PopChart Builder Interface

The interface for PopChart Builder is similar to other applications. In this section, you will learn about the various components of your PopChart project, as well as PopChart Builder' toolbar and menu options. The following figure displays an appearance file in PopChart Builder.

The large area in the background of the main screen is called the canvas. Everything you create in PopChart Builder is done on the canvas.

The rectangular area is called the project area. A project can have one or more graph objects inside of it. It can also have several text box and legend objects.

Graph objects consist of scales, a grid area, and graph items, such as a bars, lines, and pie wedges.

The status bar at the bottom of the canvas identifies the location of your mouse pointer on the screen and the name of the currently selected object in the project.

In addition to understanding the components on the canvas, it is helpful to become familiar with the following: toolbar buttons, menu options, keyboard shortcuts.

Toolbar Buttons

The toolbar provides quick access to the key functions you perform. Below is a table describing all of the toolbar buttons in PopChart Builder.

Button Functionality

New Project

Open project

Save project

Preview project in browser

Create a graph

Create a legend

Create a text box

Create an Image

Delete selected object

Delete selected part of graph

Undo last action

Redo last undo

Show Help

Select generic graph type

Select graph sub-type

Menus

The following table lists all of the PopChart Builder menu items.

File Menu

Menu Item Functionality

New Creates a new appearance file from a blank canvas. Automatically closes the current document.

New Wizard Creates a new appearance file using the PopChart Wizard. Automatically closes the current document.

Open Opens an existing appearance file. Automatically closes the current document.

Recent Projects Lists the latest (user specified) number of projects accessed in PopChart Builder. Selecting one of these projects will close the currently opened appearance file.

Save Saves the current appearance file.

Save As Saves the current appearance file under a different name.

Preview Opens up the user's default browser and shows how the appearance file will look as a dynamically generated PopChart image.

Sample Code Opens the Sample Code dialog. This dialog will help you generate code to embed your appearance file into a web page.

PopChart License Prompts the user for the PopChart Builder license key.

Exit Exits the Program.

Menu Item	Functionality

New	Creates a new appearance file from a blank canvas. Automatically closes the current document.
New Wizard	Creates a new appearance file using the PopChart Wizard. Automatically closes the current document.
Open	Opens an existing appearance file. Automatically closes the current document.
Recent Projects	Lists the latest (user specified) number of projects accessed in PopChart Builder. Selecting one of these projects will close the currently opened appearance file.
Save	Saves the current appearance file.
Save As	Saves the current appearance file under a different name.
Preview	Opens up the user's default browser and shows how the appearance file will look as a dynamically generated PopChart image.
Sample Code	Opens the Sample Code dialog. This dialog will help you generate code to embed your appearance file into a web page.
PopChart License	Prompts the user for the PopChart Builder license key.
Exit	Exits the Program.

Edit Menu

Menu Item Functionality

Undo Undo the last command

Redo Redo the last undo command

Create Graph Creates a new graph in the project.

Create Legend Creates a legend for the selected graph. You can only have one legend per graph.

Create Text box Creates a text box in the project.

Duplicate Object Duplicates the selected object

Delete Object Deletes the selected object

Next Object Selects the next object

Previous Object Selects the previous object

Preferences Opens User Preferences dialog. User preferences include: default configuration for the PopChart Wizard, location for template files, and location for saved projects.

Menu Item	Functionality

Undo	Undo the last command
Redo	Redo the last undo command
Create Graph	Creates a new graph in the project.
Create Legend	Creates a legend for the selected graph. You can only have one legend per graph.
Create Text box	Creates a text box in the project.
Duplicate Object	Duplicates the selected object
Delete Object	Deletes the selected object
Next Object	Selects the next object
Previous Object	Selects the previous object
Preferences	Opens User Preferences dialog. User preferences include: default configuration for the PopChart Wizard, location for template files, and location for saved projects.

Properties Menu

The properties menu changes based on the items selected. The following identifies the available property menus:

Menu Item Functionality

Data Editor Opens the Data Editor dialog where you can change the graph data and the display configurations, and determine if the graph will reflect the data in rows or columns.

Graph Properties Opens the Graph Properties dialog where you can change the following: general settings, data labels, gridlines, drill-down configuration, popup text configuration, 3D settings, colors, and position.

Left or Right Scale Properties Opens the Scale Properties dialog. Scale properties include the following: scale position, tick marks, label configuration, font, and position.

Bottom Scale Properties Opens the Bottom Scale Properties dialog. Bottom scale properties include the following: tick marks, label configuration, and font.

Data Label Properties Opens the Data Label Properties dialog where you can change the way data labels are displayed for the currently selected graph.

Series Properties Opens the Series Properties dialog where you can change the following: general settings, popup text, drill-down data.

Gauge Properties Opens the Gauge Properties dialog where you can change the data value and label, color ranges, and formatting options.

Text Box Properties Opens the Text Box Properties dialog where you can change the following: general formatting, font, borders and shadows, and display position.

