Inserting Objects & Text Inserting Arrows Moving Objects
The following text is a guide for using the xfig program to produce
a
programming flowchart. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide
to xfig,
and in fact describes the use of a very limited number of its functions.
This guide assumes that the reader knows how to log into and manage
files in
the athena environment.
Starting xfig:
At the prompt in your xterm window, type
add sipb
xfig &
The program will begin.
Using xfig:
xfig is a program much like Microsoft Powerpoint and Canvas. It is
a graphics
program which specializes in geometric design (as opposed to Adobe
Photoshop,
for example, which is a less specialized graphics program). We use
xfig in
this class because it comes with a library of flowchart symbols preinstalled.
There are three basic things that you will have to include in a flowchart.
Flowchart objects (triangles, boxes, et cetera), text, and lines (including
arrows).
HINT: To keep the flowchart clean and readable, the first thing you
should do
is activate the grid (which will make lining things up on the screen
far
easier). On the bottom left hand side of the xfig screen next to 'Zoom
Scale'
is 'Grid Mode'. Click on the 'Grid Mode' box with the left mouse button,
and
choose a grid mode. The xfig screen will fill up with dotted gridlines
for you
to use.
To add flowchart objects to your file:
On the left side of the screen, in the middle, there is a graphic of
a shelf
of books. Left click on this graphic. You will be asked to load a library
directory. Using the scrolldown button next to 'Library', choose 'Flowchart'.
The Library will now be full of flowchart objects. Left click the one
you
want, then click 'select object. Then, left click to add that object
to the
screen.
To add text to your file:
Left click on the box with a 'T', right above the library icon. Left
click on
the screen where you'd like the text to appear, and a cursor will appear.
Type
in the desired text.
To add arrows to your file:
This is more complicated than it should be, but not too arduous. Draw
a line
using the 'polyline' tool. It's a few spaces above the text icon; it
looks
like a group of straight lines joined at the ends at odd angles. Left
click
where you'd like the lines to start. Another left click will finish
the first
line, and allow you to draw another line connected to the end of the
first. To
finish a line (or a collection of joined lines), center click.
Now that you have a line, to add an arrow to it, go down to the arrow
icon at
the bottom left of the screen. Left click on the arrow icon. Now, wherever
you'd like to add an arrowhead to a line, left click on the end of
the line
(where you want the arrow to appear).
To save your file:
Save is included in the File commands on the top of the screen. Left
click on
'File'.
HINT: There is a 'Move' icon for moving around
objects on the screen. However,
it will only work when you click on the corners of a given object (the
white
squares that appear at the corners of an object when it's highlighted).
Simply
clicking on the object after selecting move will not work!
HINT: If you're ever not sure which mouse button to use, there's a graphic
on
the top right-hand side of the xfig screen. It illustrates the three
mouse
buttons, and tells you what each of them will do for whatever function
you have activated.
For some examples, see /mit/10.001/Examples/xfig