Graphical User Interface

Toolbars

Toolbars can be moved within the graphical user interface. The buttons can be individually shown or hidden in the GUI (Graphical User Interface) category of the OCAD Preferences which can be found in the Option menu. Alternatively, click the small arrow at the end of each toolbar to adjust it.

Standard Toolbar

New: Create a new map.

Open: Open an existing map.

Save: Save changes made to the map.

Print: Print out the map.

Undo: Undo previous actions.

Redo: Cancel the previous undo action.

Manage Background Maps: Manage the background maps.

Symbol Status Manager: Manage the symbol status settings.

Edit Functions Toolbar

Delete: Delete the selected object(s).

Rotate (Enter Angle): Rotate selected object(s) by entering an angle.

Align Objects: Horizonal Coordinates: Align objects at a horizontal coordinate.

Align Objects: Horizontal Coordinate Centered: Align objects at horizontal centered coordinates.

Align Objects: Vertical Coordinates: Align objects at a vertical coordinate.

Distribute Objects: Horizontal Coordinate: Distributes the selected objects horizontal with equal space between.

Distribute Objects: Vertical Coordinate: Distributes the selected objects vertical with equal space between.

Crop Objects: Crop objects in a designated area (desired sector, hole, delete selected objects).

Move/Duplicate Parallel by Specified Distance: Move/Duplicate an object by a speciefied distance and direction.

Interpolate Objects: Insert line or point objects regularly between existing objects.

Duplicate Object: Create a copy of the selected objects.

Fill or Make Border: Fill a line or area object an with area object, make a line border for an area object or duplicate the object identically. Create a line text object on a selected line object.

Merge: Merge multiple line, area and text objects with the same symbol.

Reverse Object: Reverse the direction of the selected line object(s).

Change to Polyline Convert the selected line or area object(s) into a polyline.

Change To Bézier Curve: Convert the selected line or area object(s) drawn in freehand mode into Bezier curves.

Convert To Graphic Object: Convert the selected object(s) into their graphic elements (lines and areas).

Smooth: Smooth line or area objects.

Generalize Buildings: SimplifY the building geometry or rectangle it.

Snapping: Snap vertices automatically to other curves or points.

Join: Move the ends of the selected line object to connect to adjoining objects.

Change Symbol of Object: Assign the symbol selected in the symbol box to the selected object(s).

Change Symbol For All Objects With This Symbol: Change the symbol of all objects with a symbol A to symbol B.

Measure: Measure the selected line or area object or the distance between 2 selected point objects.

File:Icon MapInformation.PNG Info: Shows the map informations.

Automatic Joining: Automatically join the ends of lines and areas during the drawing process.

Select Duplicate Objects: Selects identical objects at the same position.

Select Self-Intersected Objects: Selects all line, area and line text objects with a self-intersecting geometry.

Select Line Text Objects with Line too Short: Selects all line text objects whose text is longer than the line length.

View Toolbar

Various functions are available for increasing or reducing the size of map view as well as repositioning it.

Find Selected Objects: Move screen to the selected object.

Pan: Reposition the map view

Pan Locked: Reposition the map view a number of times in succession.

Zoom In: Zoom in the map view to greater magnification.

Zoom In Locked: Zoom in the map view a number of times in succession.

Zoom Out: Zoom out the map view to lesser magnification.

Zoom Out to Previous View: Zoom out to the last map view of lesser magnification.

Zoom to Selected Objects: Zoom the view to the biggest possible view showing the selected objects.

Show Entire Map: Display the entire map in the drawing window.

Zoom to Previous View: Return to last map view.

Zoom to Next View: Undo "Zoom to Previous View".

Show Screen Grid: Display the coordinate grid in the drawing window.

Show_Rulers: Show rulers along the top and left side of the drawing area.

Ruler_Guides: Display all ruler guides in the drawing area.

Draft Mode Slider: The upper slider (M for map) is used to fade out the map objects; the lower slider (B for background) to fade out the Background Map. The Draft Mode Slider is only visible if the Draft Mode is activated in the View menu.

