MaxCAD Manual Chapter 4.

Chapter 4 Copy, Paste, and Other Editing. The Edit Menu.

4.1 Undo, Control Z.
4.2 Selecting and Unselecting Objects.
4.3 Color Change, Control K.
4.4 Copy, Ins key.
4.5 Copy to Clipboard, Control C.
4.6 Cut to Clipboard, Control X.
4.7 Paste from Clipboard, Control V.
4.8 Delete, Del key.
4.9 Edit, Control E.
4.10 Flip, Control F.
4.11 Lock, Control L.
4.12 Unlock All, Control U.
4.13 Mirror, Control Shift M.
4.14 Move, Control M.
4.15 Rotate, Control R.
4.16 Scale, Control G.
4.17 Select All, Control A.
4.18 Select Window, Control W.

Chapter 4

Copy, Paste, and Other Editing. The Edit Menu.
The edit menu has a few things that are familiar and more that aren't. Unlike the previous chapter each edit command will get its own section. Step-by-step instructions will be given for their use.
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4.1 Undo, Control Z.
The undo command works on all of the draw commands and most of the "Edit" commands. If you do something you didn't intend you can undo it if you act immediately. If you go on to another command the undo function will no longer work on the mistaken action. Instead it will work on the most recent action you took.
The Undo command will work after editing text or a shape name.
The undo does not work after editing a Scale. The Scale editor permits you to preview any changes you make to a scale so if you do something wrong you can see it and fix it before transferring the revised Scale to the drawing board.
Undo does not work on placing a Dimension object on the drawing board. That's because Dimension is actually a pseudo object. There is no Dimension object in the drawing file. Placing a Dimension object on the board causes several lines and one text object to be placed on the board. If you change your mind you will have to delete each line and the text individually.
In addition you can't undo a lock command. If you mess it up you can unlock all and start over.
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4.2 Selecting and Unselecting Objects.
The remainder of the items on the edit menu depend on knowing how to select objects. In order to practice you need a drawing with a number of objects on it. If you have downloaded this book the drawing file is in the download. Its file name is "MaxCAD_Manual_4-01.dwg". Retrieve it along with "MaxCAD_Manual_5-01.dwg" and MaxCAD_Manual_5-02.dwg" and place them in your MaxCAD drawings folder .

Figure 4.1 Practice Drawing.
Start MaxCAD and load the practice drawing. If no other drawing is saved before you shut down it will not show in the list but will be loaded the next time you start MaxCAD.
In the following exercises if you delete an object and can't get it back just reload the file. Remember not to save it, answer "NO" to that question and just reload it using the Open command (Control O).
4.2.1 Selecting objects one-at-a-time with the mouse.
A single object can be selected by left clicking the mouse on that object. To add more objects you must hold the shift key while clicking. As many objects as you have the patients to click can be added to the selection in this way. A line at the top of the drawing board will state N objects selected, where N is the number of selected objects.
When objects are selected an edit command has to be initiated first. Let's use a relatively safe command such as Color Change. This command can be selected from the Edit menu or you may type Control K. After seeing how to select and deselect objects you can abort the Color Change by pressing the Escape key.

Type Control K.
Left click on any object on the drawing board. It will turn gray.
Hold the Shift key and left click additional objects. Each one will turn gray as you click it.
You have to be on, or close to, the perimeter of a circle or arc. A shape will be selected by clicking anywhere in its footprint. For some shapes this may even be outside the shape.
Press the Escape key to abort the command.

4.2.2 Unselecting objects one-at-a-time with the mouse.
Any selected object may be unselected by holding the control key while clicking the object.
For this exercise you need a situation in which the wrong object can be selected by mistake. To create this situation it is suggested that you place an Op Amp on the drawing board. (This object can be found high in the left hand column of the list of shapes.) Then draw a small circle that is completely within the triangular outline of the Op Amp. Press Control S to save the changes you just made.

Click on the perimeter of the circle. Do not move the mouse after clicking. Notice that the triangular shape of the Op Amp turned gray.
Hold the shift key and click again. Notice that the circle turned gray.
Release the shift and press and hold the control key. Click again in the same place. Notice that the Op Amp turned back to white while the circle remained gray.
As each object is placed on the drawing board it is assigned a sequential number. When objects are selected or unselected they are scanned in order. When you click in a spot that falls within more than one object, the first one found will be selected. Subsequent Shift Clicks in the same place will select objects with higher numbers. Control clicks in the same place will unselect The first object found at that location. Thus, if you are going after a given object and you get the wrong one just shift click again to get the one you want and then control click to remove the one you don't want.
4.2.3 Selecting objects using the window.
When you start the select by window command the dotted cross cursor will disappear and a dotted rectangle will be outlined. Its boarders will change as you move the mouse. There is absolutely no restriction on which of the four corners you start with. The end corner will always be the opposite one.
When you use the Select Window it ABSOLUTELY MUST be the first thing you do after opening an edit command.

