Create a New Symbol

Chapter 6: Create a New Symbol

New symbols can be created at any time. Use the symbol editor to do this by selecting New in the Symbol menu. Select one of the six different symbol types.

hint If you would like to assign a color, which does not yet exist, to a new symbol, a new color level will need to be defined.

Preferences

Default symbol folder: Set the default symbol folder here. When a new file is created the symbol sets available in the New Map dialog box are loaded from this folder.

Symbol box:

• Selected symbol blink: If this option is activated the icon border of the selected symbol in the symbol box is blinking.
• Lock symbol position: If this option is activated it is not possible to move symbols with drag and drop in the symbol box

Create a New Point Symbol

You can create very complex point symbols with OCAD. In addition to the following object types, the symbol editor can make use of all the drawing modes and editing tools that are available for objects in the normal drawing window: Line, Area, Circle and Point. The color, line thickness, line type and radius are defined via the fields or the selection menus.

1. Select New in the Symbol menu.
2. Select the symbol type Point symbol. The Point symbol dialog window appears.
3. Enter a number between 0.1 and 999999.999 in the Symbol number field and a symbol description in the Description field.
4. Click Edit. The symbol editor appears.
5. Select the color, line thickness (for lines and circles) and the diameter (for circles and filled circles).
6. Draw the point symbol. It can be made up of different elements and different colors. Click Close when you are finished. The symbol editor is closed and the Point symbol appears once again.
7. Select Icon in the dialog window. The Edit Icon dialog window appears.
8. Draw the icon in the 22 x 22 pixel matrix field using the various drawing tools.
9. When you are finished, click OK twice. The new symbol appears in the symbol field.

hint To change the color, line thickness or diameter of point symbols, select the new color or other dimensions and click Change.

video available Different point symbols

Create a New Line Symbol

You can create very complex line symbols with OCAD. In addition to the following options, the symbol editor can make use of all the drawing modes and editing tools that are available for objects in the normal drawing window:

• Main Line: Used to define the color, line thickness and line type.
• Distances: Used to define the length of dashed lines and the distance between the dashes.
• Symbols: Used to define the start, main, corner and end points.
• Double Line: Used to define the line width, filling color, line thickness and line type.
• Decrease: Decreasing line flow
• Framin:g Framing line flow

1. Select New in the Symbol menu.
2. Select the symbol type Line Symbol. The Line Symbol dialog box appears.
3. Enter a number between 0.1 and 999999.999 in the Symbol number field and a symbol description in the Description field.
4. Click Edit. The symbol editor appears.
5. If required, configure the options 'main line', 'distances', 'symbols', 'double line', 'decreasing line flow' and 'framing' for the line symbol.
6. Once you have defined the line symbol, select Icon in the dialog window. The Edit Icon dialog window appears.
7. Draw the icon in the 22 x 22 pixel matrix field using the various drawing tools.
8. When you are finished, click OK twice. The new symbol appears in the symbol field.

video availableDifferent lines symbols

Main Line

Choose this page to define general parameters and parameters for the main line of a symbol.

• Symbol no.: Enter here a number between 0.1 and 999999.999 for the symbol. Each symbol requires a unique number.
• Description: Enter here a description for the symbol. The description is displayed when selecting the symbol or when selecting an object with that symbol.
• Preferred tool: Choose here a drawing mode. Each time the symbol is selected the drawing mode changes to this drawing mode. Choose None to switch off this feature.
• Line color: If the symbol has a main line, select the line color here, otherwise this box is not used.
• Line width: If the symbol has a main line (full or dashed lines) enter here the line width. Enter 0 here if no main line should be drawn (as for dotted lines).

ADD LINK Example: Full line

• Line style: Choose one of the 3 line styles with different line caps and line joins.
• Line length: These parameters are set to values greater than 0 only in rare cases. The distance from start defines where the main line starts (after the first point of the line). The distance to the end defines where the main line ends before the last point of the line.

ADD LINK Example:Dashed line with background,

ADD LINK Example: Motorway

One case where these parameters are used is a pointed line. In this case the distance from start and the distance to the end define the length of the taper. Check pointed ends for these lines.

