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Previous: An Artificial Neuron  Up: Step-by-Step Examples  Next: A Poster  


Bus

This example illustrates how to:

  1. If you have not already done so, enable the grid lock via Settings->Grid->Lock Grid.

  2. Use Settings->Configure TeX/LaTeX Settings to display the TeX/LaTeX Settings dialog box and set the normal font size to the value that you will be using in your document (see Figure 11.29). In my document, I have used 10pt.

    busnormalsize
    Figure 11.29: Bus Example--Setting the Normal Font Size
    To create the bus outline, start with the ellipse tool, and create a circle (Figure 11.30).

    bus1
    Figure 11.30: Bus Example--Create a Circle

  3. Select the circle, and select the edit path tool. The control point at the start of the path is always the first selected control point when you select the edit tool (Figure 11.31(a)). Select the second segment in the path (Figure 11.31(b)).

    bus2a
    (a)
    bus2b
    (b)
    Figure 11.31: Bus Example--Editing the Path

  4. Break the path using the edit path popup menu and selecting Break path (Figure 11.32(a)). You should now have two separate semi-circles (Figure 11.32(b)). If you find that the circle has been split unevenly (i.e. you have a quadrant and a three-quarters of a circle) then you selected the wrong segment. Don't panic, just select Edit->Undo and try again.

    bus3a
    (a)
    bus3b
    (b)
    Figure 11.32: Bus Example--Break the Path

  5. Exit edit path mode. Move and rotate the top semi-circle so that it looks like Figure 11.33.

    bus4
    Figure 11.33: Bus Example--Move and Rotate Top Semi-Circle
    Select the open line tool and add in the two lines as shown in Figure 11.34.

    bus5
    Figure 11.34: Bus Example--Adding Lines

  6. Select all paths and use Transform->Path Union. You should now have just a single path.

  7. Select this new path, and use the edit path tool to give the front end of the bus a slightly curved outline, as shown in Figure 11.35. (You may find it easier to temporarily disable the grid lock while you edit the path.)

    bus6
    Figure 11.35: Bus Example--Convert Line Segment to a Curve
    Add the windows, as shown in Figure 11.36.

    bus7
    Figure 11.36: Bus Example--Add Windows

  8. This next operation assumes that you haven't changed the stacking order. The main outline of the bus must be at the rear. To ensure this, select the bus outline and use the move to back function.

  9. Select all paths, and apply Transform->Subtract Paths. Set the fill colour to red using the Edit->Fill Colour dialog box. The windows should appear as holes. See Figure 11.37.

    bus8
    Figure 11.37: Bus Example--Subtract Windows from Bus Outline and Set Fill Colour

  10. Make sure that the bus is selected. Select the TeX/LaTeX->Shapepar menu item. A dialog box will appear: select the Use Path option and click Okay. Scan lines will appear as FlowframTk works out the parameters. Once completed a file dialog box will appear. Give the file a name, e.g. busshape.tex.

  11. If you are using LaTeX, create a document that looks something like:
    \documentclass{article}
    \usepackage{shapepar}
    \begin{document}
    \input{busshape}\frenchspacing
    The wheels on the bus go round and round...
    
    \end{document}
    

  12. If you are using plain TeX, create a document that looks something like:
    \input shapepar.sty
    
    \input busshape.tex
    \frenchspacing
    The wheels on the bus go round and round...
    
    \bye
    

  13. The resulting shaped paragraph is shown in Figure 11.38.

    bus9
    Figure 11.38: Bus Example--Resulting Shaped Paragraph



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