if changes were needed to the shape at that point. Now closing a graphic avoids the extra handle. Joined closed paths now have proper handles and editing at the closing positions. Closed Continuous Bezier curves now edit properly with continuous constraints at the closing vertex handle.

FIxed dimension formatting for reported lengths when using feet and inches. There were cases where values would report as 5' 12" rather than 6'. These are now corrected.

Version 3.1.0c June 7, 2009

Corrected possible "unexpectedly quit" situation. The problem related to changing a drawing's scale after deleting an autoline of automatic dimension graphic. There was a coding bug in this situation, in most situations the bug would not cause a fault so this was a rare crash. All corrected now.

Corrected problem with Undo of forming a welded group. In many cases one graphic of the welded group would become corrupt after the undo. Resizing the corrupt graphic would fix the corruption. Now all is fixed, Undo and Redo of the Undo work properly.

Corrected problems with fill color for welded groups. There were situations where the welded group graphic would not apply color to the full enclosed area of a welded group graphic. All is correct now.

Corrected problem applying the new Instant Alpha command to gray scale images. This situation was not handled with the new Clear Color command. It is now handled properly. Gray scale images are automatically converted to RGBA images then the clear color process proceeds in the normal fashion.

Version 3.1.0b May 28, 2009

Improved the method for inspecting and setting the thickness (width) of walls. The Walls parameter palette (found on Tools main menu) has a parameter for Wall Thickness. Like most parameters it was defined in terms of the Palette's Fine Scale (inches, mm, or points), and the value was an unscaled value much like the thickness of a line. For Walls this is not the best choice of units and numeric format, at least for architectural use. In this representative situation the thickness of the walls would be defined in scaled project units. For example a wall constructed of 2x4's would have a logical nominal thickness of 4 inches, in the scale of the drawing. This is now changed, settings for numerical format and precision are derived from the drawing's main setting o Graphic Details. Documentation is complete, use search phrase "wall thickness" to study the details and background discussions.

Corrected an issue with adjusting the thickness of "long" walls. If a wall was very long the interactive thickness adjuster was "slow", requiring long drag motion to get a small change in thickness. This now works properly.

Further work on commas in use as decimal delimiter. Changed the display height on several parameter palettes to provide room to see the full comma. Some of the numeric fields were slightly short and the comma was cut off and appeared as a period.

Further work on commas in use as decimal delimiter. Changed the display height on several parameter palettes to provide room to see the full comma. Some of the numeric fields were slightly short and the comma was cut off and appeared as a period.

Version 3.1.0a May 27, 2009

Fixed problem with Scale popup menu (found on Scale palette). It was showing blank when non-standard scales were in use and the selection for the scale worksheet was missing. This bug was introduced late in the 3.1.0 revision cycle. It is now fixed.

Added a warning panel when printing or exporting a drawing with miss-spelled words highlighted. Previously the drawing would simply print or export, the faint red highlights appear on the output. Now a warning message is presented with 3 options: print with highlights, clear highlights and print, or cancel - presenting an opportunity to correct the spellings.

Fixed problem flipping and transforming connectors and orthogonal connectors embedded in groups or nested groups. These would not always transform correctly and would remain connected to incorrect positions rather than releasing and re-connecting to the proper flipped location of target graphics.

Fixed problem on Graphic Details drawer when viewing size of a PICT image graphic. Graphic Details was reporting "zero width" now the proper width is reported.

Fixed a problem with copy and paste of Dimensions. In some cases the dimension would copy but with a "zero" report length. This is now fixed, copy and paste of graphics including dimensions work between EazyDraw drawings and any other application with all valid Copy formats including PDF, TIFF, and others.

Corrected problems using localized conventions for regions that use comma "," as the decimal delimiter (and period ".") as a numeric marker for thousand interval marking - for example Deutchland. The values on the the Guides palette were not showing correctly and they were not accepting input correctly, values would be multiplied by 100. This problem had the potential to occur for certain formats of entry on the Graphic Details drawer. All is correct now values are displayed with the comma as the decimal delimiter and entries with or without commas are accepted correctly now.

Fixed Align issues with rotated text: align left, align right, ... . The alignment was based erroneously on the unrotated text box. Now the proper rotated text box is used for all the Align and Distribute functions for proper results.

Corrected problems with nested group graphics containing interconnected connectors. Problems found were with flipping, copy and paste on the same drawing and moving the group with snapping enabled. There were various issues with connectors jumping to incorrect positions. Extensive testing of nested groups with embedded connectors under actions of copy and paste, duplicate, transform, flip, and move, all seems to be working properly.

Corrected problem adding an outline (stroke) to an image, the outline was offset down and to the right by 1 or two pixels. This was introduced with version 3.1 and the Clear Color tool. It is now corrected and back to proper operation.

Fixed issue with Dimensions and use of Hide Dimensions for specific layers. There were a few specific kinds of Dimensions that did not "hide" properly when exporting the drawing. This is now fixed. The issue did not apply to normal printing of a drawing, only the export of drawings. All correct now.

Corrected problem rotating and flipping PICT image graphics. They were rotating in the reverse direction and sometimes moving off the drawing with the bounds becoming separated from actual image. This correction may correct other issues with PICT graphics as well. Rotating and flipping are working properly now for all forms of images.

Corrected a few problems with Dimensions that have their form set to "Nothing", this is the "user comment only" dimension form selection; where the automatic length or other report values are not shown. The issues related to having a "Nothing" dimension with no text entered which could result in an incorrect save and re-open situation that would then lock out text entry. Several variations of "Nothing" dimensions were tested and all work as expected now.

Beta History First Quarter 2009

Added new form of Group, a Bind group. The distinguishing characteristic of a Bind group is that a resize or scaling will not resize the individual graphics of the group. The positions of each graphic will change with a resize but the individual sizes do not. For example, if a "brick wall" is drawn with a number of individual rectangles representing the bricks as a Bind group resizing the Bind group will add space between the bricks but the individual bricks remain same size.

Fixed problem with Burst gradient fill. Crash was possible when adding a custom burst shape. All is corrected now.

Fixed possible problems dragging and dropping layers from one drawing to another. Checking for duplicate layer names was not working (problem introduced with EazyDraw version 3.0) which could lead to problems. Biggest issue was dropping a duplicate layer with the name Paper which would result in two of the key layers with the unique name Paper and it was not possible to change the name of either of the resulting layers with this reserved name. All fixed now.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0n ---- March 25, 2009

Fixed possible problem saving AppleWorks imported files. These drawings could have trouble saving unless Page Setup was used to set a printer. Problem is now fixed, after import a default printer is automatically set to avoid save and open problems for the new EazyDraw drawing.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0m ---- March 20, 2009

Corrected performance issue when text selected and Graphic Details drawer showing with Char tab selected. CPU load would get very high and performance would bog noticeably. The issue was introduced during public Beta cycle. Problem now corrected, Char tab computations optimized to provide better performance than previous version before this issue was introduced.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0k ---- March 17, 2009

Corrected opening a file with a rare combination of orthogonal connector connected to a text box embedded as centered graphic in another graphic. This would cause the file to fail to load. Problem is corrected.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0h ---- February 27, 2009

Corrected a serious hang-up issue with the new Apple notebooks that have the glass trackpad. This new trackpad has a new capability to input Gestures (see Apple's web site for details). Apple has implemented undocumented changes to the core of the operating system to support this new capability. Their changes caused EazyDraw to seriously hang. The problem would happen when changing from another application back to EazyDraw with a click on a drawing window. The bug is now fixed and EazyDraw has been tested on the new 17 inch MacBook Pro with no problems noted. Testing will continue and proper support for the new gestures will be available in the coming weeks.

Added support for default color for text. Previously new text was always black, with no way to change the default text color. This issue impacted other text style settings as well such as bold or italic. Now text attributes behave in the same manner as other graphic attributes in that if no text is selected a text style change is applied to the temporary default settings for new text. This feature change is new with this beta release and testing continues.

Corrected problems with the text menu being update while typing and entering text. Previously the menu did not always get updated to reflect changes such as bold or other font style changes. Now it reflects the selection faithfully and is update with any of selection.

