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- CURVE MANIPULATIONS
- *******************
-
- Smooth curves are achieved in QikDraw by selecting points lying on the
- curve and then applying piece-wise cubic curve fitting to the points.
- BEZIER curves and B-SPLINES are also supported. A POLYLINE option
- is available to group lines together.
-
- For drawings with a large number of complex curves requiring a large
- number of definition points, the program limit for points may be
- exceeded. This can be overcome by "fixing" some of the curves through
- the TRANSform option. "Fixed" curves will require a smaller number of
- points for reference.
-
- The following secondary selections are allowed:-
-
- ADD:- Curves are added by selecting points (may or may not be
- pre-defined).
- The graphical tertiary menu will be displayed. Three
- options are allowed. If the OPEN UNCONTROLLED option is
- selected, all points will be used to draw the open-ended
- curve. If the OPEN CONTROLLED option is selected, curves
- will be drawn from the second selected point to the
- penultimate point. The first two points will define the
- start tangent and the last two points will define the end
- tangent. The curve will close itself if the CLOSE option
- is selected.
- DELETE:- Curves are deleted by locating a point lying on the curve.
- If option selected with the LEFT button, the user will be
- able to delete curves in reverse order of storage.
- TRANS:- Curves may be transformed into FIXED form to save storage
- and speed up display. This is the recommended way to
- process a large number of complex curves. Fixed curved
- cannot be modified, blanked or unpacked.
- Alternate selection allows for transformation of fixed
- curves back into the regular form.
- STYLE:- Curves can have line styles as in lines.
- CHANGE:- Curve specifications (pen, thickness, style) can be
- altered to be those currently active by selecting this
- option and then locating a point on the curve.
- Alternate selection allows for the change of:-
- a). CURVE TYPE, or
- b). PEN NUMBER only, or
- c). Line style and thickness only.
- This alternate selection also allows for changes in
- GLOBAL mode.
- PEN:- Specify pen number and line thickness as for lines.
- UNPAK:- Unpacks the selected portion of the curve into line
- segments joining the definition points. The lines are
- created in the currently defined line style. The curve is
- retained. Useful in preparing for hatching of planes
- (defining the connecting lines as construction line types).
- MERGE:- Two curves may be merged. A new curve is generated. The new
- curve takes the line style of the first curve selected.
- BREAK:- A curve can be broken up into two by this option. The curves
- generated are of the regular form even if the original curve
- is fixed.
- BLANK:- Blank out part of curve between two definition points.
- Alternate selection with the LEFT button allows for
- restoration of the blanked out portions.
- MODIFY:- Adding curve definition points onto the curve.
- Alternate selection deletes curve definition points.
-