CODERACE myPoint Coordinates: intermediate tutorial

Beginner Intermediate Expert

General Coordinates

1. Flying panel vs. Menu bar

Show in Flying panel.

This is the best for the user experience. The panel can follow the mouse for minimizing the eye strain while moving the focus between the mouse position and the coords data. The panel can be enlarged so the coords data to be visible without explicitly focusing on it. On a heavily loaded system, the panel may behave sluggishly and move jerky. In such a case, please show the cords data in the menu bar only.

Show in Menu bar.

Smaller system footprint. No windows, colors, fonts, etc. consumed by the app. Almost all the work is done by the system. The flaw is an effect of jumping icons and menus in menu bar extras. So working with coords in the menu bar is convenient only for short periods of time. Selecting the "0-pad" option will improve the user experience via padding coords with zeros and changing the font. In this case, the system footprint will not be so lean.

2. Coordinates origin

There are 5 coordinates' origins so that the user can simulate different ordinate axes and specialized cases.

Open myPoint menu.
Ensure the "Show coordinates" checkbox is selected.
Select the preferred radio button under the "Coordinates' origin" label.

3. Stay aside

Sometimes it's more convenient to keep the flying panel stationary somewhere. So:

Open myPoint menu.
Select the "Show coordinates" checkbox.
Ensure the "Follow mouse" checkbox is deselected.
Select the preferred radio button under the "Coordinates' origin" label.

4. Show Coordinates ruler

The ruler measures things on the screen while dragging with the mouse.
It consists of two parts:

Ruler size: shown in flying panel and menu bar extras.
Adorner frame: shown while dragging with the mouse.

The ruler is disabled by default. So:

Open myPoint menu.
Select the "Show coordinates" checkbox.
Select the "Enable coordinates ruler" checkbox.

Coordinates ruler will engage while dragging with the mouse.

5. Measure objects with Coordinates ruler

Open myPoint menu.
Ensure the "Enable coordinates ruler" checkbox is selected.
Coordinates ruler will engage while dragging with the mouse.
The flying panel and menu bar extras will show the ruler size.
The adorner frame will be shown over the mouse-drag area.

6. Tune up Coordinates ruler

Open the preferences panel and select the Coordinates view.
Ensure the "Enable coordinates ruler" checkbox is selected.
Play with Fill and Outline settings until you get the best experience.

The Ruler size and Mouse coordinates.
When the ruler is engaged, only its size will be shown in the menu bar extras. Both coordinates and size can be shown in the flying panel. So play with the "Hide coordinates" checkbox to figure out what's best for you.