QuickCopy 1.07 (26-Sep-03)

Name:     ArtWorks QuickCopy module
Purpose:  ArtWorks module for copying objects quickly and comfortably
Author:   Martin Wrthner
Requires: RISC OS 3.5 or higher, ArtWorks 2
Status:    2003 Martin Wrthner; all rights reserved; see [4] below
WWW:      http://www.mw-software.com/

Copying objects has never been as easy as with the QuickCopy tool! The
QuickCopy tool allows you to create multiple copies of an object in a very
quick and comfortable way. It also allows you to position them in a more
exact way as using the standard ArtWorks facilities.


1) The QuickCopy tool
---------------------
1.1) What it does

The QuickCopy module displays an additional tool, the QuickCopy tool, in the
ArtWorks tool box. It looks like three intertwined circles.

Using the QuickCopy tool, you can make multiple copies of the selection in a
very quick and comfortable way. In order to use it, select the object(s) you
want to copy and then select the QuickCopy tool.

Selecting the QuickCopy tool only makes sense if there is at least one object
selected. Once the QuickCopy tool is selected, it displays a crosshair in the
middle of the selection similarly to the Rotate or Scale tool.

You can simply copy the selected objects by clicking anywhere in the document.
If you hold down the mouse button rather than release it immediately, you can
drag the copies to the desired destination position. Note that there is no need
to click on the original object and drag from there, you can start the drag
wherever you want. Once you release the mouse button, the copy is positioned in
such a way that the position that is marked by the crosshair in the original
selection ends up under the mouse pointer.

1.2.) Setting the crosshair position

You can change the position of the crosshair using the 3 by 3 matrix in the
info bar. So, if the crosshair is in the bottom-left corner of the original
selection, then the bottom-left corner of the copy will end up exactly under
the mouse pointer at the end of the click or drag. This feature is most useful
with a grid. While you drag, the pointer position is locked to the grid
(provided the grid is switched on). So, if you position the crosshair in the
bottom left corner of the original selection, then the bottom-left corner of
the copy will coincide with a grid point.

You can also position the crosshair using the Adjust mouse button (similar to
the Rotate/Scale tools).

In contrast to all the other ArtWorks tools, the QuickCopy 3 by 3 grid has
been extended by two additional buttons. These can be used only when there is
exactly one text object selected. Then, the buttons correspond to the beginning
and end of the text's base line. So, if you are using a grid and you move the
crosshair to one of the two base line positions, you can force the base line of
the copied text line to be aligned with the grid. Note that this feature works
even if the text is rotated!

1.3.) Extended locking options

The info bar shows some extended locking options. First of all, there are two
option buttons labelled "X" and "Y". By selecting either (or both) you can
lock the corresponding (or both) coordinate(s). So, if you select "X", then the
X-coordinate of all copies will be the same as that of the original.

The bottom line of options is controlled by the option button "Lock distance".
This option allows you to lock the X and Y distances of the copy to multiples
of a given value. If the icon is selected, you can access the other options in
this line. You can either enter a value into the input field (press Return to
confirm the value) or select "Grid" which takes the grid size instead.

Note that selecting the QuickCopy "Grid" option only makes sense if the main
ArtWorks grid is actually switched on.

The "Lock distances" feature does not lock the overall distance between the
copy and the original but only the X- and Y-distances on their own.

So what is the difference between using the grid with "Lock distance" off and
"Lock distance" on? Supposing your grid size is 10mm. With "Lock distance" off
(which is the default), the *pointer position* will be locked to the grid. So,
if the crosshair is in the bottom-left corner this will force the bottom-left
corner of the copy to coincide with a grid point. If you select "Lock
distance", then it is not the pointer position but the *distances* (in both X
and Y directions) that are locked to the grid. So, this will force the distance
between the original and the copy in each direction (X and Y) to be a multiple
of the grid size (if the QuickCopy "Grid" option is switched on) or the value
entered in the input field (if "Grid" is switched off).

Note that if you use the angle constraint by holding down Ctrl while dragging,
then the extended locking options are disabled as it is not possible to lock
both the angle and the distances.

1.4.) Credits

The QuickCopy feature was inspired by a similar (but less powerful) feature of
CorelXara (trademark of Xara Ltd. and Corel Corp.).

Thanks to Nobilangelo Ceramalus for suggesting the "X", "Y" and "Lock distance"
features.

1.5.) Known limitations

None.


2) History
----------
Version 1.07 (26-Sep-03)
- QuickCopy tool remembers "Lock distance"/"Lock grid" settings after being
  deselected and reselected

Version 1.06 (17-Jul-03)
- added help message for the tool

Version 1.05 (02-Jun-03)
- 32-bit compatible version for ArtWorks 2
- fixed outlines display while dragging: this should now work with all object
  types in all situations (grouped, replicated, etc.)

Version 1.04 (27-Aug-01):
- fixed a bug that led to an "EM00" error on startup if the QuickCopy tool was
  the default tool
- fixed a bug that could lead to an "EM00" when closing a document while
  QuickCopy was the current tool
- added German and Dutch messages (thanks to Dick Tanis for producing the Dutch
  translation)

Version 1.03c (27-Jul-00):
- documentation update

Version 1.03b (10-Feb-98):
- adjusted !Help file

Version 1.03 (13-Jan-98):
- some marker redraw problems fixed

Version 1.02 (07-Jan-98):
- incorporated some new outline redraw code to fix outline redraw problems with
  moulds and with sprites and text lines in groups
  
Version 1.01 (05-Dec-97):
- added extended locking options
- added setting the crosshair position by Adjust clicking

Version 1.00 (28-Nov-97):
- first release


3) Contacting me
----------------
Martin Wuerthner
Mannheimer Str. 18
67655 Kaiserslautern
Germany

Phone: +49-(0)631-3608205
Fax:   +49-(0)631-3608203

e-mail: martin@mw-software.com
WWW:    http://www.mw-software.com/


4) Copyright
------------
The ArtWorks QuickCopy module, related documentation and files are  Copyright
2003 by Martin Wrthner. All rights reserved. The software and documentation
may not, in  whole or part, be copied or transmitted by any means without the
explicit written consent of the copyright owner. Unless you have purchased a
site licence for this  software, it may be used on only one stand-alone
computer system at any time.

In order to use this software, you need a licence from the copyright owner. If
you do not have such a licence, you must delete this software, the QuickCopy
module and its related files, now.