Corrected problem on the Paragraph panel, the numeric fields accepted new values with the Enter Key, but did not update with a Tab key change to the next text field . Entries now are accepted and updated on Enter, Tab or any other completion of editing of the individual fields.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0f ---- February 9, 2009

Corrected a Tiger (OS X version 10.4.x) only issue that was introduced with the new on drawing layers and graphic details design. Drawing saved with both the layers and graphic details drawer open, and the drawing rulers showing, would open with a corrupted drawing window. The drawing window and EazyDraw were stable, no crash or data loss, but the drawing area would not display the drawing and would often have random broken images of other drawing window graphics. This is now corrected. To repeat this issue only was a problem on Tiger, Leopard (OS X version 10.5.x) users did not have this problem, it related to the numerous newer Leopard style drawing window components that must be simulated on Tiger.

Corrected problem with undo - of resize of the height of multiple graphics by way of numeric value entry on the Graphic Details drawer. The graphics would resize correctly but the undo would incorrectly change the width rather than the height of each graphic.

Fixed recently introduced (beta sequence) problem that permanently disabled the Color and Style toolbar button. Corrected.

Corrected issues with rotated text that contains a gradient fill. The gradient was not drawing properly. This is now corrected, the gradient spins as expected with the text upon rotation.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0e ---- February 2, 2009

Modified the Preferences Toolbar Colors popup menu. This menu is used to select the color palette for main toolbar color pickers. The menu now only presents solid colors. Previously the host of pattern colors provided with the normal EazyDraw installation were included. This could lead to confusion, hence the change. This menu had not been documented, a new documentation page for the EazyDraw Help system was added.

Corrected problem flipping and rotating several graphics found on the Charting palette, when the graphic was embedded in a Group graphic. The flip or rotation would work correctly, but subsequent operations such as duplicate or copy and paste would have problems with the orientation of the Graphic. Most noticeable issues related to the symbols from the Electronics libraries that used narrow triangles.

Corrected problem exporting a Gradient added to a Text Box, when the gradient had an orientation. The exported orientation was not at the same angle. The gradient also did not display the correct size when the drawing zoom factor was not unity. All works correctly now.

Corrected problem on Graphic Details drawer for Text - the size tab view. A Tab after entry of these values did not register the new value, and a simple change followed by a mouse click on another parameter or elsewhere on the drawing did not register the new value. Previously an explicit Enter was required to establish a new value for these parameters. The problem was also found on the Label text view. This is now corrected, these values now behave the same as other parameters on the Graphic details drawer.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0d ---- January 31, 2009

Improved the AppleWorks import to properly handle Japanese fonts. The import now recognizes the Hiragino Kaku, Hiragino Maru and Hiragino Mincho families and two Osaka font families.

Improved AppleWorks import, added capability to identify AppleWorks files. Now the "cwk" extension is not required for EazyDraw to locate an AppleWorks classic OS drawing file. EazyDraw peaks in the file and identifies the exact binary structure.

Added another method to initiate text entry. Double Click on the drawing area will initiate a new text area and allow typing to begin. The other way to initiate text is to click the text tool and drag out an initial text box. Added Method: if the Text Tool is clicked and typing begins immediately (no click on the drawing area) a new text box is initiated at screen center with a nominal size derived from the visible area of the drawing, respecting zoom amount. These additions also corrected an error when typing would start with a single mouse click (no text box drawn), in this case the text box width would be very small and require formatting the size after typing and deselect of the text box. Now there is a viable 4 method to create a new text box, click the text tool, click the drawing and begin typing.

Corrected behavior of the "Other" buttons found on the shortcut color, pattern, and gradient toolbar pull down menus. Previously these would toggle the corresponding full interface panel, resulting in closing the panel if it was open. This would not be the intended action. Now the button will bring the corresponding panel to the front of all panels as one would expect.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0c ---- January 27, 2009

Corrected Problem sending multiple graphics to a new layer using the Layers popup menu found at the bottom of the Graphic Details drawer. This action would reverse the drawing order on the destination layer. Drawing order is now preserved properly.

Changed the behavior of Option Drag to duplicate, in the case of multiple layers that were enabled for selection and the situation where some of the original graphics are not on the Active Layer. Previously all new graphics were entered on the active drawing layer. Now the new graphics remain on the same layer as the individual original of each duplicate. In other words: Option drag holds to originating layers.

Fixed Tool Tip on the "hand" tool, Pan tool of main toolbar. It now reads: Move Tool, Option Key to Pan, Space Bar Pans With Arrow.

Fixed the Report Dimension when used with Orthogonal Paths having finite radii. There was a problem in that the Report Dimension did not enable and report a Radius. All is fixed. To use an automatic dimension for the a radius on an Orthogonal Radius Path (Technical Tools, top row, second Column): attach the report dimension to one of the virtual vertices of the path, use Dimensions Palette -> Report Popup menu to select "Radius".

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0b ---- January 26, 2009

Corrected rare problem that could occur when converting a graphic with contained text to Bezier path. The convert would fail and the selected graphics that were being converted would disappear. This situation is handled properly now.

Corrected import of ClarisDraw files using the "Rounded Ends" setting for rounded rectangles. This was not working in some cases in ClarisDraw files. It worked in all cases for AppleWorks import, so the bug did not affect the other classic mac imports, only ClarisDraw. All is correct now.

Corrected issue with "Option Drag" duplicate, from one layer to a new empty layer. Drawing order could transmute in this situation. Note that this was rather rare, "Select Others" needed to be in use and the destination layer needed to be empty. All corrected now.

Corrected issues flipping parallelograms horizontal and vertical. This was not working properly for the generalized parallelogram tool and for parallelograms drawn as rectangles with a Free Transform distortion. All corrected now. The generalized parallelogram is changed to a normal Bezier upon these two flips and the Free Transform version behaves properly for all flips and 90 degree rotations from the menus, the Arrange Palette, and directly from the Distort palette.

EazyDraw Version 3.0.0a ---- January 19, 2009

Fixed problem with Arc and Pie graphics related to the elliptical handles (light blue ones) with a non-zero elliptical axis for the degenerate case of a circle (both axes equal to 1.0). The center blue adjusting handle could get out of sync and cause problems. This would be initiated with setting the elliptical factors to unity in the graphic details drawer. This ill-defined state is now blocked and corresponding start and end angle values are compensated when this state would previously have initiated with a numeric entry. In short, all should work as expected now, in all cases.

Corrected problem with Page Stamps. Problem introduced with the new canvas margin capability of EazyDraw version 3.0.0. The page stamp was computation was not respecting the value for the canvas margin. So page stamps in lower right corners would be incorrect if the canvas margin was not zero. All is correct now.

Corrected issue with selecting graphics for the situation of smaller graphics inside larger graphics, when there is no fill applied to the enclosing larger graphic(s). The issue was introduced with EazyDraw version 3.0. The mouse down would select the larger enclosing graphic, which is often not desired. Problem is corrected and behavior is again as it was in previous versions of EazyDraw.

Corrected problem exporting bitmap formats of text with soft bitmap shadows. The shadows were omitted upon export, pdf export worked but formats such as png and tiff did not. All is correct now.

Corrected problem with dimensions of very small spacing. In some cases the dimension call out value (the numeric text) could disappear. This is now fixed.

Improved the user interface elements for specifying decimal (and fractional) precision. The changes are on the Dimension palette and the Graphic Details. This interface is now a contextual popup menu rather than a simple integer value. The popup menu presents decimal or fractional precision entries in accordance with display form (decimal or fraction). This will provide a clearer indication of the meaning of each selection.

Corrected problem flipping Orthogonal Path. The Flip commands (Horizontal, Vertical, rotate 90 degrees, ...) were distorting the path. All works correctly now.

Changed the polarity of the stepper on the Stellates palette. The up/down was backwards to the thinking of many users. It has had the same polarity since the beginning of EazyDraw but enough users have complained so it is now reversed. There is no real correct polarity, we'll see how many complaints this beta version generates and respond appropriately before the next release.

EazyDraw Version 2.7.0 ---- September 23, 2008

See Hot New page for current release notes. Notes below are from previous public beta versions.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0n ---- September 20, 2008

Corrected recently introduced problem associated with library elements that contain a gradient. Could prevent successful launch. Corrected.

Fixed long time nuance with converting text to Bezier outlines. Ligatures would cause an extra faint rectangle to be added to the text. Corrected.

Optimized converting large bitmap images from RGB to CMYK color space This is now three to nine times faster.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0m ---- September 18, 2008

Testing robust debugging, performance optimization, improved spell checking, improved CMYK conversion.