Type Control K and then Control W which starts the select by window command. This can also be initiated by selecting Select Window from the Edit menu.
Click somewhere, anywhere on the drawing board.
Move the mouse away from that point. Notice that one corner of the rectangle is anchored at the point you clicked and the solid cross cursor is at the opposite corner.
Move the mouse until some objects are totally within the dotted rectangle (window), some are partially within the window, and some are totally outside the window.
Right click. Notice that the objects that were selected, were those that were totally within the window.
Even if part of an object is inside the window it will not be selected.
4.2.4 Adding and removing objects after using the Select Window.
When you use the Select Window it ABSOLUTELY MUST be the first thing you do after opening an edit command. After it's use you may add and remove objects in the same way as in 4.2.1 and 4.2.2.

Type control K and then Control W.
Use the Select Window to select some of the objects in your drawing.
Now shift click an additional object that was not selected by the window.
Use Control click to remove one or more selected objects that were inside the window.
Alright, you've been good so type the number 3 and press tab. The objects you selected will turn yellow.

4.2.5 Select All.
There may be times when you want to select everything on the drawing board. The window could be used but a Select All command is faster and more certain. The Select All command may be initiated by typing Control A as in other windows applications.

Type Control K then Control A.
Type 4 and press return. All objects on the drawing board will turn green with envy.
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4.3 Color Change, Control K.
To remember the hot key for color change think of spelling color with a k. (Kolor).

Select one or more objects.
Look at the list in the upper left corner of the drawing board. Clicking on entries in this list will get you nowhere fast.
Pick out the color you want to change the objects to, type that number, and press TAB.
The selected objects do not have to be the same color to start with. They will all end up the same color.
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4.4 Copy, Ins key.
This is NOT the copy to clipboard you are accustomed to. It will make a copy directly on the drawing board.

Select an object such as the zigzag line.
Press the Insert key (Ins) or select "Copy" from the "Edit" menu.
Left click a point anywhere on the screen. That's right, it makes no difference where you click.
Move the mouse away and you will see a dotted line known as the rubber band from the point you clicked to the mouse cursor.
Position the mouse 0.1 inch below the first point and right click.
The copy of the object will appear 0.1 inches below the original object. The spacing of the original and the copy is determined by the distance and direction between the two mouse clicks. It doesn't matter where they are in relation to the objects.
Type control Z (Undo) to remove the copied object.
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4.5 Copy to Clipboard, Control C.
The Copy to Clipboard is your old friend from other Windows applications. You must select a point which will enable you to place it when the Paste command is used.

Type control C or select "Copy to Clipboard" from the Edit menu.
Select one or more objects.
Left click on some easily memorable point such as the end of a line, the center of a circle or some other similar point.
The selected object(s) will return to their normal color.
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4.6 Cut to Clipboard, Control X.

Type control X or select "Cut to Clipboard" from the "Edit" menu.
Select one or more objects.
Left click a reference point such as the end of a line or the center of a circle.
The objects will disappear from the drawing board. They are on the clipboard.
Type control V and click at or near the point you clicked in step 3 above.
The objects will return but in the new position if you clicked a different point.
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4.7 Paste from Clipboard, Control V.
The Paste command is rather far down the menu list but I don't want to keep you hanging with something on the clipboard. It is similar to the Paste command you know and love. However, it works better than in other graphics applications because you can select where the pasted object will be placed rather than being placed where the programmer thought it should go.
Have you noticed that except for the Files menu and the Undo command on the Edit menu, everything is in alphabetical order? That's no accident.

Press control V or select "Paste from Clipboard" from the "Edit" menu.
Left click where you want the point you clicked in 4.5 or 4.6 above to be placed.
The object(s) should have appeared. Press control Z to keep your drawing from becoming too cluttered.
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4.8 Delete, Del key.

Press the Delete key (Del) or select "Delete" from the "Edit" menu.
Select one or more objects.
You will be prompted "PROCEED?". The default is Y for yes.
Press tab to except the default. The object(s) will disappear from the drawing board.
Press control Z, "Undo", to bring them back.
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4.9 Edit, Control E.
The Edit command in the Edit menu was originally designed to allow editing of text. It has been expanded to allow editing of Dial Scales or the names of shape files.
4.9.1 Editing Text.
If you followed my example you have this text on your drawing board. "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog's back." On occasion I have seen this rendered "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy brown dog."

