Special Tools

The Performer Labeling tool is used to change a performer’s identifying attributes. A performer’s attributes consist of the performer label (usually a number), label placement at a count, symbol and color used at a count, and performer name.

Some performer attributes do not change throughout the drill. Unchanging attributes consist of a performer’s label and name.

Other performer attributes can change at any count within a drill. Changing attributes are a performer’s label placement, performer’s color and symbol. A performer’s color and symbol are usually not changed within a drill. However, a possible use for changing the symbol is to indicate a flag change. Another possible use for changing the color is to indicate a costume change.

The display of a performer’s label can be turned on and off by the Hide/Show Labeling Switch located in the upper right corner of the Field Display window. When the Hide/Show Labeling Switch is on (depressed), the labels on the count displayed will be shown. Until labels for a performer are entered with the Performer Labeling tool the performer has no label. When the performer has no label there is nothing to show and turning the Hide/Show Labeling Switch on or off appears to do nothing. It is not necessary to turn the Hide/Show Labeling Switch on when using the Labeling tool. Labels (if any) are always shown while the Labeling tool is active.

After selecting a group of performers whose labeling attributes you want to change, clicking the Performer Labeling tool on the Tool Palette will display the Performer Labeling Control Panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A red bubble will appear on top of one of the selected performers. Entering a value in the Label text box changes the label of the performer marked with the red bubble. If the label value ends in a numeric value, the [+] [-] Repeat button will be active. Clicking on the [+] button will change all of the remaining selected performers with an increasing value starting with the number entered in the Label text box. For example, T1 will generate T2, T3, T4... Likewise, clicking on the [-] button changes all of the remaining selected performers with a decreasing value.

Entering text in the Name text box changes the name of the performer marked with the red bubble.

Clicking on a red dot in the Position compass will change the position of the labels relative to the location of the symbol assigned each performer.

 

Contour A will move the labels on each performer to a position perpendicular to the contour of the shape.

 

 

 

Contour B does the same as Contour A except the positions are on the other side of the shape.

 

 

 

Alternate follows the contour of the shape but alternates each label position to each side of the shape.

 

 

The default performer label position can be set. Select Document Options from the File menu. In the Preferences tab find the option “Default label position.” Choose one of the positions in the list. All new transitions will initially set the label position to the default label position.

Clicking the [Further] Space button will increase the distance of the label from the shape. Likewise, the [Closer] Space button decreases the distance.

Entering a character such as X in the Symbol will change the symbol of the performer marked with the red bubble to the character entered. The Repeat Symbol button will repeat the symbol entered throughout the selection. Typing a sequence such as ABC will change the symbols in sequence. The performer marked with a red bubble will be an A. The next performer a B, then C. The sequence will repeat through the remaining performers.

Entering a color in the Color button will change the color of the performer marked with the red bubble. The Repeat Color button will repeat the color throughout the selection.

The symbol and color changes can be applied to all counts of the drill or the changes can be applied only to the counts set between the Yellow and Red Anchors on the Count Track. The option is set with, “These changes apply to all counts” and “These changes apply to counts xx thru xx.”

Previous and Next will move the red bubble to the previous and next performer of the selected performers. The <up/down> arrows do the same.

Accept button accepts the labeling changes into the drill. Clicking on any tool without clicking Accept will cancel the labeling changes. The changes can also be cancelled by moving an anchor on the Count Track.

The Text Tool is used to enter boxes of text directly onto a count of drill. Usually a text box contains drill instructions for the performers.

Clicking on the Text tool will display the Text Tool Control Panel.

 

 

 

All existing text boxes (if any) will appear on the screen with editing handles in the upper left and lower right corner of each box.

Clicking on the field and not on any existing text box will create a NEW text box. The location of the first click will become the upper left corner of the new text box. Move the mouse to a location for the lower right corner of the new text box. In order to type text inside the box, click in the middle of the box to place a cursor in the context area for typing.

Clicking and dragging on an editing handle located in the upper left corner of a text box will move the text box. Similarly, clicking and dragging on an editing handle located in the lower right corner of a text box will resize the text box.

