To set the Basic attributes properties of an object or group:
In the properties dialog box, click Basic attributes and enter the name, position, size, style, and condition properties for the object.
Name: Enter a name for the object or group. Although PlanetPress Design supplies a default name, it is recommended you choose a name that reflects the content or purpose of the object/group.
Position AND SIZE
Note that you can also click and drag on the object or group after you add it to the document to adjust its position and/or size.
Left: Set the distance to offset the left edge of the object/group from the left edge of the page. If the object/group is within a group, this is the distance to offset the left edge of the object/group from the left edge of the group that contains it. The unit of measure is that set in the PlanetPress Design User Options dialog box.
Top: Set the distance to offset the top edge of the object/group from the top edge of the document page. If the object/group is within a group, this is the distance to offset the top edge of the object/group from the top edge of the group that contains it. The unit of measure is that set in the PlanetPress Design User Options dialog box.
Width: Set the width of the object/group.An object/group can measure a maximum of 32 inches (80 centimeters) in width. The unit of measure is that set in the PlanetPress Design User Options dialog box. Note that in the case of a data selection object, you should not adjust this value; PlanetPress Design automatically adjusts the width of the data selection based on the longest width in the data selection and the style selected for the data selection object. Similarly, in the case of a picture object you use to create a static image, PlanetPress Design automatically adjusts the Width to that of the image resource referenced by that picture object. In the case of a bar code object, Width is automatically set to the width of the bounding box, a width determined by the bar code you define in the object; you cannot manually adjust this width. When you adjust the width of a group, PlanetPress Design scales the width of each element in the group, such that the new width of the group accommodates all the elements and preserves their spatial relationships. The width of the contents of an n-up object depends on the scaling of each of the repeated pages, the number of repeats of each page, and the horizontal space between each repeat; the Width box does not update to reflect these settings. The Repeat properties of an n-up object use the width as it appears in the Width box. Finally, note that if you use PlanetPress Talk code to define the width, PlanetPress Design automatically locks the object to prevent an inadvertent change to this value due to selecting, moving, or resizing the object using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts.
Height: Set the height of the object/group. An object/group can measure a maximum of 32 inches in height. The unit of measure is that set in the PlanetPress Design User Options dialog box. Note that in the case of a data selection object, you should not adjust this value; PlanetPress Design automatically adjusts the height of the data selection based on the number of lines per inch (LPI) set for the data selection and the number of lines in the data selection. Similarly, in the case of a picture object you use to create a static image, PlanetPress Design automatically adjusts the Height to that of the image resource referenced by that picture object, at the resolution specified in the Document dialog at the time you create the picture object. In the case of a bar code object, the height of the object determines the height of the bars in the bar code. If a shape object of type Line, you cannot change the Height property; PlanetPress Design automatically sets the Height property to the Line width you set for the Line. When you adjust the height of a group, PlanetPress Design scales the height of each element in the group, such that the new height of the group accommodates all the elements and preserves their spatial relationships. The height of the contents of an n-up object depends on the scaling of each of the repeated pages, the number of repeats of each page, and the vertical space between each repeat; the Height box does not update to reflect these settings. The Repeat properties of an n-up object use the height as it appears in the Height box. Finally, note that if you use PlanetPress Talk code to define the height, PlanetPress Design automatically locks the object to prevent an inadvertent change to this value due to selecting, moving, or resizing the object using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts.
Dynamic height: This option is available only in text objects, and only when word wrap is on in the text object. You use it when you define a background box for the text object. It determines whether the background box, when word wrap is on, adjusts to fit the word-wrapped text. Select to have the height of the background box adjust to accommodate all of the word-wrapped text. Clear to leave the size of the background box fixed and independent of the word-wrapped text. You define the default setting for this option in the User Options dialog box. If you select this option, you cannot adjust the object height.
Dynamic width: This determines the width of the bounding box for the text object used when you carry out operations on that text object. Select to have the width of the bounding box dynamically adjust to the width of the text entered in the Text area. Clear to have the bounding box always set to the width of the text object.
Angle: Set the angle of rotation. The pivot point for the rotation is the lower-left corner of the object/group. Note that if you use PlanetPress Talk code to define the angle of rotation, PlanetPress Design automatically locks the object to prevent an inadvertent change to this value due to selecting, moving, or resizing the object using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts.
Style and Condition
Style: Select the style for the object/group. This is the style all text in the object/group uses by default. It is also the style any PlanetPress Talk code you enter in the PlanetPress Talk properties of the object/group uses by default. The default style is the style that appears by default in this box. Note that the style for a group does not override any styles referenced by individual objects/groups within that group.
Size: Select or type the point size for the font the style uses.
Bold: Click to turn the Bold property for the style on or off.
Italic: Click to turn the Italic property for the style on or off.
Underline: Click to turn the Underline property for the style on or off.
Color button: Click to select a color for the style using the Color Picker.
Color box: Displays the current color for the style.
Ratio: Enter the percentage by which you want to shrink or stretch the font spacing in the style.
Condition: Select the condition you want to associate with the object/group. You can select or enter the name of an existing global condition. You can also enter a PlanetPress Talk expression that defines the condition. The expression must evaluate to a Boolean value.