Improved Spell Checking, with Grammar support. The Spell check palette has several additions to provide a word count and indicators for checked and misspelling counts. New elements are provided more user control over a spell check session. Access is now provided to clean "learned" words from a dictionary. Grammar checking is only available on Leopard, not supported for Tiger (OS X version 10.4.x). The new capability is fully documented in the Help content, search phrase "spell check".

Improved CMYK color model support. The color model conversion, managed with the popup found at the bottom of the Layers drawer, has been improved to properly work with images and text. The whole process of color space conversion is now more robust and should perform at a robust professional level. You can now precisely inspect a color by pausing the cursor over any color well, a tool tip popup will indicate the color space for the color and the numerical amount of each component. A color space conversion now operates on all text, it applies properly to the text and all text marks such as tab leaders, strike through, underline, and text drop shadow.

Improved rendering of gradients. improvements include better screen drawing of small and intricate gradients such as those applied to text glyphs. Added full support for gradient transparency for printing and pdf output.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0k ---- August 23, 2008

Several improvements for text: linking, flow around graphics, tabs.

Rotated Text: A new rotation handle is now provided for Text Boxes. The rotation handle is the same color an appearance as the rotation handle for rotated rectangles and rotated ovals. Now one may rotate text with a click and drag of this handle, without reverting to use of the rotation tool. It works in the normal fashion, the shift key may be used as a modifier to lock the rotation angle at even degree increments. Editing of rotated text is now easier, simply double click on the rotated text box and an edit block (unrotated) is presented directly on the drawing. All of the other ways of rotating text are still available (such as converting to an Annotation), but now they will need to be executed explicitly.

Text Flow: It is now possible to have text flow around other graphics. This is enabled with a menu command now found on the Paragraph submenu of the Text main menu. When enabled, text is typeset around graphics that are to the front of the text (as in the Send Menu). Graphics behind the text do not impact typesetting. The flowing typesetting is live and will respond as either the text or the other graphics are moved or re-shaped. The text flow respects the filled state of graphics, if the graphic is not filled (solid color, gradient, or pattern) text will flow around the outline path of the graphic but not the "interior" of the graphic.

Text Insert: Inserted text now is typeset to follow the exact contour outline of the containing graphic. Previously the text was simply typeset in an interior rectangle. Now inserted text conforms to the shape of the host graphic. Centered Text is still typeset in a simple rectangle, which is centered at the geometric center of the graphic. The new "flow" behavior is not used for Centered Text, only Inserted Text.

Text Links: Linking of text boxes is now supported. This is enabled with the Text Link menu command found on the Text main menu (3/4 of the way down). When enabled a selected text box has two new handles, light green with small arrows. These link handles are used to link one text box to another. Click and drag from one of the link handles to draw out a link path, connect the link path to another text box to create the text link. When linked text is typeset sequentially into all linked text boxes. As text is edited, or a text box is resized, the text content is re-typeset in the sequence of text boxes. Documentation is complete for this, use search phrase "text links" to study the full documentation. The text link is shown by a pseudo orthogonal connector, you cannot select this connector directly but if a linked text box is selected then the link path appears and may then be selected in the normal fashion. Use this sequence to select a text link for deletion, this is how a text link is removed.

And all this new text capability works together. For example text may be inserted in a shape, and flow around other graphics, while being linked to other text boxes. And a double click of a rotated, linked text box with tabs will allow text and interactive tab editing directly on-screen.

Improved data entry in Graphic Details drawer, when using fractions and fractions with feet and inches. Previously in some rare cases entry of a numeric value would pop back to the previous value, preventing changed. Previously decimal notation was required for feet and inches input. Now decimal or fractions may be used when entering as feet and inches.

Further improvements for ungrouping PDF content. Recent work has been ungrouping of PDF from FreeHand. Text from FreeHand pdf now formats better and corrections were made to avoid dropping of text from these documents.

Corrected export of bitmap formats, when anti-aliasing is not in use. Normally a border of 2 pixels is provided for anti-aliasing to apply to the edge of the exported graphic. When anti-aliasing is not in use this border was still applied, now it is not. Turning off anti-aliasing now works to export the exact size in pixels.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0h ---- June 11, 2008

Corrected export of bitmap formats, when anti-aliasing is not in use. Normally a border of 2 pixels is provided for anti-aliasing to apply to the edge of the exported graphic. When anti-aliasing is not in use this border was still applied, now it is not. Turning off anti-aliasing now works to export the exact size in pixels.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0g ---- June 5, 2008

A new full capability Tabs palette is now available. It is accessed from the Text Main menu, Paragraph submenu. Help documentation is complete, search phase: "tabs". Tab position, spacing, and alignment are all now available for user specification. Full capability Leader specification is provided including; solid dashed and dotted leader lines, arrows for leader lines, user shift specification, leader line weight (thickness), color, and alternating colors. Note that this rather detailed parameter palette requires a corresponding larger screen size. But it is designed for convenient use with Window Shade shortening, and/or the mini-palette form. If you are not familiar with the Window Shade or Mini-Form parameter palette features this would be a good candidate for learning the capability.

Several corrections to text editing, especially with respect to undo and redo of undo's. Now selected ranges and insertion points are restored to exact conditions when undo or undo-redo actions are performed. One annoyance was that when editing text and deleting text so that the text box shrinks in height, then a left-over gray background area would remain below the text now smaller text box. This situation is now corrected.

Corrected problem with default Time Stamp format. The default format had the month twice and not month, day. Corrected. Upgrading users may need to use the Time Stamp Format panel, correct the format and save as a new default to clear the problem. New installations will not see the problem. Removing EazyDraw preferences file will rebuild the preference in the correct format, but all other persistent defaults will be cleared by this approach.

Improved Guideline Snapping for squares. The snapping would show on the drawing, but the size of the square would not always adjust properly to the guideline snap position. Now all works properly when creating and editing squares.

Corrected minor problems with Find and Replace. Fully tested again, on Leopard.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0e ---- May 15, 2008

Correct issue with previous beta version that did not allow changing font size from the system font panel.

Corrected problem forming a group, that contained a group which contained graphics with inserted text. The painting order (front to back ordering) of the graphic with inserted text could jump to a different painting order position and possible obscure other graphics of the newly formed group. All is correct now.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0d ---- May 1, 2008

Added support for Space-Bar panning. If the space bar is held down, the cursor changes to the Hand cursor and mouse down and drag actions will pan the drawing, as in scrolling. Panning is allowed even if graphics are currently selected. Panning sequences are allowed, lift the mouse - move over, click down again and pan further in a given direction. The panning mode persists until the space bar is lifted. This action does not work id a Text box is in editing mode, or key board focus is in text entry mode on a palette or the Graphic Details drawer.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0c ---- May 1, 2008

Several corrections to text editing, especially with respect to undo and redo of undo's. Now selected ranges and insertion points are restored to exact conditions when undo or undo-redo actions are performed. One annoyance was that when editing text and deleting text so that the text box shrinks in height, then a left-over gray background area would remain below the text now smaller text box. This situation is now corrected.

Upgraded the Underline capability. The Underline menu found on the Text Style submenu has been expanded with different styles and underline patterns. The menu on the Graphic Details drawer was upgraded as well. A Strike submenu was added to the Text Style submenu.

Added the ability to "pan" a drawing by holding down Option key while doing a click and drag operation. Pan operation is performed in place of drag-select when the Option Key is used.

Changed the behavior of the Graphic Details drawer during creating of a graphic. Earlier versions updated the drawer as the graphic was initially drawn - at creation step. Version 2.6.0 had this behavior optimized out, no longer showing the details of the graphic as it is initially drawn. Users have requested to return to the older behavior, now again the the Graphic Details drawer is "live" as a graphic is created.

Corrected issues with entering values in Graphic Details drawer. In some rare cases entry of a numeric value would pop back to the previous value, preventing changed. Changes were made to prevent this situation.

Corrected issues with entering values in Graphic Details drawer. In some rare cases entry of a numeric value would pop back to the previous value, preventing changed. Changes were made to prevent this situation.

Corrected various issues with Undo with Grid Snapping in the On state. If the initial state of a move or resize action was not snapped onto the grid, the Undo action would be snapped to the grid and hence the Undo would not return the moved or resized graphic to the proper position or size. Now the Undo actions ignore grid snapping and therefore will return the graphic to the original state.