Type control E or select "Edit" from the "Edit" menu.
Select the text object.
You will be asked if you want to proceed. This is because it is possible to select the wrong object. If this happens you may correct your selection before being placed into the edit text mode.
If you have the correct object selected, press the TAB key.
The text entry box will appear at the top of the screen, the text will be in it, and it will be selected. Typing any key except the left or right arrows will cause it to disappear.
The Del key will not work on the text but all other editing keys will.
Make the changes and press TAB.
Notice one thing. The letter s does not appear in the revised version. The quick brown fox was invented in the 1940s to test teletype machines. It uses every letter of the alphabet. Restore the original form or do not if you feel you have had enough practice at editing text.
4.9.2 Editing a Dial Scale.
To edit a dial scale you need one on the drawing board.

Type control N. Answer no to the save question.
Type Control D.
Click the "Transfer To Drawing" Button.
Click at the point 0,0. The scale will appear on the drawing board.
Press control E and select the scale.
You will be prompted to "PROCEED?".
If you selected the correct object, it's the only thing on the drawing board at this time, press the TAB key.
The scale editor will open again and the scale will be in it.
Make some change(s) to the scale parameters.
Click the "Preview Scale Layout" button.
Again click "Transfer To Drawing".
You do not have to click, the revised scale will be placed in the same position it was in before the Edit command was invoked.
The "Undo" command will not work on this editing function. The scale appears in it's own editing window so you can look at it and be sure you have it right before you send it to the drawing board and close the editing window.
4.9.3 Editing Shape File Names.
This is a rather special command. It is unlikely you will ever have to use it but if you ever do you will be glad it is available. Reload the practice drawing.

Type control E.
Select one of the shapes you placed on the drawing board.
If you selected the one you wanted, press the TAB key.
Type this exactly as you see it observing case. "CLCap, Can" without the quotes.
The original shape will be replaced by a combination of circles, arcs and lines.
Type control O and answer NO to the save request.
Reload your practice file.

4.9.4 Editing a Line.
The only thing you can do to a line is change it from solid to dashed or vice versa.

Type control E and select one of the solid lines in the practice drawing.
Press the TAB key to proceed.
The line will change from solid to dashed.
That's all there is to it.
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4.10 Flip, Control F.
The Flip command makes a mirror image of all selected objects and then removes the old objects. An example use of this command is if you have created a printed circuit layout as viewed from the component side of the board and need to reverse it to make a negative for board production.

Type Control F or select "Flip" from the "Edit" menu.
Lets use the window. Type Control W or click "Select Window" from the "Edit" menu.
Left click in the upper left corner of the drawing and then move the mouse to the right edge. Include about half of the objects on the drawing board.
Right click at this location.
You will be prompted "Flip: Left click Flip center."
Click about half way between the top of the drawing and the lowest selected object.
You will now be prompted "Flip Horizontally=H Vertically=V.
Type a V and press the TAB key.
If you didn't include any text in the area that was flipped, try it again and this time include some. I had a long debate with myself over whether text should turn upside down or reverse left to right. As you can see the neighs had it. If you really, really need to flip some text you can put it in a shape, place the shape on the drawing board and then flip it. Text which is part of a shape does get flipped.
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4.11 Lock, Control L.
The lock command permits objects on the drawing board to be Locked so they cannot be selected and hence cannot be edited. My particular use for this is laying out circuits on proto PC boards. A proto PC board has a sort of universal copper trace pattern with holes on 1/10 inch centers. I have made a drawing of the pattern and locked it. I can load one of these and place lines for wires and component shapes on top of the board layout. I can edit the parts layout without fear of accidentally selecting and editing the copper trace layout.

Type Control L or select "Lock" from the "Edit" menu.
You will be prompted "Lock: Select Object(s).
Select one or more object(s) by what ever means you want to.
Press the TAB key to enter the default of Y for yes.
The selected object(s) will return to their normal color.
Press Control K and try to select the object(s) you just locked. Can't do it can you.
The "Undo" function will not work on this command.
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4.12 Unlock All, Control U.
This is not the next item in the "Edit" menu but these two belong together.
Type Control U or select "Unlock All" from the "Edit" menu.
Any and all objects that were locked are unlocked. If you have locked a number of objects and want to unlock just one or two, you are out of luck. The only thing you can do is to unlock all of them and then relock the ones you want to be locked. You can't select a locked object so you can't unlock just one.
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4.13 Mirror, Control Shift M.
The hot key for this command is Control Shift M. The "Move command was created first so it has dibs on Control M.
The Mirror command was created so only half of a symmetrical object would need to be drawn by hand. The mirror command will put in the other half. The difference between this and the Flip command is that Flip removes the original object(s) while the Mirror command does not.

