Product: MapInfo Professional
Version: 8.0
Platform: Citrix; Windows 2003 Server Enterprise; Windows 98 SE; Windows NT 4.0 SP6A; Windows XP Home; Windows XP Home SP1A; Windows XP Home SP2; Windows XP Professional; Windows XP Professional SP 1A; Windows XP Professional SP 2; Windows 2000 Professional SP4
Category: Object Editing
Summary:
Support for orthogonal polygons (MapInfo Professional v8.0).
Question:
Support for orthogonal polygons (MapInfo Professional v8.0).
Answer:
In previous versions of MapInfo Professional, it was possible to draw polyline segments that were in 45 degree increments when holding down the SHIFT key. Support has been added for orthogonal (right angle) line segments when pressing the CTRL key. This new functionality in MapInfo Professional v8.0 is similar to the current rules, in that it constrains to 45 degree increments, except using the CTRL key functionality, the 45 degree angle is relative to the slope of the last line segment rather than to a horizontal slope. This functionality works for Add Line, Add Polyline, the Ruler Tool, Custom Polyline and Custom Polygon tools, and the Add Polygon operations. This functionality will be useful when wanting to draw perpendicular lines at an angle rather than horizontal to the map.
Note: Snap and Autotrace functionality must be turned off for this feature to work, because when these features are activated, the CTRL and SHIFT keys have other purposes. The SHIFT and CTRL keys also do not operate when you are using the Polygon Select tool.
To see this new functionality:
1. From the File menu, click Open and select a map to display.
2. Make a layer editable using the Layer Control dialog box.
3. Select the Polygon tool from the Drawing toolbar.
Note: This works with any of the Line, Polyline, the Ruler Tool, Custom Polyline and Custom Polygon tools as well, we are just using the Polygon tool as an example.
4. Click and draw a single line in any direction other than horizontal following these directions:
• To draw the next segment perpendicular to the last segment, press CTRL while dragging the cursor.
• To draw the next segment perpendicular to horizontal, press SHIFT while dragging the cursor.
Notice the difference in the way the angle draws between the CTRL and SHIFT created polygons in the next figure.
Figure: Example of Horizontal-Based Orthogonal Polygon vs. Previous Polyline-Based Polygon.
Figure 1 Shift Created Polygon. All angles are relative to the horizontal.
Figure 2 Ctrl Created Polygon. All angles relative to previously drawn polyline.
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