Construction Tools Sidebar

This page describes all features of the Construction Tools Sidebar .
More information about the general operations and principles of Constructions, see : Constructions Overview.

Map 2D > Tools > Cons

Select Constructions	File Access	Construction Point "CPt" Functions	Construction Line "CLn" Functions	Fence (Construction Area)
Construction Functions operate on the selected Construction Object, either Construction Points and/or Construction Lines.	Use the File Access options to open, close, save or create a Construction file.	Use the Construction Points functions to position and measure the exact location of the Construction Points.	Use the Construction Lines functions to calculate the exact position and direction of the construction lines.	Use the Fence to describe a perimeter for diverse purposes : select objects within, hide area outside, use as source for a buffer or export to other functions.

Function	Description
Select Construction item	Point and click to select a construction item to activate it. Use Shift-Click to select more than 1 CPt.
1) Delete all points	Delete all CPt(s)
2) Delete all lines	Delete all CLn(s)
Delete Fence Area	Delete the current fence area.

Construction Functions operate on the selected Construction Object, either CPt(s) and/or CLn.

• CPt : You can select one or more CPt's at the time. All CPt related functions operate on the whole of selected CPt's at once.
• CLn : You can only select 1 CLn at the time. This line determines the orientation for the functions that require a CLn

Distances used in construction functions are expressed in units of the maps shown in the map window. Use both positive as negative values in accordance to the orientation of the selected CLn.

The Orientation of a CLn is always 'from left to right' on your map window. Imagine yourself standing at the left end of the line, and looking from that position to the right end of the line. You may find yourself looking in a straight east direction, but it might as well be looking south-east or north-east.

When moving parallel : use a positive value to move to the right, negative to the left.
When moving perpendicular : use a positive value to move right, negative to move left according to the CLn.

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Use the File Access options to open, close, save or create a Construction file.

Function	Description
New	create new set of constructions, or clear all current constructions
Open	open a constructions file
Close	close construction dataset
Save	Save current set of constructions to the current file
Save As …	Save current set of constructions to a new file

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Use the Construction Points functions to position and measure the exact location of the Construction Points.

Function	Description
Create from Object	Create a new CPt by selecting any vertex of an object. Behavior is according to preferences.
Create all from Object	Create CPts from all vertices of the selected objects
Create by co-ordinates	Create a CPt by entering a co-oordinate in a popup window
Create visually	Create a CPt visually by clicking on the map
Calculate footpoint	Create a new CPt(s) by calculating the foot of the selected CPt(s) on the selected CLn
Calculate over distance	Create a new CPt(s) over a specified distance perpendicular to the selected CLn. First enter the distance in the toolbar.
Calculate over distance	Create a new CPt(s) over a specified distance parallel to the selected CLn. First enter the distance in the toolbar.
Calculate over distance	Create a new CPt(s) over a specified distance on the selected object. First enter the distance in the toolbar.
Create intersection	Create new CPt(s) as intersection of all CLn(s) with objects. Behavior is according to preferences.
Create intersection	Create new CPt(s) as intersection of all CLn(s)
Enter Distance field	Use this field to enter a distance value to be used by one of the construction functions.
Delete selected	Delete the selected CPt(s)
Delete all points	Delete all CPt(s)

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Use the Construction Lines functions to calculate the exact position and direction of the construction lines.

Function	Description
Create manually	Create a new CLn by clicking 2 points
Create from Object	Create CLn by selecting a line from an object
Create Vertical Line	Create a vertical CLn
Create Horizontal Line	Create a horizontal CLn
Create Parallel	Create a parallel line to the selected CLn
Calculate over distance	Create a parallel line to the selected CLn on an exact distance. First enter the distance in the Distance field.
Create Perpendicular	Create a CLn perpendicular to the selected CLn
Calculate Bisectors	Create the bisectors of the selected CLn and a CLn you click.
Create Construction Circle	Create a Construction Circle on an exact radius First enter the distance in the Distance field.
Enter Distance field	Use this field to enter a distance value to be used by one of the construction functions.
Delete selected	Delete the selected CLn
Delete all lines	Delete all CLn(s)

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These Appearance options reflect the Construction Points and Lines, not the Fence.

Function	Description
Set Preferences	open the preferences window
Show / Hide Constructions	Set all constructions visible / invisible with this switch

Use the Fence to describe a perimeter for diverse purposes : select objects within, hide area outside, use as source for a buffer or export to other functions. A fence is a single assistance object that can consist out of several parts (each part is an area figure).

Function	Use	Description
Add a part	normal	Click to start drawing a new part of the fence. Continue clicking to add points to the fence area. End by a right-click to open the context menu and choose “Stop”. During drawing from the 3rd point on, use <Shift> to create a new line perpendicular to the previous line.
	shift	Click on a part to remove it from the fence.
Move a point	normal	Move vertex : click and drag a vertex. Move segment : click and drag a segment.
	shift	Move part instead of only the vertex or segment.
	control	Move vertex or segment and keep orientation of adjoining segment(s).
Add a point	normal	Insert between 2 vertices : click on a segment and drag the inserted vertex to its correct position.
	control	Click on a segment and drag the inserted vertex perpendicular to the clicked segment.
Remove a point	normal	Click a vertex to remove it from the fence. A fence area has at least 3 vertices.
Undo last action
Add Selected Area Object(s) or Area Object Part to Fence	normal	Add selected Object(s) : (1) Select objects, (2) Use function to add selected Object(s). Add Object Part : (1) Activate function, (2) Click on the Object Outline to add Object Part. To add Object Part, Map CRS and Dataset CRS must be the same.
Remove a part	normal	Click on a vertex or segment to remove the part from the fence. A fence has at least 1 part.
Remove a part	normal	Click on a vertex or segment to remove the part from the fence. A fence has at least 1 part.
Merge and Dissolve	normal	Merge all fence areas to a single fence, and dissolves common boundaries. Coinciding segments and shared boundaries of parts are removed.
Select object(s) within fence	normal	Click this button to select all objects within the current fence area
Delete Fence Area	normal	Delete the current fence area.
Create Free Parallel	normal	Create new parallel to the selected fence at a free, clicked, distance. Specify the distance by clicking the position through which a parallel of the fence must run. The nearest line of the fence area will be used as reference to determine the distance of the parallel.
Create Parallel at Distance	normal	Create new fence area parallel to the fence at a specific, entered, distance. Specify the distance by entering it and click the icon.
Enter distance		Enter the distance required in the function above, “Create Parallel at Distance”.
Set transparancy level		Adjust the transparancy level of the view outside the fence area
Hide all outside fence		Enable the transparancy of the view outside the fence area
Hide/show fence		Hide or show the fence outline

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