Wrapping and Repelling Text

Make text flow around or inside objects by using the Text | Wrap commands.

Wrapping Text Inside an Object

When you wrap text inside a vector object, Canvas X Draw adjusts the text object’s margins so that text fits within the shape of the vector object. A text object can be wrapped inside only one object at a time.

Canvas X Draw has two methods of wrapping text inside an object. Select an existing text object and a vector object and choose the Text | Wrap | Inside Shape. Also, select an existing vector object and simply begin typing; the text will stay inside the shape of the vector object.

You can also wrap text within the bounding box of a paint object with both methods.

If you wrap text inside an open vector object, such as an arc, the text wraps between the bounding box and the concave side of the arc. If you try to wrap text to a line or a narrow arc, the text will not be visible. If this occurs, choose Text | Wrap | Remove Wrap or choose Edit | Undo to make the text visible again.

To Wrap Existing Text Inside an Object:

1. Select a vector object and a text object.
2. Choose Text | Wrap | Inside Shape. Canvas X Draw places the text inside the object.

If there is more text than can fit inside the shape, Canvas X Draw inserts a column break in the text object and displays an overset symbol. Resize the object to fit the text or flow the excess text to another column. (See Flowing Overset Text into New Text Columns.)

To Type New Text Inside an Object:

1. Activate the Auto type into object preference. (See Setting Preferences.)
2. Select a vector object.
3. Begin typing. Canvas X Draw adjusts margins so that text you type remains within the left and right borders of the object.

If the object is too small to contain all the text you type, the text object extends below the object. Resize the object to fit the text or resize the text object to fit the shape, and then flow any excess text to another column.

Removing Wrap Effects

Restore text margins to the standard rectangular shape by choosing Text | Wrap | Remove Wrap.

To remove effects, also use the Undos palette or keyboard command: Ctrl+Z.

To Remove a Wrap Effect:

Select a wrapped text object. Choose Text | Wrap | Remove Wrap.

Repelling Text from Objects

To make text flow around an object, apply a repel setting to the object. You also can set the amount of space between the object and text it repels.

An object with a repel setting repels all text. Move the object and it will repel text wherever you place it.

You can apply repel settings to objects before any text has been created or placed in a document. You can also apply a repel setting to a text object to make it repel the text in other text objects.

An object can repel text that is contained in text objects. A repel setting does not repel text that has been bound to a path with the Path Text tool or the Bind Text command.

Examples of Repelled Text

To Make Objects Repel Text:

1. Select one or more objects that you want to repel text.
2. Choose Text | Wrap | Repel. Canvas X Draw applies the repel setting. The initial repel amount is zero points.

To Set Repel Space:

Use this procedure to set the amount of space between an object and text that it repels.

1. Select the object that has a repel setting and choose Text | Wrap | Repel Options.
2. Enter a value from -30 to 30 points in the four boxes. These values specify the amount of space between the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the object and text that the object repels.

When entering values, you can use the Tab key to move between value fields.

3. Click Apply to view the effect of the current settings. Click OK to apply the settings and close the dialog box.

To Remove a Repel Setting:

Select an object that you do not want to repel text. Choose Text | Wrap | Remove Wrap. Canvas X Draw removes the repel setting from the selected object.

See also:

• Creating Column Layouts
• Setting Preferences