Format a Shape or Item

In This Topic

You can customise shapes/items (including drawing tools) after or before placement. The actual property sheets discussed here are almost identical, except that...

before placement, the title bar includes the word Tool and the the background colour of the properties sheet is blue;
after placement, the background colour of the property sheet is light grey.

It is recommended, that if you are editing a shape's overall dimension, do this before placement. Otherwise it is a matter of personal choice.

The Keyboard Shortcut F12 can be used to customise the shape and again to add to the list.

Format Before Placement

The Format Tool property sheet has a blue background and shows the properties of the shape you are about to add to a drawing or to a list.

This is called a Drawing Tool which are just like a staging areas where items are prepared for addition to a drawing or list. When you select a shape from a library, all the data for that shape/item is placed into the Shape Tool. Then, provided the Shape Tool is active (command button depressed) when you click on the drawing (or list), the shape described by the current Shape Tool data is inserted at the point on the drawing where you have clicked (or in the list).

Select the shape/item using any of the Shape Filters and then...

click on the Shape Tool command button (as shown);
or
use the right click menu

Format After Placement

The Format property sheet has a light grey background and shows the properties for a placed shape/item.

Select the shape/item on the List by...

double clicking on the shape in the list;
or
right click for menu selection, as shown.

Add Extra Item

When you use the 'Add Extra Item' command, a line item is added with (no label).

Enter a descriptive name e.g. Freight

When you 'Format Item' the property sheet has a light grey background and you can enter pricing details, as shown.

When you close the property sheet, the Total Price will recalculate.