Nisus Writer Pro - Manual (Page 198)

178 Working with Shapes Graphics: Images and Shapes
If you have multiple shapes selected and send them to the back their relative stacking order is
maintained.
Cause selected objects to function as a single unit
1. Select two or more shapes and/or images.
2. Choose the menu command Tools > Shapes > Group Shapes or click the Group button in the
Tools portion of the Shapes palette.
This groups the selected objects to be affected as if they move as a unit.
A group is like any other shape. It has its own border, fill, etc. Changing the metrics of grouped
shapes do not directly affect all the shapes in the group. Rather, the metrics of the group are
changed, which means all shapes inside the group are along for the ride; a group scales the
shapes inside it.
Grouping shapes, creates a new bounding box that surrounds the grouped graphics. When you
select a set of shapes that have been grouped, any changes made in the
• Shape Wrap palette causes the text wrap options to wrap around the bounding box, not the
individual shapes. When you choose to have text wrap around the actual shape of the
image, the text wraps around what would be the bounding box of the ungrouped shapes.
• Shape Stroke palette affect the group’s bounding box and not the individual shapes.
• Shape Shadow palette affect the group’s bounding box and not the individual shapes.
• Shape Metrics palette affect all the shapes in the group proportionately.
• Shape Fill palette affect the groups bounding box and not the individual shapes that do not
already have a fill.
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You can also work on multiple floating shapes that are selected, but not grouped. In this case
whenever you change an attribute using any of the palettes, all selected objects are affected.
Cause grouped objects to function as a individual items
1. Select grouped shapes and/or images.
2. Choose the menu command Tools > Shapes > Ungroup Shapes or click the Ungroup button
in the Tools portion of the Shapes palette.
This ungroups the selected objects so they can be dealt with individually.
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If you have a group selected, click again on a shape inside that group. This selects a shape
inside that group with a single shape selected (that can be individually manipulated).
Working with multiple selected shapes
You can also work on multiple floating shapes that are selected, but not grouped. In this case
whenever you change an attribute using any of the palettes, all selected objects are affected.
Using the Shape Fill palette
Every shape can have its own fill using the Shape Fill palette illustrated in Figure 205. This fill
functions much the same way as table cell shading, explained in “Set the shading (color) of cells” on
page 213, with the additional ability to change the opacity of the shape.
This pop-up menu corresponds to the commands found on the Style submenu of Shape Fill sub-
menu of the Tools menu. The default colors available are listed on page 457.
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One of the values of having all these commands on the menus as well as the palette is that
you can assign keyboard shortcuts to them as explained in “Assign Menu Keys to Menu
Commands” on page 383, as well as use the commands in automating tasks using macros as
explained in “Macros, Skimming the Surface” on page 397.
1. Select the shape(s) you want to change.
2. Drag the Opacity slider in the Shape Shadow palette or enter the percentage of opacity you
want.
As an alternative, you can choose commands from the menu Tools > Shape Fill > Opacity to
set the opacity of the fill of selected shapes. The available options appear in 10% increments
from 0% (Clear) to 100% (Solid).