Inserting Objects using the Mouse

There are four different ways of positioning or inserting objects using the mouse, depending on which object was selected (see CadnaA-Toolbox).

Positioning Method 1: Insertion of Points

(e.g. point source, receiver point, level box)

Position the object at the desired location on the CadnaA main window by clicking with the left mouse button. Each click will insert one object in the window, and generate the data set ion the respective object table.

Positioning Method 2: Polygons and Lines

(e.g. line sources, roads, railways, barriers, buildings, areas)

To insert lines or polygon lines and polygons, activate the respective icon, then point to the desired starting point of the line or the desired first corner of the polygon, and click. By this click, the first polygon point has been inserted. The mouse pointer now pulls a "rubber band" line from that point to any location the mouse is moved to. Pressing the mouse button again defines the second polygon point. Press the left mouse button at every point where the polygon line changes its direction. Each of these clicks will insert a further polygon point which can be edited or deleted afterwards.

As soon as the line or the polygon has the desired length or dimensions, terminate the insertion procedure. In the case of polygons, the last point inserted is then connected to the starting point to give a closed polygon line.

Using the Backspace key, the last entered point can be removed.

Right Angles

Open or closed polygons may have arbitrary shapes. In order to force a right angle press the SHIFT key while moving the mouse. In this case just rectangular moves are possible after clicking.

Note

If you want to produce a closed rectangular polygon with a mouse always start with the longer side and press the SHIFT key on input.

Object snap during input

By holding the ALT key while inserting a new polygon point, an object snap to the nearest polygon point of another, active object is performed.

Default object instead of last object

By holding the ALT key pressed while finalizing the object input, the object properties from the default object are used, instead of the properties of the last object in the respective object table (i.e. with “empty” Name, ID, etc.).

Segment Length

While drawing an open or closed polygon you can enter fixed predefined segments holding the CTRL key pressed. Enter the desired length (m) for the segment. The default value is 10 m. With this you could enter e.g. equal elements for an noise barrier.

Rectangles

When drawing rectangles (e.g. buildings), it is useful to start with the longer side. After having entered the third point for the shorter side, position the mouse pointer on the starting point. Please click on the starting point, to enter the third longer side automatically with it‘s correct length. Close the rectangle by a final click using the right mouse button. This procedure is recommended especially when entering buildings having a rectangular outline.

Positioning Method 3: Text Box and Zoom +

After activation of the respective icon, move the mouse pointer to that location where one corner of the box or rectangle is to be positioned. Press the left mouse button and hold it pressed while moving the mouse in the direction of the desired opposite corner. Release the mouse button when the desired location has been reached.

Positioning Method 4: Cylinder

The cylinder is defined by clicking two points. The first point defines the radius center, the second the radius length.