Shapes

[gec]

Can we have a better shapes toolbar? I don't like the fact that it is hidden from use. We only found it in my school by chance. At the least, can we have a small arrow or something next to the pen tool which might indicate to the user that there's a hidden toolbar behind the button. Much better would be a separate shapes button.
Also, SMART has more tools on theirs, such as a tick, a cross, a star and a hexagon. Oh and a triangle.
Thanks

[Peter Lambert]

Hi Gec,
We have all these (and much more) in the shapes library. I suspect the shapes toolbar to which you refer is actually the pen modifier toolbar which is simply a quick access toolbox to enable you to easily draw lines with the pen tool to create shapes.

The real shapes are in the resource library. Once a shape is on the page, click on the object properties and you can change its colour, outline and fill styles. Then if useful to you for the future save it (drag) into the "my shapes" library

Hope this helps

[gec]

I have now discovered a bit more about the resource library, and as you say, these shapes are all there - and easier to fill and drag than the ones on the Pen Modifier toolbar. I like it.
What about a shapes toolbar though, that could provide a quick access to some of these? I know that wwe can add these shapes to our own toolbar, but it would be neat to click a 'shapes' button on the main toolbar, to bring up a new floating bar. I could draw my shapes then close it again. ...Or are multiple custom toolbars already a feature?

[jtw521]

Why, when I fill a a shape, e.g a rectangle, does Activ Studio simply draw a solid rectangle inside my shape? This solid rectangle is a separate object which can be moved independently of the original outline, if I wish to move my "filled" shape I need to select an area rather than select a single object.

Is there any way I can stop my shapes and lines having rounded corners? A square has sharp corners, Activ Studios do not. I am currently in a position where preparation is done in other packages e.g. word or powerpoint and then cut and pasted into Activ, it should not be like this!

[sartley]

There are various alternatives here:

If you've got the latest version of the software ie 2.1 build 23 - downloadable from the website, you can use the keyboard shortcuts ie 'Ctrl G' to quickly group an outline which you've filled so it will then move as one object.
I agree, the outline does have very slightly rounded corners (I'm looking at the square drawn with the Pen Modifier). So ... you could of course, draw and fill a square or other shape with whatever colour then put the outline in the bin. The fill has sharp corners. This is the same for a shape drawn with the point to point tool.
If you look in the shapes library (within the Resource Library) you will find shapes with sharp corners. If a shape is selected, you can change the colour simply by clicking on the colour of your choice.

Hope this helps.