2.Using objects

Objects refer to any items that are placed onto the FCS Express document, called a layout. Objects include plots, text boxes, statistic tables and pictures. Objects can be manipulated similarly to objects in Microsoft PowerPoint, which means they can be moved, resized, deleted, grouped, aligned, cut, copied and duplicated. In order for an object to be manipulated, the object must first be selected. A red border surrounding the object denotes a selected object. An object can also be in edited mode, which is denoted by a green border around the object. Edited mode will be described in detail later.

2.1 Inserting an object
To insert an object, simply choose the object from the Insert menu. In the following example, we will insert a picture.

To insert a Picture:

1. Select the Insert→Picture from the main menu menu.
2. When the file selection dialog opens, select the picture file you wish to insert (we will use the De Novo Software Logo as an example for the rest of the tutorial

Figure 1 Selecting Objects

Inserting an object through the insert menu automatically places the object in the center of the layout. The red border around the object signifies the object is selected. Clicking inside the object will place the object in edit mode and the border will change from red to green. For more information on selected and edit modes, refer to section 4.2.1.2 in the FCS Express manual. Clicking anywhere on the layout background will deselect the object. To select the object again, move the mouse until it is on the border of the object and then click on the border. You will know the cursor is in the right place because the cursor will change to a four headed arrow

2.2 Resizing an object
Once an object is selected, you can resize it by moving the cursor to one of the resizing handles (black squares) along the border of the object. You will know you are in the correct position because the cursor will change to a two headed arrow. Then press and hold down the left mouse button. Drag the cursor to the new position, and release the mouse. You can maintain the aspect ratio of an object by holding down shift while you resize the object.

The example below shows how to resize the object both horizontally and vertically at the same time:

1. Move the cursor to the bottom right hand corner of the object until the arrow cursor changes to a 2-way diagonal arrow cursor.
2. Press and hold down on the mouse while moving the cursor to an appropriate position. A dashed outline showing the new size of the object will appear as you move the mouse.
3. Once the proper size is chosen, release the left mouse button and the object will resize to the size of the outline.

Figure 2 Resizing Objects

2.3 Moving an object
To move an object:

1. Move the cursor along the border until a 4-headed arrow cursor appears
2. Press and hold down the left mouse button.
3. Move the mouse while holding down the button. A dashed outline showing the new position of the object will appear as you move the mouse.
4. Once you have placed the outline of the object in its desired location, release the left mouse and the object will move to the new region.

Figure 3 Moving Objects

Alternatively, you can move the object by selecting it and pressing the arrow keys on the keyboard (up, down, left, right). To move the object with the keyboard in smaller increments, hold shift when pressing the arrow keys.

2.4 Deleting an object
To delete an object:

1. Select the object as described above.
2. Pressing the Delete key on the keyboard
   OR
3. Select the Edit→Delete from the main menu.

Figure 4 Deleting Objects using the Edit menu

2.5 Undoing changes
FCS Express Version 3 allows for any number of previous operations to be undone. To undo any changes, select Edit→Undo from the menu item. The text on the Undo menu item will change to inform you which operation can be undone. You can also press Ctrl+Z to undo changes.

For example, to undo the delete of the picture in the step above, select Edit→Undo from the main menu. The text next to the in the Undo option informs you what change is to be undone. In this case, since an object was deleted previously, then the description of the change is Undo Close Window.
	Figure 5 Undo

2.6 Duplicating objects
To duplicate an object:

1. Select the object as described above.
2. Select Edit→Duplicate from the main menu. The new object will appear offset slightly lower and to the right of the old object.

Figure 6 Duplicating Objects

2.7 Selecting multiple objects

Selecting multiple objects using the mouse

1. Place the cursor outside the border region at one corner of the objects you would like to select.
2. Press and hold the left mouse button.
3. Move the cursor. A dotted rectangular box will appear as you move the cursor around the layout.
4. Size the dotted box until all the objects to be selected are contained within the box.
5. Release the mouse.

All the objects will now be selected as seen by the presence of a red border around each one.

Step 1	Step 2-4	Step 5
Figure 7 Selecting multiple objects

Selecting multiple objects using the keyboard
To select multiple objects using the clipboard:

1. Hold down the Shift key on the keyboard.
2. Click inside or on the border of an object that you want to select. When the object is selected the border will change to red.
3. Continue holding down Shift and move the cursor to another object you want to select, and then click inside or on the border of this object. You may also deselect during this multiple selection process by shift clicking on an already selected object.
4. Once the objects you want to select are selected, release the Shift key. All the objects you have selected will have a red border.

2.8 Copying Objects
FCS Express allows you to copy one or more objects to the clipboard and paste them onto the same or a different layout page.

To Copy Objects:

1. Select the object or objects to be copied as described above.
2. Select Edit→Copy from the main menu. The text on the Copy menu item will inform you which object will be copied. Alternatively, you can use the CTRL+C shortcut.

Figure 8 Copying Objects

2.9 Pasting Objects
To paste objects that are on the clipboard:

1. Select Edit→Paste from the main menu.

2.10 Grouping objects
Individual objects on a page can be grouped together. This means that as soon as one object in the group is selected, all the objects in the group will become selected. This is useful, for example, if several objects are in a specific relative location to each other and you want to make sure that you cannot move one without moving all of the others.

To group several objects together:

1. Select the objects that you want to group, as described above.
2. Select Edit→Grouping→Group from the main menu. After objects are grouped, the whole set of objects can be moved, resize, deleted, etc. all at once.
3. Click on a blank area of the layout to unselect all the objects.
4. Click on the border of one of the objects. They should all become selected

Figure 9 Grouping Objects

To ungroup several objects

1. Select all objects you want to ungroup, as described above.
2. Select Edit→Grouping→Group from the main menu.

2.11 Aligning objects
FCS Express allows for both horizontal and vertical alignment of objects by sides, tops, bottoms, or centers. This alignment feature also allows you to resize an objects height or width with respect to another object's size. Objects are always aligned with respect to the first object selected.

Horizontal Alignment
To horizontally align multiple objects:

1. Select all the objects you want to align.
2. Select Edit→Align from the main menu. An Alignment Dialog box will appear in the center of the layout.
3. Select Center from the horizontal alignment button list while leaving the vertical alignment at No Change.
4. Press the OK button.

Step 2
Step 3
Final Result
Figure 10 Aligning Objects

Two objects are now horizontally aligned and the horizontal centers of the objects are identical.

Width and Height Alignment
To make two objects have the same height and width:

1. Select the object that is the size you wish all the other objects to be.
2. Select the rest of the objects.
3. Select Edit→Align from the main menu. An Alignment Dialog box will appear in the center of the layout.
4. Select Width from the horizontal alignment list.
5. Select Height from the vertical alignment list.
6. Press the OK button.

Figure 11 Aligning the size of two objects

All the selected objects are now the size as the first object selected. Alternatively, the height and width could have been aligned separately.

2.12 Ordering Objects
A new feature in FCS Express Version 3 allows for explicit placement of objects in front or behind other objects.

To move an object in front of another one:

1. Select the object that you want to move in front, as described above.
2. Select Edit→Order→Bring Forward from the main menu.

Step 2
Final Result

If working with multiple objects, you may also send object to the top or bottom of the pile of objects