The Portal© Canvas

 

Portal© has many monitors and such, but it also offers you a customizable window which you can use to setup however you like.  This is called the Portal© Canvas.  You can place buttons on it, each of which with their own commands.  You can put static-text (non-changing) labels, or even put labels on the Canvas that are associated with a variable.

 

Basically, the Portal© Canvas is a really cool display screen that’s completely customizable to your liking.  You can position objects anywhere you like, and resize them however you want.  One example of the infinite possibilities is show below.

 

 

Canvas Basics

Starting out, the Canvas appears to be a pretty plain window with the word “Canvas” in the caption bar.  Please, try to contain your excitement.  It’s not much use right now, heck, you cant even resize it at this point.  To get actual use out of the Canvas, you must edit it.  Before we explain how Canvas editing works, let’s first discuss a few basic things you can change regarding the overall appearance of the Canvas.  Right click anywhere on the blank Canvas and it will bring up a small popup menu.

 

Then move the mouse over the Canvas Properties item, and a submenu will appear:

 

Set Canvas Color

This allows you to change the background field color of the Canvas.  Via a second submenu, you can choose from different colors.  The current color of the canvas will appear with a small checkmark next to it.

 

Set Canvas Name

I realize “Canvas” is one damn exciting title, but you may choose to call it something else.  Select this menu item and you can rename the Canvas title to anything you desire.

 

Hide Canvas Titlebar

If this box is checked, the Canvas will appear without a titlebar.  This is useful if you’re trying to save desktop space on your screen.

Note: If you choose to hide the titlebar, you will not be able to manually move the Canvas until you unhide it (you could always unhide it, move it, then hide it again).  Also, normal anchoring rules apply.  If anchored, the Canvas will move with the Main screen whether the titlebar is showing or is hidden.

 

Keep Canvas on Top

If this option is checked, the Canvas will remain on top of other screens, even if not focused.

 

Close Canvas

Closes the Canvas.

 

Canvas Editing

Now that we’ve covered the basics of the Canvas properties, we’re ready to learn how to make it actually useful.  To begin editing the Canvas, right click on it and select the Edit Canvas item.  Once you do this, you will then see the appearance of the Canvas change somewhat.  There’s now a small toolbar at the top, alone with a dotted grid on the blank field of the Canvas.  You can also resize the window now.  We’ll discuss the toolbar first.

 

 

Canvas Toolbar

Position/Dimensions Display

This displays the current position and dimensions of the currently selected object.

 

An example of the display is: (6x,12y)  18w X 42h

 

6x     The object is 6 pixels away from the left side of the Canvas

12y    The object is 12 pixels down from the top of the Canvas

42w   The object is 42 pixels wide

18h    The object is 18 pixels high

 

Pointer/Label/Button Buttons (arrow, capital A and small “OK” button)

These buttons determine what happens when you click on the blank canvas.  Only one can be down at any time.

Pointer     Normal pointer/selection mode

Label        Add a label object

Button      Add a button object

 

When you are selecting to add an object, it will appear wherever you click on a blank area of the Canvas, and you will be asked to define the basic usage properties of the object.  We’ll discuss this more below.  In the meantime, remember the following points:

 

·   Once an item is placed, the Canvas automatically returns to pointer mode

·   Only a maximum of 30 label objects can be placed

·   Only a maximum of 10 button objects can be placed

 

Once you reach a maximum number of objects placed, the corresponding button will be disabled.  To be able to add another, you will need to delete an existing one first.

 

Variable Button (@ symbol)

Label objects, as mentioned previously, can be associated with a variable.  Pressing this button and holding it down will temporarily display which labels are currently linked with a variable.  Once you release the button the objects will return to normal.

 

Help Button (yellow ? mark)

Displays this help file.

 

Close Editor Button (down arrow)

Closes the Canvas editing mode and returns it to normal usage.

 

Adding a Label Object

Now we’re ready to add something.  Press the Label Button and then click somewhere on the grid.  You will see a label appear and the Properties screen will quickly popup.  Since this is a label object, the corresponding section is enabled.

