You can add many different types of objects to your flipchart. These
range from simple shapes you create with the Shape
Tool, and annotations you create with the Pen
or Highlighter
, to such objects as:
Files from the Resource Library
Imported images
Videos and sound files.
You can manipulate most of these object types in the same way.
Here we show you how to create and manipulate simple shapes with the Shape Tool:
Finally, we also give you a taste of a power tool for creating shapes at the board.
To add a shape to your flipchart:
Click on Shape
The Shapes Menu opens. Depending on your preference, it is aligned along
the side or bottom of the ActivInspire window.
Select the shape you want to draw, for example Triangle. The cursor changes to an arrow and a small version of the shape you have selected.
Move the cursor to the place on the page where you want to draw your shape, then click or press.
Continue to press and draw gently until the shape has the desired size.
To make changes to the shape you have just created:
Click on Select
.
Move the cursor over the shape. The cursor changes to a small arrow head with a cross. Click or tap on the shape. In the example below, we have selected the black triangle. A box appears around the object.
Things to
note
The row of icons above the shape object, these are Marquee Handles. Each of these handles lets you change the object in a different way.
The square outline
around the object. It has grey or yellow (ActivInspire Primary) circles
at the corners and in the centres of each of the four
sides. These are Sizing Handles. You can click and drag them to extend
and distort the object. There is also a special handle
for resizing the object proportionally, without
distortion.
For details of all the handles, see Reference > Menus and Popup Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles.
The pictures below show the Marquee Handles for ActivInspire Studio and Primary. The table describes the handles we are going to use in this section:
ActivInspire Studio ActivInspire Primary |
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To fill a shape with colour:
In the Main Toolbox, click on Fill
From the Colour Palette, select a fill colour.
Click on the shape.
Here are two ways to move a shape.
Select the shape.
Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current page.
Or
Select the shape.
Click on Freely Move
Object
Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed on the icon and drag and drop the shape where you want it on the current page.
Select the shape.
Click on Rotate Object
Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the cursor around to change the shape's rotational angle
Here are two ways to increase and decrease the size of a shape or other object without distorting it.
Select the shape.
Click on Increase Object
Size
or Decrease Object Size
to change the size in small increments.
Repeat until the shape has the correct size.
Select the shape.
Click on Size Object
(maintain aspect ratio)
Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the shape has the desired size.
Here are two ways to change the shape of an object.
Select the shape.
Click on one of the Size
Object
handles.
Keep the mouse button or ActivPen pressed and drag the handle until the object has the desired length or height.
To make more complex or subtle changes to a shape, use Edit
Shape Points
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To move several objects at the same time, you can select all the objects
and group them together with the Grouped
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To ungroup objects, so that you can manipulate each one individually:
For details of all the Marquee Handles, see Reference > Menus and Popup Menus > Marquee and Sizing Handles. |
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ActivInspire also offers the Shape
Recognition
Tool for creating shapes at the board. You draw a
shape by hand and let ActivInspire turn it into a shape object. For details,
see Using Shape Recognition.