Creating Drawing Objects

Add drawing objects to your Origin windows with buttons on the Tools toolbar.

Other relevant topics:

• Creating Vertical or Horizontal Lines at Specific X or Y Values

Drawing straight lines or arrows

To add a straight line or arrow to the graph:

1. Click on the Line tool or Arrow tool .
2. Click-and-drag at the desired location in the graph window. Release the mouse button and the line or arrow is displayed.

You can add or remove arrow heads from lines and arrows by double-clicking on the line or arrow. This opens the Object Properties dialog box. Select the Arrow tab to access controls for the Begin and End arrow head(s).

Drawing vertical or horizontal lines or arrows

To draw a vertical or horizontal line or arrow:

1. Press the SHIFT key as you drag with the Line tool or Arrow tool . You will see that the line snaps to the horizontal or vertical. When it is oriented properly, release the mouse button.

For more information, see these topics in the Origin Help file:

• Grouping, Aligning and Arranging Objects on the Page
• Creating Vertical or Horizontal Lines at Specific X or Y Values

Drawing curved arrows

To add a curved arrow to the graph:

1. Click the Curved Arrow tool .
2. Click in four places along the intended arc to locate the curved line's anchor points -- place the first click at the beginning of the curve, the second two clicks along the curve, and the final click at the point where you want the arrow head. After the fourth click, Origin displays the curved arrow. The points are connected with a Bezier curve.

To remove the arrow head from the Bezier curve:

1. Double-click on the arrow. This opens the Object Properties dialog box.
2. Select the Arrow tab to access controls for the arrow head display.

Drawing Polylines (segmented lines)

To draw a polyline:

1. Click on the Polyline tool (on the Tools toolbar), then click once at each intended anchor point.

To end the line:

1. Double-click at the last point location.

Drawing freehand lines

To draw a freehand line:

1. Click on the Freehand Draw tool .
2. Click once and hold while dragging out your line.
3. Release the mouse button to complete the operation.

Drawing two-dimensional objects

To add a rectangle, circle, ellipse, polygon, or region to the graph, click the respective button on the Tools toolbar:

• For all objects but the polygon, click-and-drag at the desired location in the graph window. Release the mouse button to display the object.
• For polygons, click in the window at each of the corner locations for the polygon. Double-click at the last location.

Copying and pasting objects

To copy the object:

1. Click on the object to select it.

or

1. Drag a box around the object with the Pointer tool (selection handles will appear).

   Then:

2. From the menu, select Edit: Copy.

   or

3. Right-click on the object and select Copy from the shortcut menu.

   or

4. Press CTRL + C.

To paste the object:

1. In the destination page, click once where you want the object to be pasted, then...
2. From the menu, select Edit: Paste.

   or

3. Right-click and select Paste from the shortcut menu.

   or

4. Press CTRL + V.