Editing and Drawing Toolbar

Edit modes

Select and Edit Object: Select and move objects.

Select Object and Edit Vertex: Select objects or move points of objects.

Select Object with Lasso Tool: Select objects with a Lasso.

Normal Vertex: Add a vertex. This will not influence a dashed line.

Corner Vertex: Add a corner vertex or turn a normal vertex into a dash vertex. This will affect the dashed line so that it will start with a full dash from this point, and/or the specific main symbol of a line will appear at the corner vertex.

Dash Vertex: Add a dash vertex or turn a normal vertex into a dash vertex. This will affect the dashed line, which will start with half a dash from this point.

Remove Vertex

Indicate Direction of Area Pattern, Point or Text Object: Indicate the direction of an area pattern, point or text object.

Rotate Object: Rotate the selected object(s).

Cut hole: Cut a hole into the selected area object.

Cut area: Cut the selected area object.

Cut: Cut the selected line object or the borderline of the selected double line or area.

Cutting

Move parallel: Move the selected line or area object parallel to the original object.

Reshape: Redraw part of a line, area or text object.

Drawing modes

Curve mode: Draw in curve mode.

Ellipse mode: Draw elliptical (oval) objects.

Circle mode: Draw circular objects.

Rectangular line mode: Draw rectangular line objects with any number of corners.

Rectangular mode: Draw rectangular area objects with any number of corners.

Stairway drawing mode: Draw a rectangular stairway.

Straight line mode: Draw objects with straight lines.

Freehand mode: Draw objects in freehand mode.

Drawing multiple point objects: Draw several point objects that are placed on a line with a constant interval.

Numeric Mode: Draw objects in numeric mode.

Laser Rangefinder drawing mode: Draw objects by distances transmitted from a laser distance meter.

Numeric Mode Toolbar

Client Server Toolbar

Connect/Disconnect: Manage CSA Projects and the connection to the server.

Get Objects from Current View: Load all objects from the server which are in the current view.

Import Map: Import an OCAD map into a CSA Project.

Delete Objects in Database: Delete an object on the server.

Check Out Selected Objects: Check out all selected objects.

Check In Selected Objects: Check in all selected objects.

Show Checked Out Objects: Show all checked out objects in a table.

Database Undo: Undo the previous action on the server.

Database Redo: Redo the previous action on the server.

Generate Map Preview: Generate a map preview.

Save for Offline Work: Save a part of the CSA Project for offline work.

Do Database Maintenance: Clean up the database.

Manage Server Bookmarks: Manage the server bookmarks.

Show Project Information: Show all available information about the project.

Rights Management: Administer project permissions.

Working on a CSA Project Show object history.

Numeric Keypad Toolbar

This toolbar can be used as an alternative to the numeric keypad. Some tablet PCs do not have a keyboard; Numeric Toolbar can be used to enter numbers.

Mobile Toolbar

This toolbar can be used as an alternative to the keyboard. Some tablet PCs do not have a keyboard with these special keys; use the Mobile Toolbar to use these keys.

Customize Toolbar Dialog Box

Choose this command to customize toolbars. The dialog box is opened by clicking Customize button in on GUI (Graphical User Interface) page in OCAD Preferences dialog box or by clicking on the right end of a toolbar. When the box above the button is checked the button will be visible otherwise it will be hidden.

The Numeric keypad toolbar cannot be customized.

File: File management, file import and export functions, printing
Client/Server: Functions for Client/Server projects (OCAD Enterprise Edition only)
View: Functions for viewing the map
Select: Functions for selecting an object or a vertex
Object: Object editing functions
Symbol: Functions for creating and editing symbols
Map: Map editing functions
Layout: Layout management functions
Database: Functions for connecting and editing databases
Background Map: Functions for loading and managing background maps
DEM: Functions for the import, export and processing of Digital Elevation Models
GPS: Functions for connecting GPS devices or importing GPS data
Options: Functions for customizing personal preferences
Window: Functions for arranging the map window
Help: OCAD Help

File Menu

New: Create a new map file.

