The RiscOS Drawing Package About the application Special Features Version History System Requirements Download Demo Full Version

The RiscOS Drawing Package

Vector is an advanced object-oriented vector graphics application for Acorn machines and compatibles running RiscOS, mostly compatible with Draw (using the same file format and with a similar user interface) but with many new and powerful features.

The screenshot below shows a Vector drawing window (running under RiscOS 3·7), with the toolbar, status bar and rulers displayed. All of the standard Draw objects are available: in addition, there are others which are specifiec to Vector (although files including them can be exported in a Draw-compatible form for use in other applications).

Click on any of the graphics for a high-resolution full colour (and patent-friendly) version.

A Vector drawing window (53K PNG)

This is the toolbar. It can be hidden or shown with a single keystroke, and while hidden all of the tools and options are available from the menu or with keystroke equivalents.

The toolbar: Select does this - Adjust does this (33K PNG)

This is the status bar, which again can be hidden or shown or controlled from the menu or by keystrokes.

The status bar (11K PNG)

There is not enough space here to describe all of the standard and special objects supported. But this diagram shows an example of all of them - of course, it does not show all of the effects that can be achieved!

The full repertoire of Vector objects (110K PNG)

The application includes a library which can be used for storing standard symbols, graphics, or clip art. The library is independent of any drawing: objects are stored in it simply by selecting them from a drawing and assigning them a name, and an object can be pasted from the library into the same or even a different drawing with a single click. The library can be saved (with its own file type) and reloaded when required.

The library window (13K PNG)

Special Features

• Layers can be used to organise objects into related categories, to hide objects in order to reduce complexity or to eliminate the risk of them being accidentally changed, and to selectively view different categories of information.

  
  The "Layers" dialogue box (21K PNG)

   

• Large paper sizes (up to size 12A0) are available. A simple "Print Setup" option is available for easy production of single-page drawings; larger ones can be split up into as many pages as necessary for printing, with full control over page selection, sheet layout and scale.

  The "Page Setup" dialogue box (15K PNG)

  The "Print Options" dialogue box (20K PNG)

  
  

• Quick copying of objects (simply press the CTRL key and drag an object to copy it).

• Built-in tools for drawing arcs and polygons as well as lines, moves, fitted and Bezier curves. Overlay lines to ease the creation of features such as roads and rivers on maps.

• Multi-line text objects to allow a block of text to be created and edited as a single object (no more aligning, grouping and then having to ungroup to re-edit the text!). Font kerning and background blending, where supported by the operating system (background blending may not be supported by all printer drivers).

  
  A multi-line text object, and the "Text layout" dialogue box (15K PNG)

   

• Scaling and rotation (using the mouse or via a dialogue) of objects about their centre, corner or any point on the drawing. User-definable rotation step.

• A user-definable colour palette for each document. In addition to the standard desktop colours, up to 32 more colours can be defined as required and then applied to objects with just two mouse clicks. Colours can be selected using a 256-colour, 256-grey or RGB dialogue; on systems that support the colour picker (RiscOS 3·5 and later) this can be used instead if preferred.

• Locking of objects so that they cannot be accidentally changed or deleted. Deleted objects are saved and can be restored.

• Up to four rulers and grids with user-selectable units, scaling, origin and resolution. Horizontal and vertical rulers can be displayed. All measurements are displayed and can be entered in defined units.

  The "Rulers" dialogue box (15K PNG)

  The "Grid" dialogue box (17K PNG)

  The "Origin" dialogue box (17K PNG)

  
  

• Replication and radiation for repeating objects, saving memory and keeping all copies of an object consistent. Path merge, split and reverse. Interpolation.

• Saving of drawings in either Vector format (compressed to save disc space, and with all settings included) or in Draw format (for compatibility with other applications). Also in 4Mation's Compressed Draw and Poster formats.

• Style Guide compatible (mostly!). Configurable display colours.

Version History

• Version 1·0 - 1992, Initial release
• Version 1·1 - 1993
• Version 1·3 - 1996
• Version 1·5 - 1999
  1·50 is bundled with RiscOS 4, and will not run on any lower OS. 1·55 is available from 4Mation, and will run on any OS. Apart from the number, these two versions are identical.

System Requirements

RiscOS 3·5 requires !System to be updated to fix a bug with the colour picker. An update (which can be applied with !SysMerge) is included on the Vector disc and with the demo version.

Demo Version - Download

The downloadable demonstration version includes a restricted Vector application (with all of the facilities available apart from saving and printing), a !System update (required for RiscOS 3·5 only), and a number of example files showing the facilities available.

Download Vector demo (version 1·55) 425K SparkFS/ArcFS archive

Full Version - Available from 4Mation

There is no disc-based, limited install or machine ID protection, and a key disc is not required after initial registration.

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Page by Jonathan Marten Last modified: Sat Dec 13 12:48:07 GMT 2008