Hit Boxes and Handles

You select an object by clicking it with the Selection tool, or by clicking one of the square hit boxes on the object's outline. These hit boxes only appear when the cursor is over them, and toggle back and forth between the selection and rotation handles described below.

Note: The first time you place an object, white squares mark the hit boxes on the object. These do not display later, but the hit boxes are available even if unmarked.

A selected object has square black graphic handles surrounding it, and an X in the center for positioning it (as shown).

Move the object around the drawing area by dragging the X (the cursor changes shape to a four pointed crossed arrow).

• If you hold the Shift key and then drag the X , the cursor changes to a rotation symbol and the object will rotate rather than shift position.

• If you hold the Ctrl key and then drag the X, a copy of the object will be placed on the page.

Change the object's shape or size by dragging one of the black graphic handles. Corner handles preserve the object's relative dimensions and face-centered handles stretch it.

The curved double-headed arrow handles (one at each corner of an object) are rotation handles. To display these handles, either click a hit box on the object, or select the object as above and then choose the Free Rotation tool, or double click the object.

When the cursor is positioned over a rotation handle, it changes shape as shown. Drag to rotate the object.