 

Use Label as Plain Text

The label will appear as static text.  It will not change until you manually change it.

 

Text to Display Field

If the label is being used as plain text, enter the text you want displayed here.

 

Associate Label with a Variable

The label will display the current value of whatever variable you desire to associate with it.  If there’s nothing currently in the variable, the label text will remain blank until there is.

 

Variable to Associate Field

Use the dropdown to select any variable you desire to display.  Any variable Portal© uses can be displayed

 

Develop Variables (on the fly)

Pressing this button bring up the Variable Maintenance screen.  It allows you to create any new variables you like to use with the label.

 

Once you’ve selected the desired display, press the Accept button and your new label is read to go.  You’ll notice four small gray rectangles around the label.  This indicates that the label is “selected.”  When an object is selected, you are able to move it, resize it and more.

 

Moving Objects

To move a selected object, simply left click on the object, move it around, then release the mouse button.  When you do, you’ll notice that as you move it around, it “clicks” to the grid.  This allows you to easily align multiple objects.

 

Resizing Objects

By clicking and dragging on any of the small rectangles, you can modify the height and width of the selected object.  Try it and see.

 

Adding a Button Object

The process is similar to adding a label, but you will press the Button Button instead.  Also, the Button Object area of the properties screen will be enabled.

 

Button Text Field

Just like with label objects, buttons can have text associated with them.  Whatever you enter in this field will appear on the button itself.

 

Command to Associate with the Button Field

The purpose of the buttons is to allow you do perform a command if you press it.  Enter the command you wish to perform upon pressing the button here.  Sending a command via a Canvas button press is the same as if you entered it directly from the command line, so all aliases, macros, etc. are available for you to use.

 

Note: While in edit mode, pressing a button will not send the command.  Commands are only sent when the Canvas is normal mode.

 

Manipulating Objects

Moving and resizing objects was described above, but there are other properties you can change regarding the objects.  These are available by right-clicking on the object and selecting the desired menu item.  This can only be done in edit mode.

 

Set Color (label objects only)

Sets the color of the background of the label object.  Setting the color to transparent will make the label transparent, but the text of the label will still show.

Note: While in edit mode, any transparent labels will appear as gray.  This is simply to assist you in placing/resizing them.  Once you exit edit mode, the label will appear transparent.

 

Set Font Size

Sets the font size of the label/button text.

 

Set Font Color

Sets the color size of the label/button text.

 

Set Font Alignment (label objects only)

Sets the alignment of the label text, left, center or right justified.

 

Delete Object

Deletes the currently selected object.

 

Miscellaneous Edit Mode Stuff

Here is a couple other edit mode popup menu items:

 

Finish Editing

Exits edit mode

 

Snap to Grid

If this item is checked, the objects will “snap” to the grid coordinates when moving/resizing.  If it is not checked, the objects will move around freely.

 

Importing/Exporting Canvas Profiles

You can import and export canvas profiles using the F9 and F10 hotkeys respectively (when the canvas is in focus) or by right clicking on the canvas and selecting the appropriate values. This allows you to share canvases between users as well as have multiple canvases stored up for different situations.

 

You can also use the ;canvas command (; is used here, but reflects the currently selected activator character) to open up an exported canvas file also. Simply use ";canvas c:\canvas1.canvas" and it'll open up the canvas profile stored in c:\canvas1.canvas.

 

Canvas Keyboard Shortcuts

 

F1                                  Brings up this help file

F12                                Toggle edit mode on/off

Del                                Deletes the currentl selected object

Ctrl+F4                          Closes the Canvas

Ctrl+Arrow Key              Moves the currently selected object one pixel in the desired direction

Shift+Ctrl+Arrow Key    Moves the currently selected object to the next grid “snap” point in the desired direction

Shift+Arrow Key            Stretches the currently selected object one pixel in the desired direction

F9                                  Imports a canvas profile

F10                                Exports a canvas profile