How to draw shapes

• Create a graphical object

• Select a graphical object

• Change the style

• Move/Rotate/Scale

• Delete a graphical object

• Line

• Curve

• Polyline/Polygon

To draw a (poly)line, rectangle, brackets or other shapes use the Insert menu or select the icon from the Tools toolbar.

{info} These icons and objects are depicted in blue color outlines to indicate that any object here does not bear any chemical meaning like reaction arrows or S-group brackets (in black).

Brackets:

Parenteses

Square brackets

Braces

Chevron

Arrows:

Single Arrow

Graphical Retrosynthetic Arrow

Graphical Equilibrium Arrow

Curved Arrow

Dashed Arrow

Crossed Arrow

Graphics:

Line

Polyline

Rectangle

Rounded Rectangle

Ellipse

{info} To draw square/rounded square/circle press SHIFT and use the Rectangle/Rounded Rectangle/Ellipse icon.

Create a graphical object

1. Select the desired graphical objects from the Tools tool bar or the Insert menu.

2. Click and hold the left button, move the mouse and release the button.

3. To create the object click again.

Select a graphical object

Similarly to the structure selection graphical objects can be selected using all selection buttons and shortkey.

Resize/reshape a graphical object

Hovering a graphical object its control points become active and highlighted by blue. Dragging an active control point the object can be reshaped.

Change the style

To change the style (thickness, color) without affecting defaults, right-click on the selected object or objects (they can be of different type) and choose Format... option which opens the Graphic Object Properties dialog.

Move/Rotate/Scale

These changes are identical with those applied to structure. For more information see the Geometric transformation of structure and objects section.

Delete a graphical object

Graphical object can be removed in same ways as structures. These ways are covered in Deleting a Structure section.

Line

Lines look similar to simple single bonds but behave differently:

• they do not carry chemical meaning

• crossing lines appear solid, but bonds do not

Lines are defined by their two endpoints. There is also a third one at the midpoint. This control point can be used for change the line into a curve (for controlling the arc angle) or it can be used as joining point to other objects.

If this control point is used to connect two objects, it can be relocated while the other endpoint of the line remains fixed.

Curve

Curves can be draw by changing a line or a curved arrow.

1. Select the midepoint.

2. Drag the control point to change the curvature. Alternatively, in the Graphical Object Properties dialog box Arc central angle can be set manually.

3. Remove the mouse pointer to unselect the curve.

Rectangle/Square - Rounded rectangle/Rounded square

The shape of an object is changeable or resizable by dragging one of its points.

Polyline/Polygon

To draw a polyline

1. Select the Polyline tool from the Tools toolbar active.

2. Use dragging in combination with clicking to draw.

3. Press Esc or choose an other icon from the toolbar.

{info} Individual middle control points of a polyline can not be moved.