Using the Menus

Here are some of the menu items that you will find useful:

• File > Open (Ctrl/Cmd + O): Opens an existing file.
• File > Save (Ctrl/Cmd + S): Saves an open file.
• File > Save As: Saves an existing file under a new name or in a new location.
• File > Print (Ctrl/Cmd + P): Prints the document. For more, click here.
• Edit > Duplicate (Ctrl/Cmd + D): Duplicates selected object. Then drag the new object to where you want it. You can continue to duplicate objects and Freehand will place the new objects the same distance and direction you moved the new object the previous time.
• Tab: Deselects everything. You can also click in an area that doesn't have any unlocked objects.

Using the Panels

In Freehand, the panels let you change the properties of objects. Here are some pointers for using three of the panels:

To open the Layers panel, click the Layers button.

Notice the lock icons next to the layers. Most of the layers are locked because they are for parts of the chart that you should never need to change. If you unlock these layers, you could inadvertently change things that you don't want to change!

Note the "THINGS TO DO" layer. Objects on this layer need to be changed for your discipline. The other unlocked layers also contain objects or text that you will probably need to change. To make a layer active, click it. Freehand displays a pen nib next to the active layer. New objects that you create are drawn on the active layer.

The "Levels 2-4" layer is where you should add boxes.

To change the fill of an object, use the Fill Inspector. Choose Window > Inspectors > Fill. (If you have the Stroke, Object, Text, or Document panel open, you can just click the Fill tab.) You probably won't need to add fills, but you can. To add a fill, select a closed object (like a box), with the Basic fill type chosen, choose a color from the color drop-down list. To add a gradient, choose gradient from the fill type drop-down list and fiddle with the settings.

To change document properties: Open the Text inspector by choosing Window > Inspectors > Document. (If you have the Stroke, Object, Fill, or Text panel open, you can just click the Document tab.) Here you can add a new document to the sheet, change the size of the document, etc.