Dash Inspector

Dash Inspection

Related Information

Dash Palette

Dash Sequence Parameters

Palette Aids

Vector Hatch

Lines, curves, and outlines (borders) may be drawn as dashed lines. The parameters that control the size of the dashes and spaces between the dashes are found on the Dashes Panel. To show this panel select "Dashes" from the Tools Menu which is on the Main Menu.

In order to change the "Dash" of a graphic(s) it must be the selected graphic in the front-most window of EazyDraw. If no graphic is selected the Dash parameters on the panel represent the dash format that will be used when creating new graphics. Follow the Target Graphic(s) link for more information on this topic.

A graphic doesn't need to have a Outline component. If no outline is drawn the graphic will consist only of its Fill with no border, or specific outline. In this case the dash parameters do not apply.

You may independently change the length of the dash line and the length of the space between dashes. These lengths are measured in Fine Scale Units (inches, mm, or points) as shown by the Units Button found at the upper right hand corner of the palette.

The Dash check box, top left, determines if a dash pattern is drawn for a graphic. If the check box is checked a dash pattern will be used, if not the line is drawn solid-no dashes.

The popup menu next to the Dash checkbox is used to select a dash pattern from a list of named dash patterns. A few patterns are installed automatically by EazyDraw. Any pattern created may be saved with a name, using the Save selection found near the bottom of the popup menu. A Remove selection is provided to delete a named pattern. These patterns are saved in a file in the user’s home directory, Library folder, Applications Support sub folder, EazyDraw sub folder. The file is text based pList file and may be edited with Apple’s Property List Editor or any text editor.

The Start value controls the beginning phase of the dash pattern as applied to the graphic’s Bezier path. It is defined as a percentage of the total length of the dash pattern. This parameter will "slide" the dash pattern along the running length of the Bezier path. The results of changes to this parameter are viewed on the target graphic on the drawing page. Changes here are not reflected in the Dash inspecting view of the parameter panel.

The view pane provides an interactive close-up view of the active dash pattern. It is blank unless the selected graphic has an active dash pattern. When a dash pattern is active, adjusting handles are shown associated with a close-up proportionate view of the dash pattern. These adjusters is used to interactive change dash or space length by clicking and sliding a particular handle. The actual extent (length) of the pattern is shown at the lower right of the view, in the current palette units.

The integer value and stepper control below the close-up view is used to inspect and set the total number of "dash-space" sequences of the dash pattern. Enter a value or use the stepper to set the total number of distinct dash and space sequences.

A double click on one of the adjusting handles will insert another dash-space sequence. The new sequence may then be adjusted as needed. A double click while holding down the Shift key will remove a dash-space sequence.

A dash-space may be removed from the pattern by sliding one of the adjusting handles fully left or right and bringing the adjacent element of the sequence to zero length. The actions that remove dash-space sequences only apply if there is more than one dash-space sequence.

A new dash-space may be added by sliding the end adjuster handle (the one with a smaller width) to the left. Normally adjustments hold the overall length of the pattern constant, but this method extends the total pattern length to incorporate the new sequence. This fact may be noted by observing the changes to the total pattern length as reported at the lower left of the close-up view.

The arrow controls at the ends of the close up dash pattern (dark gray in color) are used to adjust the overall length of the dash pattern. The one on the right increases the total length and the one on the left decrease all sequences and correspondingly the total pattern length. Click and hold, on the arrow to change the pattern length.

The close-up view will accept a drag-and-drop of a Bezier that has an active dash pattern. This process will set the new "current" dash pattern that is applied to newly created graphics. Since the "dropped" dash pattern must be selected, this action is equivalent to clicking the Current button at the bottom of the palette.