Numerator Documentation

Main menu


How?
Setup
Main interface
Concepts
Create objects
Move, copy, delete ... objects
Change properties of object
Databases
Links
Printing
Save and load project
Simple project

Setup

At the first launch of Numerator, come to File menu and select Preferences... item. You'll see default settings:

prefs copy.GIF (5145 bytes)

Meanings of options:
Objects - number of objects of any kind (number, text , picture) which can be placed on one page.
You must restart application to changes take effect.
Fields separator - command character for separating fields when database file imported or exported.
Records separator - command character for separating records when database file imported or exported.
Units - units of measurement Numerator will operate with. Min unit of measurement is 1 pt (0,35 mm).
Position method - which side will be used as origin of object's rectangle.
Show info at startup - show/hide splash screen at startup.
Remember object properties - if checked, newly created object will use same properties as last edited.
If not checked, default object will be created.

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Main interface

When Numerator starts up, you'll see it's main interface:

all.GIF (31751 bytes)

It consists of:

Toolbar - from left to right:
- buttons   Arrow (sets Main mode active),   Number (insert number object),   Text (insert text object),   Picture (insert picture object),   Link (sets Link mode),   Unlink (sets Unlink mode)
- edit fields   Pages (count of pages to print in one session),   Page with arrows (number of page shown on screen)
- Zoom menu  
- buttons of object's Alignment & Distrubute   
- coordinates of mouse pointer.

Floating panel Object Properties

Document window with page and objects on it.

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Concepts

Numerator works with objects. Object can be one of: number, text or picture.
(If you need to print one number with auto-increment on each of 100's pages, you need to place one object number to documents's page)

All objects have properties - position (x, y, angle), name;
Additional properties:
    number object - start number, increment to next page(+/-), increment to next item in link (+/-), font (font, size, style, color, align)
    text object - text, Use data (import from database file), font (font, size, style, color, align)
    picture object - print (print this picture)

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Create objects

To create object of some kind, you should click on appropriate button from toolbar     .
After that application is in Create mode. Click anywhere in page to create object on it.

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Move, copy, delete ... objects

You can do many things after an object(s) created. Simple select object(s) with mouse click or selection rectangle
and you can: move object(s) by dragging it, copy (cmd + C), cut (cmd + X), paste (cmd + V), delete (del key),
duplicate (cmd + D), group (cmd + G), ungroup (cmd + U).

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Change properties of objects

To change properties of object you must select it by clicking on it. If you select many of objects, only Font tab will
be accessible.
Then editing  input fields such as Start:, Text, Size, press Enter to submit changes or Esc to cancel.

number.gif (2469 bytes) Start - starting number for "counting"
End - estimated "ending" number on last page
To next page - incrementing number between two pages
To next in link - incrementing number to next object in link. This will be summarized with number from To next page field
text1.gif (2121 bytes) Text - text to print in this object. Up to 255 characters.
text2.gif (3374 bytes) Use data - check this if you want field from database to be printd in this object
Select file - browse for database file
Refresh - reopens file, looking for updates
Field names - here you can select the field which to use
From - starting record number to use. Will be incremented on every next page.
pos.gif (2629 bytes) Horizontal - horizontal coordinate of object's origin
Vertical - vertical coordinate of object's origin
Angle - rotation angle of object (if not picture).
Name - name of object. This is autofilleld and nesessary for database exporting.
font.gif (2676 bytes) Font - font used to dicplay object
Size - size of font
Color - color of object (simple - Red, Green, Blue; selective from palette; or Gradient)
Style and align - style and align of object
gradient.gif (2795 bytes) Click on the left and right  rectangles to select starting and ending color of gradient.
pict.gif (2583 bytes) Size - horizontal and vertical dimentions of scaled picture
Scale - scaling of picture
Print it - print this picture

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Databases

First, create a text object.
Then, click on little triangle, dialog will be expanded.
Check Use data and select database file by clicking on Select file button.
Paramenets of database file (field and record separator) set in Preferences dialog.
You can use many databases at same time.

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Links

To create link:
- create several number objects
- click to Link button to select Link mode
- click on the first object to link
- press Shift key and click on next object from link
- continue to the rest of objects you want to link.

Here an example of linked objects:

Page 1: link_ex1.gif (798 bytes)
Start: 00125 00127 *a/f 00132 *a/f
To next page: 1 1 1
To next in link: 2 5 1
Page 2 link_ex2.gif (809 bytes)

* a/f - autofilled and can not be changed directly by user.

If you delete at least one of linked objects, all link will be destroyed.
Values of To next page and To next in link can be negative.

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Printing

Number of pages to print is entered in Pages field of toolbar.

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Save and load project

Parameters saved in file using Save or Save As commands are:
- all properties of object(s)
- Pages property
- Page Setup properties (excluding printer)

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Simple project

Some sample projects are included inside "Projects" folder of Numerator package.

Simple steps to print one number per page with auto-increment:
1. Launch Numerator.
2. Select appropriate printer and page size from Pages Setup (File menu).
3. Select mode 2 - menu Tools or icon N from toolbar
(insert number object).
4. Click on the page - object number will be placed where you clicked.
5. Select mode 1 - menu Tools or icon arrow from toolbar
(main mode).
6. Select placed object by clicking on it.
7. Set properties of selected object in Object Properties floating window
7.1. Startup number and increment (default 1)
7.2. Font (default - system screen font)
7.3. All other settings if you want
8. Type number of pages to print in Pages edit box in toolbar.
9. Now select Print from File menu and enjoy!
Remember that you can print any count of numbers on one page with any settings.
Is you need numbers with auto-increment within one page, use Link mode.

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