EazyDraw Version 2.6.0b ---- April 23, 2008

Corrected problem exporting FAVICON files. Exports on Intel processors did not work, the exported file had a corrupt header. Exports on PowerPC's worked, the problem on happened on Intel processors. Now all is fixed, the standard FAVICON settings for the ICO export now produce valid FAVICON.ICO files.

Corrected problem using feet and inches for input on Graphic Details drawer. Problem seems to have arisen after EazyDraw version 2.4.2. Length values would jump back to different values after an entry in the Graphic Details drawer.

Corrected problem that was possible when using the Axis graphics, entering percentage as a label. If the percent character was added twice, to the main value and the increment then the file would not open. Corrected now.

Corrected problem doubling vertices of a rectangle that was converted to simple path. An extra tail like segment was erroneously added. Corrected now.

Corrected problem converting Oval or Circle to Polygon, an extra vertex (fully hidden) was present. Now corrected.

Corrected problem exporting drawing that was imported from Claris Draw with corrupt graphics (generated in ClarisDraw). These graphics had infinite size and then the Export from EazyDraw would fail - with the "Serious Error" warning. EazyDraw now guards against the situation - corrupt graphics should still be deleted from the imported drawing if noticed, but they can be time consuming to find.

Corrected Undo problem when resizing a Continuous Bezier at a vertex that was not continuous (for example a Free Bezier converted to a Continuous Bezier). When adjusting a control handle, the Continuous Bezier converts the vertex to the continuous form, thereby changing both controls of the vertex. Undo would only re-place one of the two. Now both go back to their original positions.

Corrected some issues with the Combine commands related to situations where the two graphics exactly overlay. Keep in mind that these situations are not defined mathematically so it is up to the user to adjust graphics accordingly before executing the Combine command. Several situations of exact overlap were inserted to the boolean logic and give more "expected" results.

EazyDraw Version 2.5.2k ---- March 26, 2008

Three new tools for drawing Spokes, as in spokes of a wheel, added to the Stellate palette. Cross-overs for schematics to indicated connections or lack thereof, Combine submenu for Union, Intersection, or difference of two graphics, New Parallelogram tools on Charting palette. New Free-Hand tool on main tool palette. New Pinning capability on Format main menu, Draw Tangents and/or normals to curves from the Tape Measure tool (type "t" or "n" ). Improved Knife when cutting cyclical math curves (sine waves).

New Cross-Over palette is found on the Tools main menu. This feature provides a method to indicate the state of two crossing lines or paths. The indicators are used to show schematically whether or not the crossing paths are physically connected. The easiest way to think of the concept is that of a "jumper" that would indicate one path "jumping-over" another and not making a connection. Several indicator shapes are provided: jumper, bridge, gap, and other. There are also indicators such as a "dot" that can be used to indicate the opposite state, that of a physical connection. The location of the indicators may be controlled parametrically or automatically placed and crossing points of lines and paths. In the Automatic mode, the Painting Order is used to determine which path is logically "over" another, only to top path will indicate the specified Cross-Over state. Documentation is complete; use search phrase "cross over" to learn the details of this new capability. Copy - Paste special supports this attribute and the Cross Over palette has a Library Properties button to allow a Cross-Over property to be added to a user library. The Cross Over palette also has a mini-palette form that is user configurable. The new palette is fully localized for the French language user interface.

A Combine submenu is provided for forming a new graphic from two graphics source graphics. The Union, Difference and Intersection operations are found on this new submenu about 2/3rds the way down on the Tools main menu. These are compound operations that cut two overlapping closed graphics, then recombine the sub-paths according to defined logical rules. Documentation is complete; use search phrase "combine" for detailed definitions of these operations.

Added a new Freehand pencil path tool to the main tool palette. The new tool provides simple freehand drawing, the path placed on paper will follow the cursor with minimal smoothing. With this tool one does not need to lift and click the mouse to drop vertices, as is the case with the other Bezier path tools. The fitting of the mouse trail to the created path is sensitive to the degree of zoom of the drawing. Therefore if a more detailed (jagged) path is needed, zoom in. If a path is too jagged, zoom out. After completion the Smooth or Round commands found on the Tools -> Transform menu may be used to improve the continuity of the path, if necessary. The new Pencil tool takes the place of the radius - orthogonal path tool, the orthogonal path tools are still available on the Technical tool palette (near top).

Added a new capability to draw tangents and normals (perpendicular) to a curve. For straight paths this was done using the guides capability but it wasn't possible to get a precise automatic line oriented with respect to a curved path. Use the Tape Measure tool to access the new capability. When ever the tape measure cursor is indicating the slope of a curve at a given point (the light green cursor read-out) simply typing "t" or "n" will add a tangent or normal line to the drawing. The line added has the center and angle pinned so resizing will not loose the precise orientation. It is recommended to review the EazyDraw.

Newly expanded Lock capability, now referred to as Pin and Lock actions. There are two new submenus at the bottom of the Format main menu with new individual selections for locking a graphic. The lock menu now allows a graphic to be locked independently against moving and deleting. The new Pin submenu allows the fixing of the center, length, or angle of a graphic. The Pin selections are of primary interest for simple lines, using these choices will offer several new useful interactive editing forms for a simple line. The Pin Center selection works with lines, rectangles, and rectangular shapes such as those found on the Charting palette. When the center is pinned, interactive on-screen size changes are made relative to the rectangle (or line) center. The Pin state of a graphic is indicated by a new handle mark shown at the center of the graphic, no mark indicates no pinning. The new lock-against-delete state is indicated by round rather than the normal square handles. Documentation is complete; use search phrase "pin" to access.

Improved Knife, when cutting cyclical math curves, specifically all variations of sine waves and the triangle wave form. Before the knife tool would cut the cyclical math curve correctly but the resulting two or more curves were reduced to Bezier curves, loosing their cyclical control functionality. Now a cut sine wave will result in two new sine waves. The period and phase of each new cyclical function is adjusted to exactly match the original wave form. This improved functionality does not apply to the discontinuous cyclical wave forms, square wave, pulse and saw-tooth; these still drop back to Bezier paths when cut. If one of the resulting cut wave forms would have less than 1/2 of a cycle, the waveform is still reduced to a Bezier curve.

Made several improvements to the PDF ungroup. These focused on ungrouping PDF file generated from the Deneba Canvas application. The PDF ungroup now detects use of tile-pattern-fills in the PDF translates these to EazyDraw patterns. The text generation from Canvas is rather non-standard with individual character placement, this situation is now handled and the text streams are recombined into EazyDraw text boxes and positioned with normal typesetting attributes. This means that more text from these files is imported, sized, and positioned correctly. The import is somewhat slow due to this construction. Optimization will be added in the future after we have have more feedback and testing on the basic ungrouping correctness and accuracy.

Added 4 new charting tools. Three new forms of parallelograms were added. We were missing two geometries of the orthogonal parallelogram form, two more of these were added, now all forms of this shape are possible. A free form parallelogram tool was added, it easily creates any possible parallelogram. A new "Bow Tie" shape was added to fill out the row of 4 tools. They behave and draw in the normal fashion, no new documentation needed. Full support on the Graphic Details Drawer is complete.

Added 3 new stellate tools for drawing spokes. There are 3 forms, a simple straight spoke, a Bezier shaped spoke, and a rounded rectangle spoke. They are found at the bottom of the Stellate palette. They behave and draw just like other stellates.

Changed behavior of superscript and subscript commands (both from Text menu and Attributes bar). Previously these commands only changed the baseline of the target text range. Now the commands change the baseline and decrease the font size by 2 points. The inverse command (No(rmal) on the attributes bar and "use default" on the text menu) returns the baseline and adds 2 points of font size. The independent raise or lower baseline commands behave as they did before.

Corrected inconsistency with the Knife tool when cutting a simple line. It was possible to drop the vertex of a line with the knife, the result would be a line with only one point. This inconsistency is now corrected, it is not possible to drop-cut either of a line's two vertices or end points.

Corrected problems adjusting the size of some Free Transform interactive graphics, that contained rectangles or charting shapes nested in group graphics. These now all scale properly.

