Discussion:
Adjusting canvas size
r***@gmail.com
2016-07-31 16:57:45 UTC
Permalink
Background: I'm new to Dia, but, from what I've seen so far, it looks like I
can use it for my current purpose--creating a (multi-page) state diagram.

I did use Visio quite a bit but that was 15+ years ago.

My current issue is trying to figure out how to (or if I need to) adjust the
canvas size--when my state diagram is done, I'd expect it to have a mostly
vertical orientation--something like 2 (8.5x11) pages wide (i.e., horizontal)
and 8 pages long (i.e., vertical).

The canvas I see when I start up Dia or start a new diagram is 5 pages wide
and 2 pages long.

How do I adjust the canvas?

I've tried looking at the Dia manual, and googling, (including the mail
archive), but so far haven't found anything. (I may be using a poor choice of
searchwords--my typical search has been [Dia canvas size].)
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Michael Ross
2016-07-31 17:25:52 UTC
Permalink
The paradigm is a little different (well maybe since I don't know how Visio
works). You simply make you drawing without concern for canvas size and
forma the page breaks as needed for printing. You can take the same
diagram and put all on a 3x5 card or spread it over a 100 8.5x11 sheets.

Unfortunately, the functions for controlling visibility and printing are
spread about in the menu system.

You want to look at the Page Setup for Paper Size for printing, margins
(added within the areas lined out by the page breaks you set with paper
size), scale (changes how the page break grid is sized, but not the
graphics themselves), and orientation.

In Diagram Properties are the Grid sizing and shape, and the Colors of
Grid, Background, and Page Break colors. To hide the Page Breaks make them
the same color as the background.

You also have Preferences you can set when new Dia are greated, and there
is the Default TEmplate that is retrieved on startup Diagram1.dia.

Other helpful hints.

You can change default settings of the basic tools like Text, Line and so
on by double clicking on them in the Toolbar/Window.

If you start creating shapes (can't do that in Visio) it is cranky but
clearly people do it. I won't try to explain that because I don't have
much skill at it.

Enjoy,

Mike
Post by r***@gmail.com
Background: I'm new to Dia, but, from what I've seen so far, it looks like I
can use it for my current purpose--creating a (multi-page) state diagram.
I did use Visio quite a bit but that was 15+ years ago.
My current issue is trying to figure out how to (or if I need to) adjust the
canvas size--when my state diagram is done, I'd expect it to have a mostly
vertical orientation--something like 2 (8.5x11) pages wide (i.e., horizontal)
and 8 pages long (i.e., vertical).
The canvas I see when I start up Dia or start a new diagram is 5 pages wide
and 2 pages long.
How do I adjust the canvas?
I've tried looking at the Dia manual, and googling, (including the mail
archive), but so far haven't found anything. (I may be using a poor choice of
searchwords--my typical search has been [Dia canvas size].)
_______________________________________________
dia-list mailing list
https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list
FAQ at http://live.gnome.org/Dia/Faq
Main page at http://live.gnome.org/Dia
--
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Thomas A. Edison
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed125362.html>

A public-opinion poll is no substitute for thought.
*Warren Buffet*

Michael E. Ross
(919) 585-6737 Land
(919) 576-0824 <https://www.google.com/voice/b/0?pli=1#phones> Mobile and
Google Phone

***@gmail.com
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r***@gmail.com
2016-07-31 18:11:47 UTC
Permalink
Mike,

Thanks very much!

Randy Kramer
Post by Michael Ross
The paradigm is a little different (well maybe since I don't know how Visio
works). You simply make you drawing without concern for canvas size and
forma the page breaks as needed for printing. You can take the same
diagram and put all on a 3x5 card or spread it over a 100 8.5x11 sheets.
_______________________________________________
dia-list mailing list
dia-***@gnome.org
https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list
FAQ at http://live.gnome.org/Dia/Faq
Main page at http://live.gnome.org/Dia
Michael Ross
2016-07-31 21:34:54 UTC
Permalink
Randy,

I misspoke about paper size and margins.

The page breaks represent the printed area of a page WITH margins.
So a letter size page 8.5x11 (portrait)with 2 inch margins all round means
the page breaks represent an area of (8.5-2-2) x (11-2-2) ==> 4.5x7.
Or a letter size landscape page of 11x8.5 with 5 inch margins the page
breaks represent an area 10x7.5.

This way when your diagram covers more than one page you automatically get
a print out you could tape together into a full size representation (with
scaling applied). You don't have to worry about losing any graphics.

0 inch margins would theoretically put your diagrams at the edges of the
paper, but with vagaries of printing it is probably not perfectly
dependable - but that is what Dia would be attempting to do.

Hopefully, this give you some ideas how to work with it. It is completely
flexible in this way if a little weird. You should definitely experiment
to see how it goes.

When printing I find the Cairo outputs are dependable, and pdf. YMMV.

Mike
Post by r***@gmail.com
Mike,
Thanks very much!
Randy Kramer
Post by Michael Ross
The paradigm is a little different (well maybe since I don't know how
Visio
Post by Michael Ross
works). You simply make you drawing without concern for canvas size and
forma the page breaks as needed for printing. You can take the same
diagram and put all on a 3x5 card or spread it over a 100 8.5x11 sheets.
--
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Thomas A. Edison
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasaed125362.html>

A public-opinion poll is no substitute for thought.
*Warren Buffet*

Michael E. Ross
(919) 585-6737 Land
(919) 576-0824 <https://www.google.com/voice/b/0?pli=1#phones> Mobile and
Google Phone

***@gmail.com
<***@gmail.com>
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