Open: Open a map file.

Open Sample Map: Open a sample map file.

Close: Close the current map file.

Save: Save changes in the current map file.

Save As: Save the current map file under a new name.

Undo: Undo the last draw or edit operation.

Redo: Reverse the effect of the last Undo operation.

Print: Print a color map or color separations.

Import: Import a map file.

Export: Export the map in a different file format.

Export OCAD Internet Map: Export the map as an OCAD Internet Map.

Export Encrypted File: Export the map to encrypted OCAD file format.

Send File by Email: Send the map file by email.

Execute XML Script: Execute functions defined in a XML script file.

Create Backup: Make a backup copy of the current map file.

Restore Backup: Restore a map file saved with the Backup function.

Open Recently Exported Documents: Open one of the documents you have exported recently from the file that you have open.

Open Recently Used OCAD Files: Open one of the map files you have worked on recently.

Exit OCAD: Terminate OCAD.

Server/Client Menu

Connect/Disconnect: Connect or disconnect the connection to the server

Get Objects from Current View

Import Map: Import a Map from the connected server

Delete Object in Database

Check Out Selected Objects: Check out selected objects for editing.

Check in Selected Objects: Check out selected objects after finished edited objects.

Show Checked Out Objects: Show current checked out objects.

Database Undo: Undo your last move in the database.

Database Redo: Redo your last move in the database.

Generate Map Preview Generate preview from current map.

Do Database Maintenance: Upkeep Database

Manage Server Bookmarks

Show Project Information

View Menu

Normal Mode: Normal mode view.

Spot Color Mode: Spot color view.

Draft Mode: Draft mode view. The Background Map can be seen behind the map.

Draft Mode Only Background Map Favorites: Draft mode view. Only favorited Background Maps are shown.

Keyline: Show objects as a rough sketch.

Hatch Areas: Display full areas as hatched areas on the screen.

Anti-Aliasing: Activate or disable Anti-Aliasing.

View#Line Objects Appearance as in OCAD 10: Shows line objects as in OCAD 10.

Redraw: Redraw the drawing area.

Pan: Move the view.

Move To: Move the view to a desired position.

Find Selected Objects: Move the view to selected objects in sequence.

Zoom In: Display the map with a higher magnification.

Zoom Out: Display the map with lesser magnification.

Zoom to Selected Objects: Display the map zoomed in to selected objects.

Show Entire Map: Display the entire map on the screen.

Zoom: Select the magnification in which the map is to be displayed.

User Defined: Set the view to a zoom factor defined in Preferences.

Bookmarks: Create and manage bookmarks.

- Create: Create a new bookmark

- Manage: Manage available bookmarks

Show Screen Grid: A screen grid is shown in the drawing area.

Show Rulers: Rulers are shown around the drawing area.

Ruler Guides: Manage ruler guides.

- Show: Show vertical or horizontal ruler guides.

- Manage: Add a new ruler guide.

Select Menu

Select and Edit Object: Select, move or stretch object(s).

Select Object and Edit Vertex: Select or move vertex of object(s).

Select Object with Lasso Tool: Select objects with a Lasso.

Select Objects by Symbol: Select all objects with same symbol .

Select Objects by Property: Select all objects with same properties.

Select Object by Object Index: Selects the object with the respective index.

Select All: Select all objects in map.

Clear Selection: Nothing is selected.

Invert Selection: Change current selection such that everything previously unselected will now be selected and vice versa

Select Next Object: Selects the next obvious object.

Save Selection: Save current selection for later use.

Reload Selection: Reload saved selection.

Edit Selection: Manage saved selection.

Select Group: Select a group of objects.

Object menu

Cut: Copy the selected object(s) to the clipboard and delete them in the current map.

Copy: Copy the selected object(s) to the clipboard.

Paste: Insert the object(s) in the clipboard into the current map.

Delete: Delete the selected object(s).

Rotate Object: Rotate object(s).

-Rotate: Rotate the selected object(s).