ADD LINK Example: Pointed line

• Course setting symbol: Marked route

(This function is only available in course setting projects!) Activate this option if the symbol is used for marked routes.

• Area symbol: Symbol for area objects. Choose this page to define general parameters for the area symbol.
• Symbol no.: Enter here a number between 0.1 and 999'999.999 for the symbol. Each symbol in a given map requires a unique number.
• Description: Enter here a description for the symbol. The description is displayed when selecting the symbol or when selecting an object with that symbol.
• Preferred tool: Choose here a drawing mode. Each time the symbol is selected, the drawing mode changes to this drawing mode. Choose None to switch off this feature.
• Fill: Check this box if you want a filled area or a hatched/structured area with a background color. Choose here the color; otherwise this feature is not used. If the area is hatched/structured, make sure that the Fill color is below the colors of the other elements in the color table, otherwise the structure elements are covered by this color.
• Order: Check this box if you want a border line for the area symbol. Choose here an existing line symbol.
• Hatch/structure orientated to north

This setting is used when rotating a map (for instance between magnetic north and geographic north) using Rotate Map from the Map menu. Activate this option if the hatch or structure should remain in the same angle after the rotation. Deactivate this option if the hatch or structure should rotate.

Create a double line

Double lines are primarily used for streets, where you have a left and a right border line filled or not filled with another color. If you need a center line (often used for highways) define a main line (note that the color for the center line must be above the color for the infill in the color table). Example: Motorway Mode

• Off: No side lines and no infill are drawn.
• Full lines: The left and the right side lines are full lines.
• Left line dashed: The right line is a full line and the left line is dashed.
• Both lines dashed: Both side lines are dashed.
• Width: Enter here the width between the sidelines (not including the sidelines).
• Fill: Check this box if you want to fill the space between the side lines. Example: Minor road,

ADD LINK Example: Power line (for no fill)

Fill color: If Fill is checked select here the fill color. The advantage of a fill color is that street crossings are automatically cleared. To get that effect you must choose a fill color which is above the color of the side lines in the color table. Otherwise the infill cannot erase the side lines in the street crossings.

ADD LINK Example: Motorway

• Left line/Right line: Enter here a color and a line width for the side lines. Enter 0 if no side line should be drawn.
• Dashed: If you have chosen "Left line dashed" or "Both lines dashed" enter here the length of the dashes and the gap.

ADD LINK Example: Minor road

Define a framing line

Framing lines are normally used as a background to line objects. Often a framing line is used to block out (or cover) other objects. Note that the color of the framing line must be above the colors of the objects to be covered in the color table.

• Line color: Select the line color.
• Line width: Enter here the line width. Enter 0 here if no framing line should be drawn.
• Line style: Select one of the 3 line styles with different line ends and line joins.

Define a symbol witch decreases size

These features are primarily used for geological symbols with decreasing dots. Decrease: Define here if the Symbols should decrease only towards one end or towards both ends. Example: Geological line symbol Last symbol: Enter here how much the symbol size should decrease.

Remark: The distance between the symbols is also decreased. However, the dashes of dashed lines are not decreased. Therefore you should not use the Decrease function together with dashed lines.

Define the distances between the structure elements of a line

Main length a

• For a dashed line enter here the length of a dash.

ADD LINK Example: Dashed line

• For a dotted line enter here the distance between the dots. Example: Dotted line

End length b

• For a dashed line enter here the length of the first and the last dash (normally the same as Main length a).
• For a dotted line enter here 0.
• For a line with dots on it, enter here the distance from the start of the line to the first dot and from the last dot to the end of the line.

ADD LINK Example: Dashed line with dots

hint The end length is also used before and after a corner point.

At least 2 Gaps/Symbols Here you can define a minimum number of gaps or symbols (if a main symbol is defined) that a line should contain. If you want a dashed line to always have a gap (regardless how short it is) then choose a "1" here.

• Main gap C: For a dashed line, enter here the length of the gap; for other lines, enter here 0.

ADD LINK Example: Dashed line

• Gap D: Define here a gap which appears between the main gaps or between the main symbols. (Note that the main symbol is where the main gap is). It is used in rare cases.

