Locking and grouping

[Smith9456]

???? I have just been using the ACTIV board and Studio2 software for a few months. A few things I have had a problem with is the "lock on the background" command, which is great...except for when I need to edit and reposition something on the flipchart page. Then the only option is to unlock EVERYTHING from the background, which means I have to go back and select all items all over again and lock. Also, what is the difference between the "lock" and the "lock on the background" commands? Lastly, I have not found a "group" option in this software. I would like to group objects together and then be able to move them around the page. I have locked them, but then they are not moveable. Thanks!

[daverosthorn]

There is a 'group' command. You need to select the objects which you'd like to group (maybe by possibly clicking the first object then holding down shift and clicking each additional one). If you then double click on one of them, to bring up the toolbar and click "properties", there should be a "grouped" tick box under the identification tab.

Not sure how to explain the difference between "lock" and lock on background" so I'll leave that to someone else :D (dont use that much myself)

[Margaret Allen]

http://www.prometheanworld.com/common/html/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=483&highlight=background+lock

Hi

I used the search facility in the forum as I remember there was discussion about this before - how sad am I that I remember such trivia +wave+ don't answer that....

[daverosthorn]

http://www.Prometheanworld.com/common/html/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=483&highlight=background+lock

Hi

I used the search facility in the forum as I remember there was discussion about this before - how sad am I that I remember such trivia +wave+ don't answer that....

+wave+ nice one Margaret - quite an in-depth and interesting explanation of locking objects in that topic. explains a lot :D I wouldn't use the word 'sad' - I would have used the word 'useful' or 'genius' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clap] 10 out of 10!

[daverosthorn]

Ahhh.. another thing that I've found out. Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but...

When you lock an item on the background, and it is an action object, you can no longer click on it to execute your action. Simply locking the object in place instead is way better as:


It stays in the same layer
You can still use it as an action object
You can't move it around!

[Smith9456]

Dave,
Thank you so much for explaining how to group things in the properties checkbox!!! That is so exciting for me. I also understand the difference between the two locks now...but still wish I didn't have to unlock ALL the things I have on the background to move one thing.
+wave+
Melissa

[Peter Lambert]

Hi Melissa,

We will be releasing a version of ACTIVstudio called Developer Edition (no dates for the USA yet, but watch this space!) that allows flipchart designers to work in 2 modes; Presentation and Design mode. In design mode the properties assigned to objects are inactive. This means that objects which are locked, for example, may be moved freely. In presentation mode however, the properties are activated. This should relieve your frustration with the current version.

[daverosthorn]

Peter,

Does that mean that you've got a date for the UK now? :D

Dave