-Rotate Object by Angle: Rotate the selected point object(s) by specifying a rotation angle.

Align Objects: Align the selected objects horizontally or vertically.

-Horizontal Coordinate

-Horizontal Coordinate Centered

-Vertical Coordinate

Distribute Objects: Distributes objects to equal spaces.

Indicate Direction of Area Pattern, Point or Text Object: Change direction of selected point object, area pattern or text.

Cut Objects: Cut hole, area or line.

-Cut hole: Cut a hole in an object.

-Cut area: Divides an area.

-Cut line: Divides a line.

Crop Objects: Crop selected Object(s).

Move Parallel: Move the selected line or area object parallel from the original object.

Move Parallel with Distance: Move the selected line or area object parallel with a distance from the original object.

Reshape: To shape a part of an object again or differently.

Interpolate Objects: Interpolate selected Objects to each other.

Duplicate: Duplicate (create a copy of) the selected object(s).

Move and Duplicate: Duplicate selected object and move it.

Mirror and Duplicate: Mirror selected object and duplicate it.

Fill, Make Border, Duplicate Identically: Fill a line or area object(s) with area object(s) or make line border of area object(s).

Merge: Merge multiple line, area and text objects into one object.

Reverse Object Direction: Reverse the direction of the selected line object(s).

Change to Polyline: Change selected object to polyline.

Change to Bézier Curve: Change selected object to a Bézier curve.

Convert to Graphic Object: Convert the selected object(s) to their graphic elements (lines and areas).

Convert to Layout Object: Convert selected object to layout object.

Smooth: Smooth selected line or area object(s) drawn in freehand mode.

Create Color Gradient

Topology

-Join: Move the ends of the selected line object to connect to adjoining objects.

-Select Duplicate Objects:

-Select Self-Intersected Objects

-Select Line Text Objects with too Short Line

-Select Objects with Invalid Geometry

-Close Area Objects

-Remove Overshoots and Undershoots

-Insert Intersections

Change Vertex Types to: Change vertex types for the selected object(s).

Change Symbol (Selected objects)

Change Symbol (All Objects with Corresponding Symbol)

Group

Ungroup

Find and Replace Text

Insert Glyphs: Insert special letters.

Measure: Measure the selected line or area object or the distance between 2 selected point objects

Object Information: Show information about selected object(s).

Symbol Menu

New: Create a new symbol.

Edit: Define or redefine the selected symbol.

Icon: Draw or edit the symbol's icon, which appears in the symbol box.

Enlarge/Reduce: Enlarge or reduce the selected symbol or all symbols.

Copy: Copy the selected symbol to the clipboard.

Paste: Copy a symbol from the clipboard to the current map.

Delete: Delete the selected symbol.

Duplicate: Make a copy of the selected symbol.

Sort Symbol Box: Sort the symbols in the symbol box.

-By Number: Sort symbol in symbol box by number.

-By Color: Sort symbol in symbol box by color.

-By Status (Normal, Protect or Hide): Sort symbol in symbol box by status.

Select: Select certain symbols in the symbol box.

-Used: Select used symbols in symbol box.

-Unused: Select unused symbols in symbol box.

-Invert: Change current selection such that everything previously unselected will now be and vice versa.

-All: Select all symbols in symbol box.

-By Color: Select all Symbols with same color.

-By Font: Select all Sybmols with same font.

Replace:

-Font

-Color

Normal: Make objects with the selected symbol(s) appear normal.

Protect: Make objects with the selected symbol(s) protected from editing.

Hide: Objects with the selected symbol(s) do not appear.

Show Unsymbolized Objects: Normal / Hide.

Show Graphic Objects: Normal / Hide.

Image Objects: Normal / Protect / Hide

-Normal: Selected Symbols are not protected and not hidden.

-Protect: Selected symbol(s) are visible but cannot be edited.

-Hide: Selected symbol(s) are not visible .

Show Symbol Favorites: Display the symbol favorites in symbol box.

Add To Favorites: Add the selected symbol(s) to symbol favorites.

