GraphPaper

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Overview

This is a simple program for anyone that likes using Graph Paper for designing things, but wants digital graph paper to do it on your computer.

Download

Download: GraphPaper.zip (64-bit Windows required.)
You may need the Visual C++ runtime if it won't run: https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

Screenshot

Graph paper demo.png

Usage

UI Elements

Toolbox (left) This is where you choose which tool to use as well as your drawing color options.
Layers(left) Items you draw will go on the selected layer which you can show/hide.
Status Bar (bottom) Shows information about what you are doing such as the tool description when hovering over a tool in the toolbox or information when using a tool or navigating your paper.
When browsing you will see mpos which is your mouse position in your drawing in your selected Unit and gpos which is the nearest grid position and would be used if you were drawing at that position.

Menus

File
New... Create a new file/graph paper. It will ask for the size of the paper in inches - note this is unrelated to the size of the item you are drawing this would be the size of the equivalent physical piece of paper.
Open... Open an existing file.
Save Save the current file.
Save As... Save the current paper under a new filename.
Close Close the current file.
Resize... Resize the current paper. Takes a size or keyword auto, hold down left control when clicking the menu item to automatically use auto.
Export B&W PNG... Save the paper as a PNG with the background set to white and drawing color set to black. Any custom colors you used will be grayscale.
Export Color PNG... Save the paper as a PNG as it appears in the program.
Print... Prints the current paper on your printer. (Uses B&W mode like Export B&W PNG)
Options
Background Sets the background color of your paper.
Draw Color Sets your default drawing color. Anything you've draw while your color is set to the Default Drawing Color will be this color, which lets you change it at will any time.
Unit Options
Unit Sets the unit of your drawing (Feet, Inches, Meters, CM, MM.)
Unit Scale Sets the scale of unit in how many grid blocks = 1 of your unit.
Grid
Enable/Disable Toggles the grid display on/off.
Grid Lock On/Off Toggles the grid lock on/off when drawing new items.
Color Sets the grid color.
Grid Scale Sets the grid scale in lines per inch.
Windows
Close All... Close all open files.
Export All B&W PNG... Exports B&W mode PNGs of all open files to a selected folder.
Export All Color PNG... Exports color mode PNGs of all open files to a selected folder.
Filenames Switch between open files.

Keyboard

Keyboard
W/A/S/D
Up/Down/Left/Right Arrows
Nothing selected: Navigate your sheet if it's bigger than your window.
Items selected: Move items.
Delete Delete selected item(s)
Ctrl+Z Undo. Note there is no re-do!
Ctrl+N New File
Ctrl+S Save File
Ctrl+A Save As...
Ctrl+W Close File
F2 Resize paper
F3 Move selected items to the top of the draw order
F4 Reassign all selected items to the current drawing color
F5 Toggle grid display
F6 Toggle grid lock (for item placement)
F12 Print File (Ctrl+P already taken by layer functions)
Escape Cancel the current tool (or just right click)
E With a single text object selected, lets you edit the text
1-0, t-p Select active layer, 1-0 for 1-10 and t-p for 11-16
Ctrl+1-0, Ctrl+t-p Move selected items to new layer, as above

Mouse

Mouse Usage in Paper/Grid Area
Mouse Wheel with no tool in use Navigate your sheet if it's bigger than your window.
Mouse Left/Right Scroll Buttons Navigate your sheet if it's bigger than your window.
Mouse Usage with Layers
Left Click Set the active layer.
Right Click Toggle visibility of that layer.
Mouse Usage with Tools
All Tools Right click to cancel operation. Right click again to reset to the Select tool.
Double right click to use the Select tool.
Select Tool Hold down left mouse button, drag a containing rectangle, then release.
When items are selected hover over them so you see the Move cursor. Then left mouse down, move, and release.
Text Tool Click left mouse button and it will ask what text you want. Click OK then left click where you want the text to go. Use mouse wheel to rotate text, hold Ctrl during to lock to 45 degree or Alt to lock to 15 degree increments.
Other Tools Click left mouse button to set start position, move to where you want it to be, then click again. Some tools like draw line will automatic start a new line from the ending point to make drawing many lines quicker, just right click when done to exit.