Corrected possible scaling problems with the new Cut Circle graphics that were introduced with version 2.5.0. Previously they would scale properly in a group, but if the containing group was removed by an Ungroup the Cut-Circle graphic's resize handles would be misplaced. All is correct now. Cut Circles are the graphics found on the Technical Tool palette, second row from the bottom.

Corrected problem introduced with EazyDraw version 2.5.2, version 2.5.0 and earlier did not have the problem. It was a rare problem causing EazyDraw to launch incorrectly. It could only happen to users that were upgrading from an earlier version of EazyDraw. The trigger of the bug was custom (or inadvertent) additions to the colors found in the "eazydraw.clr" color list (in Colors folder found in the home Library folder). If fewer than 8 custom colors were added, the problem would occur upon launch. - very rare situation. All fixed.

Corrected problem importing MacDrawPro and ClarisDraw drawings with bitmap images (JPG, TIF) on Intel machines. Some bitmaps that would import correctly on PowerPC processors were not interpreted correctly on Intel CPUs (byte swap issue for those who understand what that means). All corrected now.

Corrected problem exporting TIF images. It was possible to have a dark line at the top of the image. The line was only a present when using a white background, transparent backgrounds were drawn correctly. The problem was introduced with version 2.5.0, and the dual-rep TIFF capability. It is corrected now.

Corrected problem importing MacDrawPro and ClarisDraw drawings with custom colored patterns. The patterns would import correctly but after saving the EazyDraw file and re-opening the Patterns would return to the default black and white pattern. This is now corrected.

Corrected problem rotating text with a filled text box, filled with solid color, pattern, or gradient. In this situation the rotation would not restore after a save and re-open of the file. This is now corrected. Another aspect of the problem was that text would be inverted (up side down) while rotating, this is now corrected as well.

Corrected issue importing ClarisDraw files related to long text fields. A new format variation was encountered and included in the text interpretation. This may help some users that were having trouble getting all their text to import.

Improved the Ungroup PDF for older versions of PDF that are commonly generated on Windows machines. Text size was not translating properly, one would see a corrupt text box with reported font size of 1.0 - this situation is now handled with the PDF conversion.

Corrected arrow at the end of a rounded or radius connector. The end arrow was not pointed in the correct direction. It now behave correctly. This only happened with the one particular form of a orthogonal connector that was drawn the had its corner shape changed via the Connector palette.

Corrected problems rotating some graphics 90 degrees clockwise and 90 degrees counter clockwise with the flipping menu commands or attribute bar buttons. Text was not flipping the actual text, only the text box. Other graphics were being changed to raw Bezier paths unnecessarily, for example a rectangle was not maintained as a rectangle with the flip action. All is correct now.

Corrected problem changing the text color from the toolbar button. If the text had multiple styles of typeface, a subscript for example, the color would only change up to the point of typeface change. Corrected now.

Corrected possible problems exporting to Keynote drawings that were imported from a Classic drawing application such as MacDraw, or ClarisDraw. In the old classic environment it was possible to "color" a line with a pattern color. This is not acceptable to Keynote and while EazyDraw would handle the situation, upon export to Keynote a block was encountered that would prevent the file save. All is fixed.

Corrected problem saving the color of a Grid Graphic, the ones found on the bottom of the Technical Tool palette. The color would revert to black, or default unless an outline was showing for the grid. Now the color saves and restores correctly.

Optimized the internal code for opening a new drawing. Opening a drawing or creating a new drawing was beginning to take a noticeable amount of time, especially on PowerPC processors or any processor on Tiger. The drawing initialization code was optimized, now there is no noticeable time to open a blank drawing. Opening larger drawings will still require a time in proportion to the size and complexity of the drawing.

Removed the support for creating and updating file icon previews in the main file open dialog. This was an older feature of relevance on Jaguar and Panther and no longer needed. The QuickLook technology in Leopard has superseded the older file icon technology that was used for these previews. On Tiger and Leopard support for the old feature would unnecessarily "touch" files while browsing the Open dialog, thereby changing the File-Modified dates - an undesired consequence. Removing the feature all together corrects the issue.

EazyDraw Version 2.5.2 ---- February 14, 2008

Customizable Toolbar improvements, Ability to convert a Blend to component paths, Improved MacDrawPro Import, Improved ClarisDraw Libraries Import, Fixed possible customizing toolbar lock-up.

Customizable Toolbar

Several improvements were made to the main window toolbar - when used in the Text label mode without icons. In this mode the palettes such as the color picker and gradient picker are presented as menus. These menu presentations were significantly enhanced to provide reasonable submenu organization for a more efficient user experience.

Lock-up during customizing toolbar

Corrected possible random behavior when customizing a toolbar. Extremely rare problem which would occur during customization of the toolbar on one drawing if another drawing was closed a minute or two before the customization action. The bug would take several random forms, possibly hanging the window or not completing a customization task but most in most cases there would be no visible sign of the problem, just a message in the system log files. All is fixed now.

Convert Blends

Added the ability to convert blends into individual paths or lines. This lets one use the blend capability as an interactive form of advanced duplicate, for linear duplication tasks. The blend function can generate a family of curves transitioning across a small set of defining curves. The new capability, found on the "convert to" submenu, allows the full family of curves to be "ungrouped" for individual management and editing. This is also useful for complex illustrations, the individual paths may behave better for scaling and distortion as a nested grouped component. The individual curve may in some cases draw more quickly as well, in the case where thousands of curves might be in use.

Graphic Details Limits

Added minimum limits for several parameters on the Graphic Details drawer. It was reported that a zero-radius circle would cause KeyNote to crash when exported. This problem is found with several other graphics, for example a zero width rectangle. Therefore minimum limits are now in place for several parameters. However, in some cases very small values might be required, for example a small dot of a circle. To allow entering very small values EazyDraw sets the minimum limit in accordance with the zoom of the drawing. Therefore, if a very small value is needed for a parameter it may be necessary to zoom in on the graphic before entering the value.

Import ClarisDraw Libraries

Corrected problem importing ClarisDraw libraries. The problem was related to library graphics that included text. This is now corrected, we have imported several large complex libraries that have been submitted by users. The ClarisDraw Library import is now quite robust.

MacDraw File Convert

Corrected import issue with MacDrawPro drawings. The problem was with certain forms of Bezier paths that contained vertex points with no control points. This seems to be a rather rare construct, one needs to know to option click a control point in the reshape mode in MacDrawPro in order to even create one of these curves. So the problem probably did not appear for most users. All is corrected now.

EazyDraw Version 2.5.1c ---- January 27, 2008

Attributes Toolbar, Charting and Graphing Tools, 512 based Icons, improved PDF ungroup, Multi-Rep TIFF export (for developers), Hex Grid for Game Design, New Scale Worksheet.

Attributes Toolbar

Improved performance of the new Attributes Bar, when text is selected. Users of slower PowerPC CPU's reported sluggishness when using the Attributes Bar. The updating of the attributes for text has been optimized to minimize CPU load in this situation. Please note that the Attributes Bar has the newer Leopard appearance, to maintain Tiger compatibility EazyDraw needs to simulate the buttons and their detailed gradients when running on Tiger. This takes a fair amount of CPU load, and may be noticeable on an older PowerPC. PowerPC - Tiger users should consider upgrading to Leopard or turning off the Attributes Bar. Of course, for performance and stability the Leopard upgrade is strongly advised for all situations.

New Default Toolbar

We have a new default toolbar configuration. This configuration compliments the Attributes Bar better than the previous toolbar, some elements previously in the default toolbar are now present in the Attributes Bar, allowing other elements to be added to the main toolbar. If you have used EazyDraw before you will not see the new default configuration and you may want to customize your toolbar or customize and move the new default configuration to your toolbar.

French Localization

Additions and corrections for French localization. Dash and Arrow palettes formatted better for the French labels and wording. Export panel localized fully now. Fully tested on Tiger and Leopard using the French user interface. Corrected issues with Open AppleWorks files, using French interface, the open dialog would not show the option to select another file type for Open: now all works properly. Further work on the French PDF manual is now available, this project is still not complete.

Improvements and Bug Fixes

Corrected a possible "unexpectedly quit" that could occur when applying a transfer property (shadow, or gradient for example) from a library. These are the property library elements that are placed in a user library using the small LL icon found on parameter palettes. The unexpectedly quit would happen when applying the property from the library to a graphic in a drawing. All is corrected now, the Library property transfers all work as documented now.