Clicking in the middle of an existing text box will select the text box and place a cursor in the boxes content area for typing. A text box is selected if the frame around the box is red. After a text box is selected, changes made in the Text Box Control Panel will only affect the selected text box leaving all other text boxes (if any) untouched. If no text box is selected, changes in the options of the Text Box Control Panel will have no affect on any existing text box, however, any new text box created will have to be created with the current control panel options.

Contents of a text box can be copied and pasted using <ctrl> c to copy and <ctrl> v to paste. This is useful to know when the contents of a text box is repeated throughout a drill. For example, often an instruction box is placed on each set of a drill. Each instruction box has formatted information that is repeated on each set such as Section #____ Transition ______. This text can be copied and pasted into a text box at each set.

Font Size [Bigger] and [Smaller] buttons will increase or decrease the size of the font used within the selected text box.

Framed option will draw a frame around the selected text box.

Transparent option will make the text box transparent. When transparent, the field grid along with any performers will show through the text box.

Serif option will change the font to a Serif styled font as opposed to the default setting of a SanSerif style.

Delete button will delete the selected text box. If no text box is selected, the Delete button will do nothing.

Lists of pre-designed text boxes with text can be created and used though the Templates combo box located in the Text Tool Control Panel.

Interactive and Professional Editons:

When a Text Box is selected, you may choose to quickly import a note from Production Sheet by choosing one of the five Notes button. This will import the note from your current set in the Production Sheet to your Text Box.

 

 

To use a template, select the template from the Templates combo box and click Use. Initially there are no templates in the list, and only the Edit List.... item will be found.

Adding a template to the list is accomplished by first creating or selecting an existing text box with the desired text typed into it. Select Edit List... from the Templates list to display the Text Template List Editor.

Within the Text Template List Editor, clicking Add will add the selected (or just created) text box to the list. Likewise, clicking Replace will replace the selected template in the list with the selected text box on the chart. Similarly, clicking Delete will delete the selected template from the list.

Selecting any of the Production Sheet Inserts will quickly develop a Text Box Template that you may save and use throughout your design process.

Accept button accepts the text changes into the drill. Clicking on any tool without clicking Accept will cancel the text changes. The changes can also be cancelled by moving an anchor on the Count Track.

The Arrow tool adds arrow indicators to a chart. Arrows are usually used to indicate direction of movement within a transition. Arrows can also be used to identify distances between two points. Typically distances between performers and key places on a field. There is also a center point arrow which is useful for marking the center point for arcs and circles as well as indicating a distance for the radius.

Selecting the Arrow Labeling tool in the Tool Palette and the Arrow Labeling Control Panel will display.

 

Any existing arrows will appear on the screen with editing handles at each end. Curved arrows will have an additional editing handle in the middle.

 

 

 

Clicking on an arrow’s editing handle will select the arrow. A selected arrow is drawn in red. Dragging an editing handle will reposition the selected arrow.

 

 

Clicking on a location on the field that is not on an existing arrow’s editing handle will start the creation of a NEW arrow. The type of the new arrow is defined by the current settings in the Arrow Labeling Control Panel. There are three types of arrows: Straight, Curved and Center Point. Straight Arrow is an arrow formed by a straight line. Likewise, Curved Arrow is an arrow formed by a curved line.

Center Point arrow is an arrow that represents the radius of a circle or arc. For a Straight or Curved arrow, the location of the first click will become one end of the new arrow. A second click on the field will become the other end of the arrow. For a Center Point arrow, the first click will be the center point and the second click will be the circumference. After the arrow is entered, the settings for the new arrow can be changed.

Arrow Heads can be added to either end of the arrow using the Arrow Head options. The length of the arrow can be placed on the arrow using the Show Length option.

Delete Arrow button will delete the currently selected arrow. The currently selected arrow is the arrow drawn in red. To select a different handle, click on one of its editing handles.

Accept button accepts the arrows into the drill. Clicking on any tool without clicking Accept will cancel the arrow changes. The changes can also be cancelled by moving an anchor on the Count Track.

The full Prop Tool information can bee seen on the Prop Tool Page.