Canvas

Table of Contents

The Canvas is the primary drawing view in Stackitecture. If you want to change the way something displays graphically, you’ll want to do it via the Canvas.

Canvas Tools

Select Tool

The Select Tool enables selection of canvas objects.

Single Selection

First enable the Select Tool by clicking the Canvas Select Tool button. Once the Select Tool is enabled, to select an object, click on it.

Deselection

To deselect an object, either select a different object (thereby deselecting the current object) or click on a blank area of the canvas.

Multi-Select

To select a group, do the following:

1. Click on the Select Tool in the Canvas menu.
2. Click and drag a box across all the canvas objects you want to select. A selection box will appear as you drag, enabling you to see what graphics will be selected.

Line Tool

The Line Tool enables drawing a line between various points. Typically, you would use this to indicate a bidirectional (two-way) relationship. By default, the Line Tool will draw one segment. To use it, perform the following:

1. Click the Line Tool in the Canvas menu
2. Click at the start location of the line.
3. Click at the end location of the line.

Arrow Tool

The Arrow Tool enables drawing a line with an arrow at the end of the line. Typically, you would use this to indicate a unidirection (one-way) By default, the Arrow tool will draw one segment. To use it, perform the following:

1. Click the Arrow Tool in the Canvas menu
2. On the canvas, click at the start location of the arrow line.
3. On the canvas, click at the end location of the arrow line; the arrowhead will be placed at the end of the line.

Rectangle Tool

The Rectangle Tool enables drawing a rectangle on the Canvas. Typically you would use this to indicate:

• a group of components that work together
• a swimlane
• highlight an area of interest

To use the Rectangle Tool, perform the following steps:

1. click the Rectangle Tool in the Canvas menu
2. Click and hold the mouse down on the canvas - this point will be starting point of the rectangle.
3. Drag on the canvas until you have the rectangle you want, then release the mouse.

Oval Tool

The Oval Tool enables drawing an oval (also known as an ellipse) on the Canvas. Typically you would use this to indicate:

• a group of components that work together
• highlight an area of interest
• an abstraction of another system

Move Layer Up Tool

Coming soon

Move Layer Down Tool

Coming soon

Canvas Operations

Delete Object

To delete an object from the Canvas, do the following:

1. Click on the Select Tool in the Canvas menu.
2. Click on the graphic you want to delete.
3. Press the delete button on your keyboard.

The delete operation also supports deleting multiple graphics that have been selected.

Rotate Object

1. Click on the Select Tool in the Canvas menu
2. Click on the graphic you want to manipulate.
3. Click on rotation point (slightly right of the object’s center)
4. Drag the rotation point in the direction you want to rotate the object.

Scale Object

1. Click on the Select Tool in the Canvas menu
2. Click on the graphic you want to manipulate.
3. Click on one of the eight adjustment points
4. Drag the adjustment point in the direction you want to scale the object.

if you want to maintain the aspect ratio, then hold the shift key while you drag the adjustment point.