Press Control N and draw half of something. Draw a zigzag line with all vertices on the same horizontal or vertical line or get creative.
Type Control Shift M or select "Mirror" from the "Edit" menu. You will be prompted "Mirror: Select Object(s)."
After selecting object(s) you will be prompted "Left click Mirror point." This is the point about which the object(s) will be flipped and added to the drawing.
Then you will be prompted "Mirror: Horizontal=H, Vertical=V." Type which ever one you want.
If you selected the correct orientation for the object you started, it will be completed.
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4.14 Move, Control M.
This command allows one or more objects on the drawing board to be moved. For example, sometimes something just doesn't look right in relation to other objects. It may look too close to another object. So you can move it by one snap to make it look evenly spaced. You are not restricted to one snap. If you want or need to you can move something from one corner of the drawing board to the other.

Type Control M or select "Move" from the "Edit" menu.
Select one or more objects.
You will be prompted "Left click source point". The location of this point will be moved to the location of the next point you click. The object(s) will be moved by the same amount and in the same direction.
After you left click, you will be prompted "Right click destination point". The object(s) will be moved by the amount of and direction of the distance between the two clicks.
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4.15 Rotate, Control R.
Note: "Paste from Clipboard" was covered in Section 4.7.
You can rotate an object or group of objects around a center point. All objects are rotated as if you had cut out a portion of the paper they were drawn on and the cutout was rotated about a single point.

Type control R or select "Rotate" from the "Edit" menu.
Select one or more objects.
You will be prompted "Left click center point."
Click the point that will remain stationary as all selected objects rotate around it.
You may type a rotation angle in degrees into the blue box or�
Move the mouse away from the point you clicked. A rubber band will stretch out. When you right click the angle the rubber band makes with the horizontal will be the angle of rotation.
Press control U, "Undo", to restore the drawing.
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4.16 Scale, Control G.
This command allows you to change the size of an object or group of objects. If you select several objects the size of each object will be changed as well as the distance between them.
If you enter a non orthogonal value, different values on X and Y axes, the object(s) will be scaled accordingly.
4.16.1 Orthogonal Scaling.

Type control G, (think grow), or select "Scale" from the "Edit" menu.
Select several objects.
You will be prompted "Left click base point."
This is the point that will remain stationary as the object(s) grow or shrink around it. Left click it.
Type a number, less than 1 is recommended, into the blue box.

4.16.2 Non-orthogonal Scaling.

Type control G again and select some objects. Be sure to include one or more of the larger circles.
Left click the base point.
Type "1,0.5" into the blue box, no quotes.
Guess what, you have an ellipse.

4.16.3 Setting the Scale Factor Using the Mouse.

Type control G again and select some objects. Be sure to include one or more of the larger circles.
Left click the base point.
Move the mouse away from the clicked point. Make the distance less than an inch in both X and Y with X and Y being unequal. Then right click.
If the rubber band is exactly vertical or horizontal the object(s) will be scaled equally in X and Y by the length of the rubber band. 1 Inch equals a scale factor of 1. 0.5 inches equals a scale factor of 0.5. If the angle of the rubber band is 45, 135, 225, or 315 degrees, X and Y scaling will be equal.
If the angle is such that X and Y distances are unequal, the object(s) will be scaled non-orthogonally.
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4.17 Select Window, Control W.
When you start the select by window command the dotted cross cursor will disappear and a dotted rectangle will be outlined. Its boarders will change as you move the mouse. There is absolutely no restriction on which of the four corners you start with. The end corner will always be the opposite one.
When you use the Select Window it ABSOLUTELY MUST be the first thing you do after opening an edit command.

Type Control K and then Control W which starts the select by window command. This can also be initiated by selecting Select Window from the Edit menu.
Click somewhere, anywhere on the drawing board.
Move the mouse away from that point. Notice that one corner of the rectangle is anchored at the point you clicked and the solid cross cursor is at the opposite corner.
Move the mouse until some objects are totally within the dotted rectangle (window), some are partially within the window, and some are totally outside the window.
Right click. Notice that the objects that were selected, were those that were totally within the window.
Even if part of an object is inside the window it will not be selected.
The above is a repeat of section 4.2.3. See section 4.2 to put this information in context.
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4.18 Select All, Control A.
There may be times when you want to select everything on the drawing board. The window could be used but a Select All command is faster and more certain. The Select All command may be initiated by typing Control A as in other windows applications.

Type Control K then Control A.
Type 4 and press return. All objects on the drawing board will turn green with envy.
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