You should read the Map Builder articles in this order:

  • Map Builder - Images and Textures
  • Map Builder - Placing Objects
  • Map Builder - Adjustments


    • Inevitably, as you place images and shapes in Map Builder, you'll need to make adjustments to them. You can adjust some attributes on images and shapes using the right click menu or hotkeys as discussed in the previous article (Placing Objects), but only in Edit Mode can you move images, boxes and ellipses, adjust the position of plotted shape vertices, and use the floating drag indicators that allow you to finely alter images and shapes.

    You know you're in Edit Mode when the Draw Shapes interface isn't visible.

    Moving images, boxes and ellipses is accomplished by grabbing the object, placing it where you want it, and releasing the mouse. Adjusting the positions of plotted points is also very simple. Just grab a point and drag it. If the plotted shape has a texture, the texture will remain as it is while the border of the shape expands or contracts.

    In Edit Mode, whenever the mouse highlights a new object, just behind the mouse will appear up to four selectable and drag-able indicators that allow you to adjust a shape or image's transparency, rotation, size or aspect.

    The four drag-able indicators


    Transparency is the half moon shape. Dragging it left and right adjusts the image or shape's transparency value. This function is available for all Map Builder objects.



    Rotation is the arc. Grabbing it and dragging it around the object alters its angle. For more accurate angular positioning, pull the indicator far away, then adjust the angle. This only works on images, boxes and ellipses. Axis lines appear to help you line the object up with some other feature.



    The plus sign is for resizing. You can adjust both axes of the image, box or ellipse by moving the indicator around.



    Finally, the X is the aspect resize. By dragging it left and right, the image, box or ellipse gets larger or smaller without changing the ratio of its dimensions (squares remain square, etc.)



    Remember that even if you resize or rotate a box or ellipse, their textures will remain stationary. Images, however, will be entirely altered.

    If you accidentally grab an indicator, you can cancel its operation before you release it by right-clicking.

    The drag-able indicators are an experiment. Admittedly, sometimes they just get in the way. So try not to get too frustrated with it. In the future, I may allow the user to temporarily remove them with the SHIFT key and release it to make them appear again.

    Map Builder does not yet provide a way to re-size an image or shape by dragging only one side or corner and leaving the other side stationary, which would be beneficial in some circumstances, I will admit. Consider it another very possible future enhancement.

    I may also alter the interface logic and place an option next to Freehand in the menu bar to go into Edit Mode, or possibly hold SHIFT to allow movement and adjustment of objects using the indicators while in a Draw Shape mode.