Legend Properties Opens the Legend Properties dialog where you can change the font, borders, shadows, and legend display position.

Project Properties Opens the Project Properties dialog where you can change the following: image format, background color, gradient shading, border style, numeric settings, and advanced settings.

Image Properties Opens the Image Properties dialog where you can change dimensions, transparency, drill-down, and PopUp settings for an imported image.

Menu Item	Functionality

Data Editor	Opens the Data Editor dialog where you can change the graph data and the display configurations, and determine if the graph will reflect the data in rows or columns.
Graph Properties	Opens the Graph Properties dialog where you can change the following: general settings, data labels, gridlines, drill-down configuration, popup text configuration, 3D settings, colors, and position.
Left or Right Scale Properties	Opens the Scale Properties dialog. Scale properties include the following: scale position, tick marks, label configuration, font, and position.
Bottom Scale Properties	Opens the Bottom Scale Properties dialog. Bottom scale properties include the following: tick marks, label configuration, and font.
Data Label Properties	Opens the Data Label Properties dialog where you can change the way data labels are displayed for the currently selected graph.
Series Properties	Opens the Series Properties dialog where you can change the following: general settings, popup text, drill-down data.
Gauge Properties	Opens the Gauge Properties dialog where you can change the data value and label, color ranges, and formatting options.
Text Box Properties	Opens the Text Box Properties dialog where you can change the following: general formatting, font, borders and shadows, and display position.
Legend Properties	Opens the Legend Properties dialog where you can change the font, borders, shadows, and legend display position.
Project Properties	Opens the Project Properties dialog where you can change the following: image format, background color, gradient shading, border style, numeric settings, and advanced settings.
Image Properties	Opens the Image Properties dialog where you can change dimensions, transparency, drill-down, and PopUp settings for an imported image.

Alignment Menu

Changes the alignment of the currently selected object. For more information on aligning objects, refer to "Aligned Objects" in Chapter 1.

Help Menu

Menu Item Functionality

Quick Start Guide Opens the Quick Start Guide which will display the PopChart Quick Start manual.

View Documentation Opens the online help system

Visit PopChart.com Opens the default browser to the PopChart Builder home page.

Click for Updates Opens the default browser and checks Corda Technologies website for updates.

Corda Technical Support Opens the default browser to the Corda Technologies technical support page.

Register PopChart Builder Opens the default browser to http://www.corda.com/register/registration. If your license key has been entered during installation or through File > PopChart License, your key number will automatically be entered when you go to this page, so you don't have to type it in.

Purchase PopChart Products Opens the default browser to the online Corda Technologies online shopping mall, where you can buy PopChart products.

About PopChart Provides version information and copyright details for Corda Technologies, Inc. and PopChart Builder.

Menu Item	Functionality

Quick Start Guide	Opens the Quick Start Guide which will display the PopChart Quick Start manual.
View Documentation	Opens the online help system
Visit PopChart.com	Opens the default browser to the PopChart Builder home page.
Click for Updates	Opens the default browser and checks Corda Technologies website for updates.
Corda Technical Support	Opens the default browser to the Corda Technologies technical support page.
Register PopChart Builder	Opens the default browser to http://www.corda.com/register/registration. If your license key has been entered during installation or through File > PopChart License, your key number will automatically be entered when you go to this page, so you don't have to type it in.
Purchase PopChart Products	Opens the default browser to the online Corda Technologies online shopping mall, where you can buy PopChart products.
About PopChart	Provides version information and copyright details for Corda Technologies, Inc. and PopChart Builder.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following table lists the various keyboard shortcuts available in PopChart Builder.

Keystroke Shortcut To

Alt-F4 Exit

Ctrl-D Preview in browser

Ctrl-G Create graph

Ctrl-L Create legend

Ctrl-N New

Ctrl-O Open project

Ctrl-Q Quit (Exit)

Ctrl-T Create Text Box

Ctrl-S Save

Ctrl-Z Undo

Ctrl-Shift-N New Wizard

Ctrl-Shift-S Save As

Ctrl-Shift-Z Redo

F1 View Documentation

F10 File Menu

Shift-Tab Select Previous Object

Tab Select Next Object

Button	Functionality

	New Project
	Open project
	Save project
	Preview project in browser
	Create a graph
	Create a legend
	Create a text box
	Create an Image
	Delete selected object
	Delete selected part of graph
	Undo last action
	Redo last undo
	Show Help
	Select generic graph type
	Select graph sub-type

Keystroke	Shortcut To

Alt-F4	Exit
Ctrl-D	Preview in browser
Ctrl-G	Create graph
Ctrl-L	Create legend
Ctrl-N	New
Ctrl-O	Open project
Ctrl-Q	Quit (Exit)
Ctrl-T	Create Text Box
Ctrl-S	Save
Ctrl-Z	Undo
Ctrl-Shift-N	New Wizard
Ctrl-Shift-S	Save As
Ctrl-Shift-Z	Redo
F1	View Documentation
F10	File Menu
Shift-Tab	Select Previous Object
Tab	Select Next Object