Draw CAD Objects

The CAD objects feature of Xastir was added to allow users supporting Search and Rescue operations to draw in "search segments" used by search management to designate areas for team assignments.

Here is some basic guidance on how to use the feature, taken from what used to be in the "README.MAPS" file.

Put Xastir into "Draw" mode

Turn on "Draw" mode (togglebutton at the top of the main window). The cursor should change to the Measure/Draw symbol, which looks like a pencil. This is your visual indicator that you're in draw mode.

Start drawing a polygon

Using the middle mouse button, click on each vertex until you are almost done describing a polygon (don't close it yet). If you don't have a middle mouse button, clicking on BOTH mouse buttons at once will do it if you have "emulate third mouse button" enabled in your X Window System configuration.

Finish drawing a polygon

Go to Map->Draw CAD Objects->Close Polygon. The polygon will get completed, the area enclosed will be computed, and a dialog will pop up asking you for more information. You do not have to enter any information in this dialog, but a name of some type is helpful in order to be able to identify each segment when modifying/deleting/viewing these segments.

Repeat this process for each segment.

CAD "objects" are not APRS objects and are not transmitted

Note that these CAD Objects get saved in a file and reloaded each time you start Xastir, but they cannot currently be written out as a map file and used as a general map.

Note also that these CAD Objects don't get transmitted. They are currently for local display only.

Adding data to polygons

The display of various kinds of data related to these segments can be modified in the Map->Draw CAD Objects menu. Modifying parameters for any segment is done in the Map->Draw CAD Objects->CAD Polygons dialog.

Click on the dashed line in the menus in order to separate that menu from the rest and allow you to keep the menu on the screen. This is very useful when drawing CAD Objects or changing display/filtering options.