3.2. Canvas

The display area window or Canvas is the place where Atlantis draws pictures. It is opened when Atlantis is started.

Shape, Layout Set and Canvas Pads

The Canvas has a user selectable shape with associated layout set. A layout set is a set of predefined subwindows within the selected shape. These subwindows are used to draw pictures and are called canvas pads.

The different shapes of the Canvas are:

The user may select a shape via the PrefLayout menu option of the Menu (see 3.1.1. Menu) of the Control Window. The layout set of the selected shape is displayed in and controlled via the Canvas Control (see 3.1.2. Canvas Control) of the Control Window.

Each canvas pad (see 3.2.1. Canvas Pads) has associated with it a projection (see Chapter 5, Projections), an interaction (e.g. zooming, copying, see Chapter 4, Interactions) and a parameter set (see 3.1.4. Parameter Control of the Control Window).

3.2.1. Canvas Pads

Canvas pads are the subwindows of the Canvas into which Atlantis draws pictures (one picture per canvas pad). The selection of the shape and associated layout set of the Canvas determines the available canvas pads (see 3.2. Canvas).

Selection of the current canvas pad and copying of pictures between canvas pads is performed via the Canvas Control (see 3.1.2. Canvas Control) of the Control Window.

Each canvas pad has associated with it a projection (see Chapter 5, Projections), an interaction (see Chapter 4, Interactions) and a set of parameters, which are controlled via the Interaction Control (see 3.1.3. Interaction Control) and the Parameter Control (see 3.1.4. Parameter Control) of the Control Window.

Additionally, control is possible via the associated pop-up menus, which are activated by modifier keys in a canvas pad:

Table 3.1. Modifier keys and actions of canvas pad

Modifier KeyAction
right-click only Interaction pop-up menu (see 3.3.3. Interaction Menus): interaction dependent operations (e.g. type of rubberband)
I + right-clickInteraction pop-up menu (see 3.3.3. Interaction Menus): list with available interactions
P + right-clickProjection pop-up menu (see 3.3.2 Projection Menus): projection dependent (e.g. restore aspect ratio)
W + right-clickCanvas pad pop-up menu (see 3.3.1. Canvas Pad Menu): restore canvas pad defaults, rotation, flipping, etc.