Drawing other types of objects

Selecting a type of object

There are several different types of object that can be drawn on a map other than military units. They are added by selecting 'Objects' from the main menu, then choosing one of the types below.

You will then be presented with a window allowing you to choose the appearance and label (if required) for this item. For more information on this window, see 'Changing object information and settings'.

After clicking 'OK' on the appearance window, you will be returned the the main screen where you can now draw the object in question. How you do this depends on the type of object you are trying to draw :

Lines

Straight lines

Drawing a straight line requires you to choose two points :

    1. Move the mouse pointer to the point where you want the line to begin, then click the left mouse button.
    2. Now move the mouse pointer to where you want the line to end. Notice that the line appears and adjusts itself as you move the mouse.
    3. When you're happy with how the line looks, click the left mouse button again.
    4. This fixes the object and the 'selection frame' appears around it. For more information on using the selection frame, see 'Working with objects, on-screen'.

Curved lines

BattleMaps can draw simple curves, i.e a line curving once, from a start pint to an end point. Drawing one requires three points to be chosen :

    1. Move the mouse pointer to the point where you want the curve to begin, then click the left mouse button.
    2. Now move the mouse pointer to where you want the curve to end. Notice that the line appears and adjusts itself as you move the mouse, as for lines.
    3. Now move the mouse pointer again, to choose a 'control point' (a Bezier curve control point) which defines the size, depth and sharpness of the curve. As before, the curve draws and adjusts itself as you move the mouse.
    4. Whichever side of the start and end points you place the control point chooses the way the curve bends. The further away from the start and end points, the deeper and sharper the curve
    5. When you're happy with how the curve looks, click the left mouse button for the third time.
    6. This fixes the object and the 'selection frame' appears around it

Freehand lines

Freehand lines are different again. You don't pick separate points but 'draw' with the mouse pointer :

  1. Move the mouse pointer to where you would like the object to begin.
  2. Press and hold the left mouse button to begin drawing.
  3. Move the mouse pointer, keeping the left mouse button pressed along the path where you would like to draw the outline of the freehand object.
  4. Only release the mouse button when you want to finish drawing the object.

Contour lines

Contour lines are drawn in exactly the same way as freehand outlines (see above) but you can specify height figures to be included in the middle of the lines. See 'Contour line details' for more information.

Formation boundaries

Draw these in the same way as straight lines above but the information specified in the 'settings' window is drawn along the length on the line. See 'Specifying formation boundaries' for more information.

Arrows

Straight arrows

Adding straight arrows is the same as adding straight lines (see above) except that the arrow-head appears at the end (second point) of the line. Notice that the size of the arrow-head depends on the length of the arrow.

Curved arrows

Curved arrows are drawn in the same way as curved lines above. Note that the arrow head, as for straight arrows, appears at the end point (i.e. the second point chosen) of the curve. Hence when drawing curving arrows, choose where the arrow points from, then where it points to, then adjust the curve to suit.

Other shapes

Rectangles

Rectangles require just two points to be chosen, the top left corner, and the bottom right corner :

    1. Move the mouse pointer to the point where you want the the top left corner of the rectangle to be, then click the left mouse button.
    2. Now move the mouse pointer to where you want the bottom right corner to be. Notice that the rectangle appears and adjusts itself as you move the mouse.
    3. When you're happy with how it looks, click the left mouse button again.
    4. This fixes the object and the 'selection frame' appears around it.
    5. Note that initially, you can only draw 'upright' rectangles (i.e. their sides parallel to the sides of the screen). DONT WORRY, you can rotate or re-orient them to a different alignment later (see 'Working with objects, on-screen').

Ovals

Ovals are similar to rectangles and require just two points to be chosen, the top left corner, and the bottom right corner of a rectangle which would contain the oval. Follow the instructions above as for rectangles and the oval will appear as expected. Again, you can rotate or re-orient them to a different alignment later

Polygons (objects with several, straight sides)

Polygons, or multi-sided objects are a bit different. You need to specify as many points as the object will have corners. You use the left mouse button to choose all corners except the last, then use either the right mouse button or press the 'return' or 'enter' key to fix the last corner :

  1. Move the mouse pointer to the point where you want the first corner to be, then click the left mouse button.
  2. Now move the mouse pointer to where you want the next corner to be. Notice that the object appears and adjusts itself as you move the mouse.
  3. Repeat step 2 for each additional corner the object needs, except the last one.
  4. When you're happy with how the object looks and the mouse pointer is pointing at the last corner, either click the right mouse button or press the 'return' or 'enter' key on the keyboard.
  5. This fixes the object and the 'selection frame' appears around it. As with all objects, it can be moved or adjusted later (see 'Working with objects, on-screen').
  6. Note that, if you choose this to be a 'closed' object (see 'Changing object information and settings'), a completing line from the last corner to the first corner is automatically drawn.

Freehand objects

Freehand objects are different again. You don't pick separate points but 'draw' with the mouse pointer :

  1. Move the mouse pointer to where you would like the object to begin.
  2. Press and hold the left mouse button to begin drawing.
  3. Move the mouse pointer, keeping the left mouse button pressed along the path where you would like to draw the outline of the freehand object.
  4. Only release the mouse button when you want to finish drawing the object.
  5. This fixes the object and the 'selection frame' appears around it.
  6. Note that, as for polygons, if you choose this to be a 'closed' object (see 'Changing object information and settings'), a completing line from the end point to the start point is automatically drawn.