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HomePrint Labels allows you to create, alter, and manipulate graphics objects. The five basic graphic shape types created with tools from the Tools Area are:

. Rectangle

. Oval

. Line

. Arc

The process of creating a rectangle, round-corner rectangle, oval, and arc are the same. Click on the icon for the shape in the Tools Area. Move the pointer where you want one corner of the object ("Corner" for the round corner rectangle and oval means the corner of a rectangle surrounding the object). Click and hold the mouse button and drag the mouse in any direction. As the area of the object is dragged out, its boundaries display as a rectangle with lines represented by closely spaced dots. When the mouse button is released, the object appears and is now a part of the page layout. The process of creating lines is similar to that of creating the other graphics objects, except that as you "drag out" or draw the line, the line which is being created is represented as a line rather than a bounding rectangle. Both ends of the line will have "handles" for resizing the line.

A graphic shape has a number of attributes affecting its appearance on a label. There are attributes reflecting the location and position of the object, and attributes describing the object's color, shade, pattern, width, etc. Objects also have "frames" which surround the objects and define the edges of the objects, and "fills" which are the areas within the frames. All the attributes affecting an object location and appearance, and also some characteristics affecting object printing are contained in several dialog boxes:

Object Information dialog box defines object position on a label, its dimensions, rotation angle, etc.. There are several types of Object Information boxes, depending on the type of an object :

. Graphics Item Info

. Text Box Info

. Picture Box Info

. Group Box Info

. Line Info

"Frame Information" dialog box - defines the appearance of an object's frame - its color, pattern, shade, and any other characteristics.

"Fill Information" dialog box - defines the same attributes for an object'sinterior. Certain attributes may be changed directly by menu commands.

There are a variety of commands available for changing the attributes of an object. One way is described above, through the various dialog boxes, but you can do many of the same operations using various menu commands and keyboard shortcuts. Select the object by clicking on it with the Object Tool. Eight small handles appear around the boundary of the object to let you know the object is active (selected). Change attributes using dialog boxes or the various menu commands.

To change the color, pattern, style or width of an object's frame, scroll to the desired item in the color or pattern menus in the "Frame Information" dialog box and release the mouse button. The frame of the currently active object will be changed once you click OK.

Change the line style by using the Line Style command from the Graphics menu. A submenu appears that allows you to select from the available line styles shown in the menu. Select the specific line style by dragging down to it, and when it becomes highlighted, releasing the mouse button. The line of the selected graphic shape is changed to the corresponding style. A check mark in the Line Style submenu indicates the current line style.You can also change a line style by adding arrowheads or caps to either end. Activate the line, then select Object Info from the Objects menu. In the Caps & Way box, press on the left or right side of the dark bar in the box. A pull-down menu displays the endcap selections available. Scroll to the desired cap to select it.

A preview of your choice displays in the Caps & Way box. Click OK to put your changes into effect.


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