Improved the Keynote export. Support for arrows has been added. Corrected possible position errors for lines when exporting just graphics rather than full drawing area, now lines are precisely positioned in all situations.

Fixed a problem on Dash panel, the default list of defined named dashes was not provided. Now the menu has 8 named dash patterns properly listed and available for use.

Fixed pasting images into MS Word and other older technology applications that prefer the Classic PICT data format. Images often would paste up-side-down. A vertical flip was added, this should correct the issue, if unwanted flips are noted please report the problem.

Changed behavior of including an anti-aliasing border when exporting bitmaps. If anti-aliasing is on and you select to just export graphics, or selected graphics, a 2 pixel border is included to allow anti-aliasing of outside edges of the graphics. This is not desirable in some cases such as creating a background image for a web site where the image may be tiled, as an undesired white border will be present on each tiled image. The border is not included if you export "Full Drawing Area" and now it is also eliminated if anti-aliasing is turned off. Previously the border was still included when exporting just graphics without anti-aliasing, this was logically inconsistent.

Corrected rare annoyance associated with the pattern and gradient toolbar tools. The problem was that the use of one of these tools could inadvertently change the temporary default for a pattern or gradient, then new graphics would have a gradient or pattern. Then it would be necessary to open the Gradient panel and turn off gradient so that new graphics would draw without the gradient, (or pattern). This was rare but annoying. All is fixed now. The toolbar tools can be used freely without worry of this happening.

Corrected problem on EazyDraw Preferences, restore all to Factory would not close the pull down panel. This is fixed now.

Corrected problem with the new modified circle graphic, it was possible to set the minor radius larger than the radius on the Graphic Details drawer. This could then prevent the file from opening. This is corrected, and files saved with this error are now senses and corrected so that they are opened properly and the inconsistency is corrected.

Corrected possible problem using independent scales for different layers. If the scale panel was not open the grid could draw incorrectly when linked to rulers. All corrected now.

EazyDraw Version 2.5.0 ---- January 4, 2008

Attributes Toolbar, Charting and Graphing Tools, 512 based Icons, improved PDF ungroup, Multi-Rep TIFF export (for developers), Hex Grid for Game Design, New Scale Worksheet.

Attributes Toolbar

A new Attributes Toolbar is now available. It is a mini toolbar located at the top of the drawing area, above rulers and below the main toolbar. It is accessed from a menu selection at the bottom of the View main menu, you can turn it on / off from there. The preference control for showing the toolbar on new drawings is found on the Page Layout palette. Documentation is complete (EazyDraw Help, but not the PDF manual at this time) use search phrase "toolbar" to learn more, we refer to it as the "attributes toolbar". This toolbar is actually a family of toolbars, they are context sensitive, they change when graphics are selected or deselected. The tools shown are chosen to be relevant to the selected graphics on the drawing. This feature is similar to the mini toolbar found in the iWork '08 suite (Pages '08 and Numbers '08), use of these tools should be natural for iWork08 users.

Scale Worksheet

There is a new Scale Worksheet, access it from your Scale palette or the new attributes toolbar. The worksheet helps arrive at a proper scale for a scaled technical drawing. It interactively displays the relationship between your choice of paper size and the dimensions of the project. A great help for both a novice that may need assistance in understanding how a scaled drawing will work, and the expert planning a project and presentation format.

512 icons

All new 512 based icons for the application, drawing files, and library files. These were drawn with EazyDraw and saved in the updated OS X, Apple Icon Image format so that they look great on Leopard.

Charting and Graphing Axis Tools

New charting and graphing tools on the Technical Tools palette, near the bottom, are now complete. These now have full support on the the Graphic Details drawer and Help documentation is now complete . There are 4 new axis and grid tools to be used as integral components of a graph or chart. They consist of an integrated tick-mark, a compound text label graphic, rectangular grid, and hexagon grid. They can be used to build axes and labels for chart graphics. These have been highly optimized to display quickly. It is better to use one of these compound graphics, especially for text-label sequence, compared to a conventional group array of text or tick marks. To learn more use these search phrases in EazyDraw Help: "graphing tools", "text labels", "grid tools".

Unjoin Bezier

Added new command to Unjoin a Bezier path or curve. This will separate segments of a complex path at points where the path jumps (MoveTo segments) from one stroked portion of the path to another. This is useful and recommended when complex paths have been imported into an EazyDraw drawing. This situation is found when text is converted to Bezier or stylized. It also occurs with ungrouped PDF files, and is common for PDF files that originate from AutoCad. You may think of it as one more level of ungrouping available in these situations. An example might be a semi-colon, this would let one separate the two marks of the semi-colon. It is found on the Tools main menu, Convert submenu. If a complex path is not converting as desired, use this new Unjoin then attempt the convert.

Hex Grid

Hex grid tool on Technical Tool palette is now complete with Graphic Details support. The grid can be rotated and fully adjusted with respect to the origin. The sides can be extended or shortened for different appearance. When fully extended an isosceles triangle grid is attained. Documentation is complete.

Multi-Rep TIFF Export

Added the ability to export multi-representation TIFF files. This format is the new Apple standard for application images and icons. The format is a tiff file but it actually contains two tiff images, one at the requested DPI resolution and a second at 4x the DPI resolution. These will become important as Leopard moves onto higher resolution displays (think HD) in the future. This is of primary interest to software developers drawing buttons and icons for Mac and web applications. There is an example of one of these TIFF files in the examples folder, Preview displays the files and shows the two resolutions. TIFF Export now provides color space control. RGB, RGBA, CMYK, and CMYKA are supported. The DPI for TIFF saved files is now saved with the file so that the file opens with a proper nominal size in Adobe applications.

Improved PDF Ungroup

Improved the speed of PDF ungroup, the improvement can be quite significant (100-1000 fold) for some complex PDF images. Corrected problem opening a drawing that was the result of a PDF ungroup - the first time after the ungroup; opening would take a very long time for large PDF - fixed now, opening time is normal for the size of the file. Improved PDF ungroup in several respects, it now handles PDF files that originated from AutoCad more intelligently, more quickly, and with better results.

Problems Addressed

Corrected a detail point on the export of TIFF graphic files. Now the physical size of the image is properly represented with respect to the Dots Per Inch (DPI) that was specified when saving the file. The correction does not actually change or improve the bitmap image, but other applications such as Photoshop will now show the image at a more representative size.

Corrected entering lengths in the Graphics Details drawer when units and fractions were in use. In some cases the length entered, if it had a fraction, could become about 10 times larger than the value entered . This is fixed now.

Improved the Convert To Lines for complex paths. Now disjoined jumps in a complex path do not confuse the conversion. Previously one could see extra lines added at these jumps.

Corrected problem on Graphic Details drawer, when entering the radius for an Arc and completing with a Tab key, if Tab was hit again the radius would go to zero. Problem is now corrected, two tabs hit in succession now simply advance the entry point to the next then the next text fields on the Graphic Details drawer. All fixed now.

Corrected bug setting text alignment for larger text blocks with multiple font styles and sizes.

Corrected problem with palette layout selection at launch of EazyDraw. The problem was that a user defined palette layout for launch would be respected only on every-other launch. Corrected now, any selection for Palettes At Launch, EazyDraw preferences, is now respected each launch.

Corrected rare problem that was possible on Leopard, not Tiger, that would result in a bad drawing window opened when EazyDraw was launched. The bad window would not display and not respond to key clicks and could not be closed. This is fixed now.

The French PDF manual has been updated, it is still not complete, the work is still in progress. The newest version has updated figures and more pages complete. It is in the International folder.

Improved AppleWorks import, main improvement relates to images that were imported into AppleWorks. . In some cases the size of the image was not correctly reproduced in the EazyDraw drawing, more situations are now handled properly.

Version 2.4.1 Items follow...

AppleWorks 6 Import

This release introduces support for native AppleWorks drawing files, AppleWorks version 6.x. This is a full import, all AppleWorks content is converted corresponding EazyDraw shapes and accents. Use the normal Open panel, the Insert menu, or drag and drop a file onto an open EazyDraw drawing window to convert an AppleWorks drawing to its EazyDraw counterpart. Support is provided only for the Drawing and Painting files. Drawing files contain vector information and may be fully edited as a normal EazyDraw drawing. Painting files are imported, and they will look better when displayed with EazyDraw's true OS X foundation, but they are bitmaps and are not editable as vector content.

