Starting with Draw

    From The Document Foundation Wiki
    Other languages:

    Foreword

    This video shows how to get started with Draw in LibreOffice and links to this page here for more information and details.

    This description here should make it easier for you to get started with Draw.

    Link to the Video

    Link to the Video (in German [DE]):

    Starten mit Draw - LibreOffice This video is in work!

    Introduction

    All questions about Draw can be found in the Draw manual with the individual chapters.

    The term "Drawing" is also used for the Draw component.

    Settings in Draw

    Depending on what you want to draw, it may be useful to make default settings.

    You can find all the important default settings in the Tools ▸ Options… menu.

    The "Options - [SELECT]" dialog opens.

    If you are not sure about the settings, leave them as they are for the time being.

    They are set to default values.

    You can still start drawing.

    Start with the settings for the grid and the drawing scale, if necessary.

    Setting the drawing scale

    Scale
    Scale

    Depending on what you want to draw, it may be useful to preset the Drawing scale for the desired use before starting.

    You can specify the Drawing scale in the menu via Tools ▸ Options… ▸ LibreOfficeDraw ▸ General at Scale.

    Or you select the Drawing scale in the Statusbar at Scale with a rightclick.

    Switch on Grid and Helplines

    Go to the menu Tools ▸ Options… ▸ LibreOfficeDraw ▸ Grid to adjust the spacing (Resolution) of the grid points.

    These settings help you to quickly find the start and end points when drawing.

    "Options-Grid" Dialog

    You can select one of the submenus via the View ▸ Grid and Helplines menu:

    • Display Grid
    • Grid to Front
    • Helplines While Moving

    Use the "Standard" toolbar to select one of the icons as required:

    • "Display Grid"
    • "Snap to Grid"
    • "Helplines While Moving"

    Switch on Snap lines and Rulers

    Snap lines can be positioned independently of the grid.

    The rulers must be visible for this.

    You can display the rulers via the View ▸ Rulers Ctrl+Shift+R menu.

    Click-hold-drag from a ruler to the workspace and release the mouse button at the desired position to set a snap line.

    You can drag any number of snap lines to the workspace.

    Right-click on a snap line to open a context menu with two selection options:

    • Edit Snap line...
    • Delete Snap line

    If you select Edit Snap line... you get the dialog "Edit Snap line".

    In this dialog, you can specify the X value in cm for a vertical snap line and the Y value for a horizontal snap line.

    You have four buttons to choose from in this dialog.

    • Help
    • Delete
    • OK
    • Cancel

    You can select one of the submenus via the View ▸ Snap Guides menu:

    • Display Snap Guides
    • Snap Guides to Front
    • Snap to Grid
    • Snap to Snap Guides
    • Snap to Object Border
    • Snap to Object Points
    • Snap to Page Margins

    Layers in Draw

    Draw uses drawing layers.

    These allow you to group similar objects together in one layer.

    You can also create your own layers for your objects, see:

    Layer Functions in Draw

    How do you start creating a drawing?

    Start LibreOffice on your PC or notebook.

    In the Start Center, select "Draw Drawing"

    Draw Start-Center

    Note: You can also start Draw from any other component.

    To do this, select File ▸ New ▸ Drawing from the menu.

    First select a layer below the work area in which you want to start drawing.

    Draw opened
    Legend to Draw opened
    1 Title bar 2 Menu bar 3 Standard toolbar
    4 Drawing toolbar 5 Page pane 6 Work area
    7 Sidebar 8 Layer bar 9 Statusbar

    Or create a new Layer.

    Click on the tab of the Layer to activate the Layer.

    Otherwise, start drawing as you would on paper.

    The cursor becomes a drawing pen.

    "Drawing" Toolbar

    Select an icon from the "Drawing" toolbar.

    "Drawing" toolbar
    Legend to "Drawing" Toolbar
    1 Select 2 Line Colour 3 Fill Colour 4 Insert Line
    5 Rectangle 6 Ellipse 7 Lines and Arrows 8 Curves and Polygons
    9 Connectors 10 Basic Shapes 11 Symbol Shapes 12 Block Arrows
    13 Flowchart 14 Callout Shapes 15 Stars and Banners 16 3D Objects

    If the "Drawing" toolbar is not available, select View ▸ Toolbars ▸ Drawing from the menu.

    Insert Line

    For example, click on the "Insert Line" icon.

    The cursor now has the shape of a crosshair 7612DE Draw Visierkreuz.png.

    Draw a line with the cursor by clicking and holding the mouse at the desired starting point on the worksheet and dragging the mouse to the desired end point and releasing it - the line has been created.

    If you don't want to draw another line, press the ESC key.

    The line can now be clicked on and marked.

    You can see this because the line now has selection handles (small square dots) at its ends.

    7612EN Draw LineWithDots.png

    You can use click-hold-drag to move this point and thus make the line longer or shorter and change the direction.

    Or instead, right-click on the line and select "Position and Size…" in the context menu, then you can enter the numerical values as required.

    "Position and Size" dialog

    For example, a circle, like other shapes, is positioned by default using the top left corner of the rectangle surrounding the shape.

    But in "Position and Size…" (see above) you can set the base point in the center and then enter its position as desired.

    Further Informations

    Documentation / Manuals

    Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

    Documentation / Manuals

    Any questions?

    For questions on this topic go to:

    Ask.LibreOffice

    Get Involved

    Join us today and help us to make it even better!

    Get Involved

    LibreOffice is Free Software and is made available free of charge.

    Your donation, which is purely optional, supports our worldwide community.

    If you like the software, please consider a Donation.