Using Stencils
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Using Stencils

Diagrams are created by placing different pre-drawn shapes and stencils on the page. Stencils can represent many different things and Kivio comes with a wide selection. For ease of reference they are grouped into collections known as stencil sets. To use a stencil set select Tools->Add Stencil Set. The stencil sets have been sub-divided into several groups; a sub-menu lists these. The shapes in the stencil set are shown on the left-hand side of the document view.

Stencils are grouped into stencil sets for organizational purposes only; it is perfectly okay to add several stencil sets to a document and Kivio allows you to mix and match stencils from different sets freely.

To place a stencil onto the document simply drag it from the stencil area to the page.

Selecting Stencils

Kivio identifies the stencil currently being edited by displaying eight green squares on the corners and edges of a square around the stencil. Stencils shown in this manner are described as being selected. The green rectangles are known as handles. To change the currently selected stencil move the mouse pointer over the stencil you wish to select and press the left mouse button. To select all the stencils on the current page select Edit->Select All. To deselect all stencils select Edit->Deselect.

Moving Stencils

To move a stencil to another position on the page, select the stencil. Note the pointer will change to a hand icon. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to the new position. Release the mouse button to place the stencil at the new position.

Resizing a Stencil

Select the stencil, and then move the mouse pointer over one of the handles. Note the mouse pointer change. Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse. The coordinates of the stencil will be adjusted continuously as the mouse is moved. When you are happy with the new size release the mouse button to give the stencil its new final size.

Undoing a Mistake

If at any time you are unhappy with a change you have made to the document you can select Edit->Undo to revert the change. There is also an icon on the toolbar.

If you undo an action and decide that was a mistake, select Edit->Redo to restore the change. Kivio stores multiple actions to undo/redo several changes.

Limitations of the Stencils

Note that stencils cannot currently be rotated.

Labeling Stencils

A lot of stencils in the Flowcharting Collections, Geographic Collections, Hardware Collections, Miscellaneous Collections and UML Collections can contain text to describe their function. To add text to a stencil move the mouse pointer over the stencil and double-click it or open the context menu with the right mouse button and select Edit Text.... A dialog box will appear prompting for some text. Enter some text and click OK. The text should be shown inside the stencil.

The item Edit Text... in the menu is disabled, if a stencil cannot be labeled.

The font, size, alignment and style of the text can be adjusted by selecting Format->Text.... Alternatively use the buttons on the Format toolbar. The adjustments will only affect the currently selected stencil.

Selecting Several Stencils

There are two ways to select multiple stencils in Kivio.

  1. Click once inside the first stencil you wish to select. Hold down Ctrl as you click inside subsequent stencils. All the stencils will be shown with handles around them.

  2. Move the mouse pointer to a blank area of the document near the stencils you want to select.

    Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse to the other side of the stencils you want to select, drawing a rectangle around them.

    The rectangle must completely encompass the stencils for them to be selected.

Adjusting the Fill Color and Line Color

Stencils can be filled with a solid color and the color of the outline can be changed. Select a stencil then select Format->Stencils & Connectors....

Adjusting the Line Thickness

The width of a stencil's border can be adjusted by selecting Format->Stencils & Connectors.... The line width can be entered in centimeters or increased/decreased using the arrows of the spin box. Or use the Line Width button on the Format toolbar. Select a width from the drop down box or select Custom... to open enter the width in the spin box.

Connecting Shapes Together

Kivio's connector tool allows lines to be drawn between shapes. The lines remain connected to the shapes even when the shapes are moved to new positions on the page.

To draw a connector select Tools->Straight Connector or Tools->Polyline Connector.

The Polyline Connector tool is also available from the Tools toolbar; by default shown on the top side of the window. Click on this tool to begin using it; the mouse pointer will change shape.

Notice that all stencils have little blue crosses around their edges. These crosses mark points where connectors can be attached.

To connect two stencils move to one of the connection points on the first stencil, hold down the left mouse button and drag a line to one of the connection points on the second stencil. The green square at the end of the line will change to red when it is over a connection point indicating that the line is attached to a stencil.

When you have finished using the connector tool, click on the Arrow tool to regain normal selection functionality.

Note

A stencil can have multiple connectors attached to it, even at the same connection point.

Various properties of the connector can be adjusted including line thickness and color, this is done in the same way as for stencils.

Straight Connectors may also be labeled with text. To add text to a straight connector open the context menu with the right mouse button and select Edit Text.... Enter the text in the dialog that appears. The text will be shown with a green handle next to it. Use this to modify the position of the text.

Arrowheads can be added to either end of a connector. Select the connector and then select Format->Arrowheads....

Limitations: Connectors do not currently reroute around stencils, you need to adjust them manually. Text is always displayed horizontally; rotated text is not currently possible.

Grouping Stencils

Several stencils may be semi-permanently grouped together. Once this has been done any changes made to one stencil will affect the others in the group.

To make a group select the stencils and select Format->Group Selection.

The procedure can be reversed by selecting a group of stencils and select Format->Ungroup.

Overlaying Stencils

Stencils can be positioned on top of one another. A stencil drawn on top of another stencil will obscure the stencil underneath it. To adjust the drawing order select one of the stencils and select either Format->Bring to Front or Format->Send to Back.

Send to Back will cause the stencil to be obscured by any stencil which overlaps it. Bring to Front will cause the stencil to obscure any stencil which it overlaps.

Locking Stencils

A stencil's properties may be “locked” to prevent accidental changes. To alter a stencil's protection use the protection palette. This can be displayed by selecting View->Palettes->Show Protection. Select the stencil or stencils you wish to protect and then tick the properties you want to protect on the protection palette.

The protections available are: Width, Height, Aspect ratio, X position, Y position and Deletion. Deletion prevents a stencil from being deleted from the document.

Stencil Geometry

For accurately specifying the dimensions of a stencil use the Geometry palette. To display the palette select View->Palettes->Show Geometry. The palette contains four spin boxes for specifying the horizontal (X:) and vertical (Y:) position of the stencil and the Width: and Height:.

Tip

Although the measurements are displayed in centmeters it is possible to enter other units into the textbox. For example, entering 2.5 mm will be converted into centimeter. Points (pt) and inches (in) are also accepted.

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