The import supports colors, patterns, wallpaper and gradient accents. The Open panel has an option to direct EazyDraw to install these accents as proper OS X colors so that they may be used by EazyDraw and other Cocoa applications on OS X. EazyDraw paired with iWork now provides an excellent migration path from AppleWorks to iWork '08, Leopard and future versions of OS X. More Info: AppleWorks Import .

DXF Import

DXF import is now operational. This is the primary purpose of this public beta, we need users to try the import and provide us with feedback concerning problems or AutoCad elements that may require further work. This is a full AutoCad DXF import that supports a broad range of AutoCad drawing constructs; including support for layers, DXF hatches, dimensions, colors, dashed lines, arrow heads, and text. Each of these elements is converted to the corresponding graphic content of a native EazyDraw drawing.

Use the normal "Open" panel to import the DXF drawings. The DXF filter is selected from the popup menu at the bottom of the Open panel. The drawing needs to have the ".dxf" extension. We are asking that users provide us with feedback to any issues noted with the import. If a drawing does not convert we would like to receive the dxf original drawing by email - all content of supplied drawings will be kept in confidence and the drawing will be deleted from our systems after the conversion problem is isolated. If a conversion should cause EazyDraw to unexpectedly quit, we would like to receive the system log file that reports the failure. Thanks in advance for all assistance. Documentation is not complete for this new feature.

EazyDraw is intended to comply with the 2-d portions of the AutoCAD standard definitions for the DXF format versions 2004, 2000/LT2000, and R12/LT2. We will use AutoCad 2004 running on Windows XP as the "gold standard" for evaluating import and export of these files.

Distribute Along

This version adds Distribute Along support, at the request of many Canvas users that have migrated to EazyDraw. The feature is accessed via menu commands, the Align palette does not yet provide access to these actions (next release). Distribute Along is found on the Format main menu, Align and Size submenu. This action will distribute an number of graphics along the path of a master graphic. The master graphic is the first one selected, it is marked in the standard way with a center mark that is not shown for the other graphics of a selection.

An example would be to distribute several rectangles along a line. To do this select the line first then the rectangles, then select the desired Distribute Along action from the menu. There are individual menu commands for positioning various defining points of the distributed graphics, for example Top Left, or Center. The Grid reference point may be used, see the documentation on "Align To Grid" to understand the use of this reference point.

The process requires a determination of the Order of arrangement for the distributed graphics, this is managed by menu item selection; nearest, or top-to-bottom for example. It is also possible to orient the distributed graphics, these selections are found at the bottom of the new submenu. The orientation is relative to the tangent of the master graphic's path - at the point of distribution. Documentation is not complete for this new feature.

Axis Labels and Ticks

Added 4 new axis and grid tools to the Technical Tool palette. They are found on the bottom row of the palette. They consist of an integrated tick-mark, label graphic, rectangular grid, and hexagon grid. They can be used to build axes and labels for chart graphics. They are fully operational in the drawing and interactive editing mode. They are not yet supported on the Graphic Details drawer and documentation is not complete.

Grid Graphics - Rectangular and Hexagon

Two independent grid graphics are now available on the Technical tool palette, near the bottom. These are used to automatically draw and manage a full drawing grid. There are interactive controls for adjusting the spacing and phase of the grid, horizontal and vertical spacing is independent. The Hexagonal grid has adjustment for spacing, phase and angle. Documentation is not complete a this time. Graphic Details support is not provided with this release. These are fully capable graphics, they will accept line weight, stoke color, fill, and dashed line attributes in the normal fashion.

D-Slot Tools

Added new D-Slot tools to the Technical Tool palette. These are shapes made by combining a circle and one or two straight sides. They are a rather common shape that is often constructed with a circle and two rectangles or other drawing tricks. The shapes provided make it much easier to construct and manage these shapes when needed. They are fully operational in the drawing and interactive editing mode. They are not yet supported on the Graphic Details drawer and documentation is not complete.

Previous (late summer 2007) Additions and Fixes

Below are the most recent additions and corrections that were made to the last release of EazyDraw.

Selection Menu

Added a selection submenu to the View main menu. These menu commands correspond to the buttons on the Selection Tools palette, enclose, touch enclose, back, .... .  This was requested to allow the assignment of shortcut keys to the different selection modes and tools. Unfortunate that we did not think to do this sooner, but it in place at this time. These were tested with the Menu Keys preferences dialog, everything works as expected. It is now possible to short-cut assign these functions.

Independent Layer Scale

Corrected problem opening a drawing that had independent layer scales. This bug crept into one of the recent releases. The independent scales for the layers reverted to the scale of the Paper layer. In some cases this change would not be noticeable, unless one explicitly revisited a layer with a different scale. All works correctly now.

Grouping Dimensions

Made several corrections to grouping of attached dimensions, that are included in the group. Previously these had a tendency to become detached from the target graphic. This would mean that if the group was ungrouped, the the dimensions would need to be manually re-attached. This debugging sessions lead to other subtle corrections of grouped dimensions and connectors. All should work much better now. One behavior change: when moving a dimension the attache ends of the dimension are no longer "active", they will not attach to target graphics. One needs to move an end explicitly to have it seek and attach to objects. This means that if a dimension is attached at one end, a move will leave that end attached and only move the free end. Again: to attach, or detach a dimension end, the end needs to be move as a single point explicitly.

Snap Reference

Fixed problem with the default setting for the Snap To Grid position. This was always going to top-left, even if you had changed your default setting. Corrected now, behavior is the same as the default management for other panels.

Time Stamps

Added the ability to remove the title prefix to a text stamp, time stamps and page stamps. If un-checked there will be no descriptive prefix to the time stamp (or page stamp). The time shown will be just the raw time as applies to the stamp, last save or last change ... . This would mean that the user prefix should be used to avoid confusion. So this is now fully under user control. The default is still to include the hard wired label prefix.

MacDraw and ClarisDraw

Made minor improvements to the ClarisDraw and MacDraw imports. The corrections related to rotated arcs, the rotation was using the EazyDraw conventions and the results were incorrect. These stay at their intended locations now.

LinkBack Improved

Corrected problems with LinkBack editing. The problems related to closing and active LinkBack edit window when the drawing was edited but not saved or published. All is tested and works now.

Services Menu Support

Updated the Services interface. EazyDraw now responds more intelligently to a wider variety of items that one might find on the Services menu. In particular the services provided by LaTexIt are now fully supported. You may enter LaTex code in an EazyDraw text box and call LaTexIt from the services menu. The LaTex code is then sent to LaTexIt and the returned fully typeset result is pasted into your drawing, replacing the original text. This replacement is provided with full LinkBack support, that means that you may edit the original source text by simply double clicking the LaTexIt result in the EazyDraw drawing. To learn more, study the LinkBack documentation in the EazyDraw Help system or the PDF manual.

Flip Horizontal

Corrected possible problems with Flip-Horizontal. In some cases this would cause EazyDraw to Unexpectedly Quit. They have been corrected.

Custom Tool Palettes

User libraries now accept tools dragged from any EazyDraw tool palette. This allows one to create a fully custom tool palette by populating a library with the desired tools. Switch the library to the Icon mode and then the palette may be re-sized to a desired form vertical or horizontal. These tool palettes now accept parameter sets, there is a new small gray icon found on the top right of parameter palettes drag that icon to a library tool palette and the new tool will apply the parameter set when clicked. Custom library/tool palettes will accept user drawn icons, use the Name library display form to drag and drop any graphic on the icon-button found lower right of the graphic display at the top of the library palette in when in the name form.

User Libraries

User created libraries are now available. Direct import of Claris Draw libraries is now operational - use the normal "Open Library" command found on the File main menu. Documentation is complete for these new features. Use the search phrase "User Libraries" to access the EazyDraw Help pages for this topic. However, the Library capability is fully operational and tested. Please report any bugs or issues with this new feature. You may create your own libraries with the "New Library" option found on the File main menu. You may open directly Claris Draw libraries, they then may be saved as EazyDraw libraries. Any graphic may be inserted in a library with drag and drop from an EazyDraw drawing or with the Add button ( a + key ) found near the bottom of the Library palette. There are 3 modes for a library, Name, Element, and Icon. The first two are largely self explanatory, the Icon mode converts the library palette into a normal EazyDraw tool palette, just like Charting the Stellate palette. In the Icon mode, apply your tools in the normal "select tool, click on drawing, and drag" fashion. Library elements work closely with the new Transfer palette - see paragraph below.