Remove From Favorites: Remove the selected symbol(s) from symbol favorites.

Show Symbol Tree: Display the symbol tree in symbol box.

Remove From Symbol Tree: Remove the selected symbol(s) from symbol tree.

Map Menu

Optimize/Repair: Remove empty space in the map file and repair damaged objects.

Set Scale and Coordinate System: Set map scale and define the coordinate system.

Change Scale: Change the scale of the map and enlarge/reduce the map according to the new scale.

Create Map Grid: Create grid lines on the map.

Create WGS84 Grid: Create a WGS84 grid on your current view.

Hide: Hide the map on the screen.

Transform: Adjust the map to the background map.

-Move: Move the entire map to a different location in the coordinate system.

-Stretch / Shrink: Stretch (enlarge or reduce) the entire map horizontally or vertically.

-Mirror: Mirror the entire map horizontally or vertically.

-Rotate Map: Rotate the entire map.

-Change Coordinate System: Change current coordinate system to another.

-Affine: Adjust the whole map on background map or on grid.

-Rubbersheeting: Adjust a part of the map on a georeferenced background map.

-Center map to Drawing Area

Convert Imported Layers to Symbols: Convert the layers of an imported *.dxf or *.ai file.

Convert Area or Line Objects to Point Objects: Convert area to point object(s).

Convert Text Objects to Point Objects: Convert text to point object(s).

Convert Text Objects from OEM to Unicode: Convert text objects from OEM to Unicode.

Export Objects by Selected Symbol: Export all objects with a selected symbol to a new map file.

Export Selected Objects

Export Part of Map

Colors: Define or edit the colors of the current map.

Define Spot Colors: Define the spot colors of the current map.

Load Colors From: Load a color table from another map.

Load Colors and Symbols From: Load the symbol set from another map.

Compare Colors and Symbols: Compare two symbol sets.

Routing: Import kml file with route from Google Maps API

Map Information: Show map information.

Layout Menu

Edit Layout Objects: Draw and edit the layout objects.

Import Layout

Save Layout

Hide

Add North Arrow or Scale Bar

Add Map Legend

Add Trim and Bleed Marks

Create Graticule Name Index

Create Name Index

Database Menu

Manage Database Connections: Create and edit datasets.

Create and Update Records: Create OCAD objects out of the database.

Update Special Fields

Create Objects from Table: Create OCAD objects from database records.

Assign Symbols by Records

Add Texts by Records

Define Object Directions by Records: Assign angle information from the open dataset(s) to the objects.

Merge Objects by Records

Select Linked Objects with Corresponding Record

Select Linked Objects without Corresponding Record

Select Objects Linked to the same Record

Delete Database Record when Deleting Object: If the option is turned on and an OCAD object with a linked database record is deleted, the database record is deleted, too.

Create Database Record when Cutting Object

Background Map Menu

Scan: Scan a background map using a TWAIN interface.

-Acquire: Acquire a background map

-Select Source: Select source from which the background map acquire

Open: Open a scanned background map stored in a file.

Adjust: Adjust the background maps in horizontal and vertical directions.

Hide All: Hide the background maps temporarily.

Manage: Set options for displaying and printing the background maps.

WMS - Web Map Service: Add background map from WMS

DEM Menu

Import: Import an ASCII Grid or XYZ file to OCAD.

Open: Open an OCAD DEM file (*ocdDem).

Show Frame: Shows blue rectangle with the extent of loaded DEM.

Resize: Resize OCAD DEM file (make a subset) and save it as a new OCAD DEM file.

Info: Shows information about OCAD DEM file.

Close: Close OCAD DEM file.

Merge DEM: Merges two parts of a DEM together.

Calculate DEM Difference Calculates the difference between a surface and a terrain model.

Create Contour Lines: Calculates contour lines based on the loaded DEM.

Create Hypsometric Map: Calculates a grayscale or colored hypsometric map

Create Hill Shading: Calculates a shaded relief picture.

Calculate Slope Gradient Calculates a grayscale picture with slope gradient.

