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Cosmetic Layers

With M2Assistant, you may also create cosmetic layers. A cosmetic layer allows you to create and position labels, lines, circles or rectangles anywhere on the network plot. This is useful if you wish to highlight certain areas of the network, or to label parts of the network. There are five types of cosmetic objects:
  • Network label - this is a label that is positioned using network coordinates. As you zoom or pan around the network, the label will also move as its' start coordinates are based on network coordinates. 
  • Fixed label - this is a label that is positioned using screen coordinates. The label will always remain in the same location even if you zoom or pan around the network. 
  • Line - a line drawn between two points. You may specify the color and pen style for the line.
  • Rectangle - a rectangle drawn between two points. You may specify the color of the rectangle border and the interior of the rectangle.
  • Ellipse - an ellipse (or circle) that is drawn within a rectangle. You may specify the color of the ellipse border and the interior of the ellipse.
     


    To create a cosmetic layer, right-click in the list of layers on the left and choose the Add Layer.. menu option. Then, choose the cosmetic file type (*.m2i) and either enter a new file name or open an existing cosmetic layer file. The cosmetic layer file is added to the layer list. Select this layer and make sure that it is visible.

    To add a new cosmetic object, right-click anywhere in the network plot and select the Add... option. Then, select one of the five cosmetic object types. The mouse cursor will change to indicate that you are now adding objects.
  • Adding labels. First click the Properties button and enter the caption for the new label. Then, click on the network plot at the position where you wish to add the label. You may add more than one label by continuing to click on the plot. To stop adding labels, press the ESC key. You may go back and change any label caption just by clicking the label to select it, and editing its caption. The label may also include a wildcard.
  • Adding lines: Click on the network plot at the start of the line, and then click on the network plot at the end of the line. To stop adding lines, press the ESC key. To move the line or changes its' endpoints, click on the line to select it, and then either drag the line to a new location or drag the endpoints of the line to a new location.
  • Adding rectangles and ellipses: Click on the network plot at the start of the rectangle/ellipse and then click again at the opposite corner of the rectangle/ellipse. To stop adding rectangles or ellipses, press the ESC key. To move the object or change its' size, click the object and either drag it to a new location, or drag its' corners to resize it.
     
    To delete a cosmetic object, right-click anywhere in the network plot and select the Delete option. The mouse cursor will change to indicate that you are deleting objects.  Then, click the object(s) to be deleted. You will be asked to confirm whether you wish to delete the object. Press ESC to stop deleting objects.

    To change the properties of an object, first click the object to select it and then click the Properties button. Edit the desired properties (font, line color, fill color, etc.)  

    The order in which cosmetic objects were added and are displayed is shown in the Layer Data of the cosmetic layer. Click the Layer Data button to display a list of each cosmetic object. The type of object and its' X and Y coordinates, as well as its' caption (if the object is a label) are shown in the table. Right-click anywhere in the table to move the objects up or down in the list. In this way, you may change the order in which the objects are plotted on the network. You may also edit the caption of an object using the table.