Read Claris Draw Libraries

This version will open Claris Draw libraries directly. Open them directly with the Library Open feature at the top of the new Library main menu. Any Claris Draw library that you have either created or purchased will open and behave just as a normal EazyDraw user library.

Transfer Palette

A new Transfer palette is added to the EazyDraw user interface. It controls the behavior of a graphic when it is dragged and dropped (or copy->pasted) to another drawing. This palette is designed primarily to be used with Library graphic elements, but is also works on any graphic in a normal drawing. The concept of transfer provided to control how and which attributes of a graphic are carried with the graphic when it is added to a new drawing. For example a shape may be added to a drawing from a library, but an associated gradient fill may not be desired and hence turned off for the Transfer. A major application of this capability is to apply a graphic's attributes rather than the graphic.  For the previous example, the converse is possible - the Gradient Fill of the library element may be applied to target graphics, independent of the actual graphic or its shape. Documentation is complete for this palette, use the search phrase "Transfer" to access the Help pages for this topic.

Drag Parameter Sets

Parameter palettes now have a new small gray icon at the top left. This may be used to drag the parameter set to a user tool palette. This method is used to install parameter set tools on user tool palettes. For example a gradient fill my be dragged to a tool palette, then the particular gradient fill is applied to a target graphic with a simple click of the tool. These tools may be dragged and dropped on a target graphic, or clicked when the target graphic is selected.

Formatting for Graphic Details

This version has significantly expanded inspection and data entry capability of the Graphic Details drawer. There is now full user control over formatting of the numeric text data fields on the Graphic Details drawer. It is now possible to control the number of digits of precision, and several other formating options such as the inclusion of units, use decimal or fractions, and presentation of lengths as feet and inches for English units based drawings. Input of data now allows specification of units including feet and inches. For feet and inches input, use the single and double quote punctuation notation. For any other units, use the abbreviations such as cm, mm, m, in, ft, etc. Full control over the definition and presentation of angles as Degrees or Radians is provided with several other formatting options for angles. Help tips for numeric values on the Graphic Details drawer now show values as alternate units or with added precision, control is provided on the Tips tab of the new Graphic Details formatting panel. The new capability is accessed by opening the Graphic Details drawer and de-selecting all graphics. When the drawer is open and no graphics are selected, the new formatting options are available on the Graphic Details drawer. Documentation of this new capability is complete for the EazyDraw Help content, click the question mark - Help button that is shown on this new Graphic details panel to access full documentation.

PDF from TexShop

Corrected problems importing PDF content from TexShop and other components of the MacTeX distribution. The problem manifested itself as ghosts of extended PDF images. TexShop exports a full PDF document with each image clip, the export information specifies a small clipping box to limit the visible portion of the document to the specified clip area. EazyDraw was not respecting the clipping information in all cases. All is correct now, inserted PDF content displays only the intended visible portion and exports present the proper visible area. A note:. if your master TexShop PDF typeset original is large, each clip is a copy of the full master original, so if several clips are inserted the EazyDraw drawing can become a rather large file - it will compress though due to the repetition.

Launch and data save checks

Added two fail-safe checks to assure that EazyDraw is operating correctly. Two situations have been encountered where 3rd party software has damaged OS X and subsequently caused unstable behavior in EazyDraw. One issue is with SpellCatcherX, it may damage the OS X spell checking technology and subsequently cause EazyDraw to fail to successfully save a drawing. Second issue is a possible damaged system Font panel caused by the application Sketchup; Sketchup erroneously supplies a private color swatch (Class: SketchupColor ) to the public Font panel, this in turn causes other applications that use the OS X system Font panel to fail without warning, this manifests itself as an unsuccessful launch of EazyDraw which causes erratic behavior of EazyDraw. Both problems cause similar erratic behavior for Safari, Mail, TextEdit and other OS X Cocoa applications. EazyDraw can not recover from these problems, but it now posts a "serious error" warning message.

Keynote Export Improvements

Improved the Keynote export capability. Reversed the order of slides when exporting layers as slides, this makes the workflow from ClarisDraw to EazyDraw to Keynote consistent with respect to slide ordering. The Keynote export fixes involved insulating EazyDraw against corrupt zero size graphics. This could happen when importing from ClarisDraw. Now EazyDraw replaces these in the KeyNote export file as a red rectangle or red crossed lines.

Improved Morph

Added ability to control the scaling of dash patterns and arrows to the Morph panel. Now these may be checked and applied just as Line Width is provided as a control for a general scaling.

Double click to add text

A double click on a vacant area of a drawing now automatically adds a Text Box and enables the new Text Box for text input. In short: double click to add text.

Change to click and select

Changed the behavior for selecting graphics in some situations. You now may need to be closer to path of graphic with an outline. This helps prevent large looping graphics from selecting and moving when trying to select interior graphics with a click and drag motion.

Improved convert to image

Improved and changed the behavior for converting some graphics to images. Groups and Free Transforms had several potential problems that were corrected, now all of these convert properly to an image. Now convert to image depends on the degree of zoom at the time of the convert. If you are zoomed in, the image will be higher quality (and of course larger so be careful with larger graphics). If zoomed out the image will be lower quality or more of a thumbnail. This helps a lot with Text and larger groups. This means that you may convert a large text box to a simple image and improve speed with a level of quality that is now under your control. Larger groups will convert to image in the same fashion, this can be used to improve responsiveness for very large drawings. The technique of converting to an image should be more useful now.

Select All - Qualification

Now if you click a graphic tool the perform a select all, the select all action just selects graphics of the kind of the clicked tool. In other words to select all text, click the text tool then select all.

Bug fixes

Corrected problems with EPS export. In some cases export content was shifted and possibly clipped. These are now corrected.

Corrected problem with the Revert To Saved command. This became broken on more recent versions of Tiger. It is now working correctly again.

Corrected problem rotating Text counter clockwise. Text flipping, on the Transform submenu, was rotating clockwise for both the clockwise and counter clockwise menu command. Now all works as it should.

Corrected problems rotating, from the Transform Flip submenu, group graphics with text and PDF content. Results were not as complete as were obtained from the rotate tool or the full Morph panel. Now all forms of rotate behave as expected with embedded grouped text and PDF content.

Added ability to apply and Interactive Scale, Uniform Scale and Freeze to text graphics. Interactive state is found on the Interactive submenu of the Format main menu. These were not allowed before. Users found a work-around to first apply Free Transform interactive level then apply Freeze or other interactive states. This extra step is no longer needed. A potential problem with Free Transform Text when the Align-To-Grid palette was open was also fixed. Freeze, removes all resize and scaling ability from a graphic.

Added conversion capability to convert normal text to annotation text and the reverse, convert annotations to normal text.

Area is now reported on the Graphic Details drawer. This is found near the bottom of the Graphic Details drawer. It reports area when a single graphic is selected that has a defined area.

Added ability for Select All to focus on graphics of a particular type. If a creation tool is selected, then Select All will select all graphics of the active Tool's type. For example, to select all text, click the "T" for Text tool button then execute a Select All.

Corrected problem specifying the location of dimensions for Walls. The "Inside", "Center", or "Outside" selection on the Walls palette was not working. The only way to set this parameter was via the Graphics Details Drawer. This is now fixed and both methods of setting this parameter now work.

Corrected problem exporting EPS. It was possible that the export would drop graphics near the top or left of a drawing when rulers enabled. This is now corrected, no missing graphics on EPS export.

Corrected problems relating to the new bitmap shadows when applied to an image or photo, such as a JPG or PDF. This would also show up if the image was encapsulated with an Interaction level. In many cases the bug would cause the drawing to lock up and become unusable. It is now corrected and all forms of shadows can now be applied to image graphics.

Further improvements on handling double click on a file to launch EazyDraw. If the file was complex or contained dimensions, EazyDraw the drawing window could be corrupted. The display of the window was incomplete.. It is now corrected and all files should open properly upon double click, with EazyDraw running or launched on double click.

Corrected possible problem with Gradient Fill palette and the recently added Named Gradients popup menu. In rare situations this popup menu would be de-activated. Now works properly.