Classify Vegetation Height Calculates picture with vegetation height classes.

Create Profile: Creates a profile for the selected line object.

Export: Save loaded OCAD DEM file as ESRI ASCII Grid or as ASCII Grid XYZ.

GPS Menu

Real Time GPS

Adjust GPS

Import Data from GPS Device

Import from File

Connect to Laser Distance Meter

Options Menu

OCAD Preferences: Options for your individual working methods.

Shortcuts: Define or change keyboard shortcuts for menu commands.

Backup and Restore Options

Language: Choose a language.

Window Menu

Tile: Arrange all open maps horizontally or vertically on the screen.

Cascade: Arrange all open maps in a way that the title of each map is visible.

Help Menu

Contents: The contents of this help file.

Menu: Help for menu commands.

Toolbar: Help for toolbar buttons.

What is New: Click on this menu item to open the What is New page.

OCAD Home page: Connect to the OCAD homepage on the Internet.

OCAD Update: Connect to the OCAD download site on the Internet.

OCAD Learn Videos: Connect to Learning Videos on OCAD homepage.

Getting Started with OCAD 12: Open the pdf file 'Getting Started with OCAD 12'.

OCAD Blog: Show the newest posts from OCAD Blog.

About OCAD: General Information about OCAD.

Using the Keyboard with the Mouse

This section provides an overview of options for using the keyboard and the mouse together.

Drawing

Shift : When starting a curve, straight line or freehand line: extend an existing object.
Ctrl: Trace an existing object.
Alt: Drawing a straight line: the line is made exactly horizontal or vertical.

Drawing a circle

Shift : Drag the radius from the center point.

Edit

Shift : Add or remove an object to/from the selected objects.
Ctrl: Remove a vertex.
Shift + Ctrl: Insert a normal vertex.
Alt: Select an object behind an object that has already been selected.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line or area object in between adding vertices.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line or area object in between adding corner vertices.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line or area object in between adding dash vertices.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line or area object in between removing vertices.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line or area object in between reshaping objects.
Alt + : Switch temporary to Select Object and Edit Vertex mode to select next line object in between cutting lines.
Ctrl + : Cut a virtual gap into the selected line object.
Shift + : Cut a broken line: a gap is inserted at the vertex where the cut was made.
Arrow keys: Moves the selected object.
Shift + Arrow keys: Moves the selected object faster.

View

Space bar + Left Mouse Button: Move the View (pan).
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel: Zoom in and zoom outIncrease/reduce the size of the map section.
Shift + Mouse Wheel: Move the map section horizontally (scroll).
Mouse Wheel Down: Pan while holding the mouse wheel down.

Status Bar

In the Status Bar at the bottom of the window you can find useful information:

Currently Selected Object: The symbol number and the name of the currently selected symbol is displayed in this part. If multiple objects are selected, the number of selected objects is shown. In addition, if you retrieve a Bookmark, the saved comment is displayed here.

Coordinates from Mouse: The coordinates of the current position of the mouse pointer is displayed in this part. You can change the format of the coordinates shown here in the Graphical User Interface category of OCAD Preferences in the Options menu. If a DEM is loaded, the elevation in meters is given in brackets after the coordinates.

Mode: The current View Mode is displayed in this part of the status bar. In addition, OCAD shows wheter Anti-Aliasing is enabled or not.

Current Zoom Factor: This field shows the current Zoom Factor.

Visibility:
There are seven eye icons which indicate wheter a certain map feature is visible or not. These features are (from left to right): Layout, Map, Background Map, Symbols, Unsymbolized Objects, Graphic Objects and Image Objects.
If the eye icon is black, the feature is visible.
If the eye icon is grey, no corresponding features exist.
If the eye icon is crossed off with a red cross, the feature is not visible.
If the eye icon is crossed off with an orange cross, the feature is only partially visible.

Currently Selected Symbol: The currently selected symbol is shown in this part of the status bar.

Previous Chapter: Renewals

Next Chapter: View

Back to Main Page