Polygon Tool

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Polygon Tool


 

Editor-Icon Polygon Tool

 


 

Click Polygon Tool to add polygon annotations to documents:

 

polygon.location.2

Figure 1. Tools Tab Submenu, Polygon Tool

 

When the Polygon Tool is selected, click to designate the first point of the polygon, then move the pointer to the next location and click to designate the second point. Repeat this process until the final point of the desired shape is reached and then double-click to complete the polygon:

 

polygon.examples

Figure 2. Polygon Tool Examples

 

The upper polygon has just been placed, which means editing options are enabled:

 

Click and drag the outer control points to resize polygons.

Click and drag the inner control points to reposition them.

Click and drag polygons to reposition them. The circle at the center can also be used for this purpose.

Click and drag the green control point at the top to rotate polygons. Hold down Shift to rotate at increments of fifteen degrees.

Use the arrow keys to reposition polygons. Hold down Shift to move at an increased increment.

Use the editing aids detailed here to assist in the precise placement of polygons.

Right-click polygons for further options. See here for an explanation of these options.

When the Polygon Tool is selected, the following options are enabled in the Properties Toolbar:

Fill Color determines the fill color of polygons.

Stroke Color determines the color of polygon borders.

Border Style determines the style of polygon borders.

Border Width determines the width of polygon borders.

Opacity determines the level of transparency in polygons.

Blend Mode determines how polygons blend with underlying content. These options are explained here.

Keep Selected determines whether or not the Polygon Tool remains selected after a polygon has been created. If this option is enabled then the tool will remain selected and can be used to create several polygons consecutively. If this option is not enabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool immediately after creating a polygon.

Exclusive Mode simplifies the process of using the Polygon Tool. When Exclusive Mode is enabled, the pointer ignores all interactive elements of documents other than base content. This makes it possible to create polygons on areas that overlap with other content without the risk of accidentally selecting undesired items. When Exclusive Mode is disabled, the pointer recognizes and interacts with all underlying elements in the usual manner.

Click Properties to view/edit additional polygon properties, as detailed below.

Note that several default styles are available for polygons, as detailed in (figure 1). Click to select alternative annotation styles. The Comment Styles Palette can be used to save customized polygon styles for subsequent use. Right-click the Polygon icon in the Comment Toolbar to view existing styles and/or access the Comment Styles Palette.

The Commenting section of the Preferences dialog box can be used to view/edit preferences for comments.

 

Polygon Properties Pane

 

polygon.properties

Figure 3. Polygon Properties Pane

 

Subject is the name of the polygon annotation, as referenced in the Comments pane.

Author is the name of the user that created the polygon annotation.

Name is the unique name of the polygon annotation, as referenced within the application.

Created is the date and time at which the polygon annotation was created.

Modified is the date and time at which the polygon annotation was last modified.

Read Only is the read only status of the polygon annotation. If this property is enabled then users cannot interact with the annotation. Please note that it is necessary to use JavaScript to change the value of this property.

Printable is the print status of the polygon annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation is printed with the document. If this property is not enabled then the annotation is not printed.

Locked is the locked status of the polygon annotation. If this property is enabled then the annotation cannot be deleted and its properties (including its position and size) cannot be modified by users.

Layer specifies the optional content layer to which the polygon annotation belongs. Further information about layers is available here.

Fill Color determines the color of the line ending style used at the start of the polygon annotation. The line ending property is detailed below.

Stroke Color determines the color of the polygon annotation.

Border Style determines the style of the annotation.

Border Width determines the width of the annotation.

Opacity determines the level of transparency in the polygon annotation.

Blend Mode determines how polygon annotations blend with overlapping content. These options are explained here.

Rotation determines the degrees of rotation of the polygon annotation.

 

Convert Polygon Annotations to Perimeter Annotations

 

If you want to convert polygon annotations to area annotations, then right-click the polygon annotation and click Convert to Measurement:

 

polygon.to.perimeter

Figure 4. Right-Click Shortcut Menu, Convert to Measurement Highlighted

 

The polygon annotation will then convert into an area annotation. Note that it is possible to convert multiple annotations at the same time.

 

Convert Polygon Annotations to Multiple Line Annotations

 

If you want to convert polygon annotations to multiple line annotations, then right-click the polygon line annotation and click Convert to Lines:

 

polygon.to.lines

Figure 5. Right-Click Shortcut Menu, Convert to Lines Highlighted

 

The polygon annotation will then be converted into multiple line annotations that can be edited as separate annotations:

 

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Figure 6. Polygon Annotation Converted into Line Annotations