ADD LINK Example: Dashed line with dots

• Gap E: Define here a gap in the end part of the line. It is used in rare cases.

Create a New Area Symbol

You can create area symbols with OCAD. In addition to the following options, the symbol editor can make use of all the drawing modes and editing tools that are available for objects in the normal drawing window:

• General: Used to define the color and the borderline.
• Hatch: Used to define the line thickness, distance and orientation of the hatching.
• Structure: Used to define the structure symbol as well as the distances and orientation of the structure.

1. Select New in the Symbol menu.
2. Select the symbol type Area Symbol. The Area Symbol dialog box appears.
3. Enter a number between 0.1 and 999999.999 in the Symbol number field and a symbol description in the Description field.
4. Click Edit. The symbol editor appears.
5. If required, configure the options 'general', 'hatch' and 'structure' for the area symbol.
6. Once you have defined the area symbol, select Icon in the dialog window. The Edit Icon dialog window appears.
7. Draw the icon in the 22 x 22 pixel matrix field using the various drawing tools.
8. When you are finished, click OK twice. The new symbol appears in the symbol field.

video available Different area symbols

Define the structure of the area

• Structure: Choose None if you want no structure or choose one of the two layouts for the structure.
• Width: Enter the horizontal distance from one structure to the next (center to center). This distance is horizontal if the angle is 0, otherwise it is measured in the corresponding angle.
• Height: Enter the vertical distance from one structure line to the next (center to center). This distance is vertical if the angle is 0, otherwise it is measured in the corresponding angle.
• Angle: Enter here the angle of the structure. If this angle is 0 the structure is drawn as shown in the Structure box. Otherwise it is rotated counterclockwise for positive angles.
• Edit: Click this button to draw one structure element in the symbol editor. In the symbol editor the symbol will also appear (in gray) in the position of the neighboring structures in order to get an impression of the structured area. If you enter an angle other than 0, the structure will be rotated, but not the symbol.

Remark: It is possible to rotate the structure of individual objects drawn with that symbol with the Indicate Direction of Area Pattern, Point or Text Object button. In this case the structure and the structure symbols will be rotated.

• Text symbol: Symbol for text.

hint For every text style, a separate symbol is required. Choose this page to define general parameters for a text symbol. You must create a text symbol for each text style used on the map. If you modify the text symbol, then all text written with that symbol will change. See also Symbols (basic principles). A text symbol is used to write text.

* Symbol no.: Enter here a number between 0.1 and 999,999.999 for the symbol. Each symbol in a given map requires a unique number.

* Description: Enter here a description for the symbol. The description is displayed when selecting the symbol or when selecting an object with that symbol.

* TrueType Font: Choose a font for the text symbol. All TrueType fonts installed in Windows are listed. You cannot use raster fonts or Adobe Type Manager fonts.

* Color: Choose the color for the text.

* Size: Choose the size in points for the text. Alternatively you can enter the character height in millimeters in the box Character height.

* Character height: Enter here the height of the character 'B' in millimeters. Alternatively you can enter the size of the font in points in the box Size.

• Bold: Check this box for bold text.
• Italic: Check this box for italic text.

• Drawing mode

This setting is used if you rotate the map with the command Rotate Map in the menu Map.

Horizontal text: Activate this radio button if the text shall be rendered horizontal after a rotation of the map.

Rotated text: Activate this radio button if the text shall rotate with the map after a rotation of the map.

• Course setting symbol

(This function is only available in course setting projects!) Activate this option if the symbol is used for course titles or start numbers for relay courses.

Define Parameters for a hatched area

• Hatch: Choose None if you do not want a hatch; or choose a simple hatch or a cross-hatch.
• Color: Choose a color for the hatch lines.
• Line width: Enter the line width for the hatch lines.
• Distance: Enter the distance between the hatch lines.
• Angle 1: Enter the angle for the hatch lines. 0 means horizontal lines. For angles greater than 0, the lines are rotated counterclockwise.
• Angle 2: Enter the second angle for the hatch lines if you have defined a cross-hatch. Otherwise this value is ignored. 0 means horizontal lines. For angles greater than 0, the lines are rotated counterclockwise.