Learning Center > Using Sketchpad > Sketchpad Tips

## Welcome Videos Sketchpad Snapshots The Big Picture What's New in Sketchpad 5 ## Using Sketchpad Getting Started Tutorials Sketchpad Tips Reference Center Online Resource Center ## Teaching with Sketchpad Why Teach with Sketchpad Sketchpad in the Classroom First Steps Sample Activities - plays a video - opens a web page | # Sketchpad Tips Sketchpad Tips give you a quick overview of Sketchpad's tools and menu commands. Click the categories below to open the lists and immediately view the comic strips or short online videos. ### Tools Using the Arrow Tool Select, deselect, and drag objects with the Arrow tool Select and drag multiple objects with the Arrow tool Using the Drag Test Test a construction using the Drag Test Rotating/Dilating with the Arrow Tool Rotate objects with the Arrow tool Dilate objects with the Arrow tool Using the Point Tool Construct a point with the Point tool Construct a point on an object with the Point tool Using the Compass Tool Construct a circle with the Compass tool Using the Straightedge Tool Construct a segment with the Straightedge tool Construct a ray with the Straightedge tool Construct a line with the Straightedge tool Using the Polygon Tool Construct a polygon with the Polygon tool Construct a polygon and its segment edges with the Polygon tool Construct only the segment edges of a polygon with the Polygon tool Using the Text Tool Label an object with the Text tool Change an object's label with the Text tool Move an object's label with the Text tool Type a caption with the Text tool Using Hot Text Insert an object's label into a caption Insert a dynamic value into a caption Click a Hot Text link to highlight the linked object Using the Marker Tool Make a tick mark on a path with the Marker tool Make an angle marker with the Marker tool Change the number of strokes of a tick mark or angle marker with the Marker tool Drag a tick mark with the Marker tool Draw with the Marker tool Working with Angle Markers Measure an angle using its angle marker Insert the name of an angle into a caption using its angle marker Change the properties of an angle marker using Edit | Properties Change the type or direction of an angle marker using Edit | Properties | Marker Using the Information Tool Click an object with the Information tool to show its description ### Custom Tools Creating Custom Tools Create a custom tool by pressing the Custom tool icon and choosing Create New Tool Using Custom Tools Choose a custom tool from the Custom Tools menu Use a custom tool from a different document Copy a custom tool from one document to another Find and use a custom tool using Help | Sample Sketches & Tools Using the Tool Folder Save a tool in the Tool folder Use a tool from the Tool folder ### File Working with Documents Open, print, and save a document Working with Pages Add or remove pages using File | Document Options Rename pages using File | Document Options Rearrange pages using File | Document Options Moving Between Pages Change to a different page using page tabs Create a Link button using Edit | Action Buttons | Link ### Edit Undoing and Redoing Undo actions using Edit | Undo Redo actions you have undone, using Edit | Redo Copying and Pasting Copy an object using Edit | Copy Paste an object using Edit | Paste Paste an image into Sketchpad using Edit | Paste Picture Copy from Sketchpad to paste into another program Making Hide/Show Buttons Create a Hide/Show button using Edit | Action Buttons | Hide/Show Making Movement Buttons Create a Movement button using Edit | Action Buttons | Movement Making Presentation Buttons Create a Presentation button using Edit | Action Buttons | Presentation Selecting All Select all objects by choosing the Arrow tool and then using Edit | Select All Select all points by choosing the Point tool and then using Edit | Select All Points Select all circles by choosing the Compass tool and then using Edit | Select All Circles Select all segments by choosing the Segment tool and then using Edit | Select All Segments Working with Pictures Drag a picture into your sketch Resize a picture with the Arrow tool Crop a picture to a polygon Make a picture translucent using Edit | Properties | Opacity Change the layer of a picture using the Context menu Splitting and Merging Points Merge a point to a path using Edit | Merge Split a point from a path using Edit | Split Merge two points using Edit | Merge Points Changing Properties View and change an object's properties using Edit | Properties Change the number of decimal places in a measurement using Edit | Properties Setting Preferences Change Sketchpad's settings using Edit | Preferences Using Interactive Whiteboards Make objects and text bigger and easier to see Make points easier to select using Edit | Preferences | Tools ### Display Changing Line and Point Styles Change a line’s width or pattern using Display | Line Style Change a point’s size using Display | Point Style Changing Color Color an object using Display | Color Color a label using Display | Color Color a caption or measurement using Display | Color Deleting and Hiding Delete an object using Edit | Clear Delete an object using the Delete or Backspace key Hide an object using Display | Hide Showing Hidden Objects Show hidden objects using Display | Show All Hidden Show one hidden object only using Display | Show All Hidden Tracing Trace an object using Display | Trace Erase traces using Display | Erase Traces Animating Animate an object using Display | Animate Show the Motion Controller using Display | Show Motion Controller Create an Animation button using Edit | Action Buttons | Animation Formatting Text Format text using the Text Palette Using Mathematical Symbols Insert mathematical symbols into captions using the Text Palette ### Construct Constructing Points Construct a midpoint using Construct | Midpoint Construct an intersection using Construct | Intersection Construct a point on an object using Construct |Point on Object Constructing Straight Objects Construct a segment using Construct | Segment Construct a ray using Construct | Ray Construct a line using Construct | Line Constructing Parallels/Perpendiculars Construct a parallel line using Construct | Parallel Line Construct a perpendicular line using Construct | Perpendicular Line Constructing Angle Bisectors Construct an angle bisector using Construct | Angle Bisector Constructing Circles Construct a circle using Construct | Circle by Center+Point Construct a circle using Construct | Circle by Center+Radius Constructing Arcs Construct an arc using Construct | Arc through 3 Points Construct an arc using Construct | Arc on Circle Construct an arc interior using Construct | Arc Interior | Arc Sector Construct an arc interior using Construct | Arc Interior | Arc Segment Constructing Interiors Construct a polygon interior using Construct | Interior Construct a circle interior using Construct | Interior Constructing a Locus Construct a locus using Construct | Locus ### Transform Translating Mark a vector using Transform | Mark Vector Translate an object using Transform | Translate Rotating and Dilating Mark a point as a center of rotation using Transform | Mark Center Rotate an object using Transform | Rotate Mark a point as a center of dilation using Transform | Mark Center Dilate an object using Transform | Dilate Reflecting Mark a straight object as a mirror using Transform | Mark Mirror Reflect an object using Transform | Reflect Using Marked Angles Mark an angle using Transform | Mark Angle Rotate an object by a marked angle using Transform | Rotate Using Marked Distances Mark a distance using Transform | Mark Distance Translate an object by a marked distance using Transform | Translate Using Ratios Mark a ratio of two segments using Transform | Mark Ratio Mark a ratio of three points using Transform | Mark Ratio Dilate an object by a marked ratio using Transform | Dilate Mark a scale factor using Transform | Mark Scale Factor Dilate an object by a marked scale factor using Transform | Dilate Measure a ratio of two segments using Measure | Ratio Measure a ratio of three points using Measure | Ratio Using Iteration Iterate a construction using Transform | Iterate Iterate a construction to a selected depth by holding the Shift key and choosing Transform | Iterate to Depth Construct the terminal point of an iteration using Transform | Terminal Point Creating a Custom Transformation Define a transformation by selecting two points and using Transform | Define Custom Transform Use a custom transformation by choosing its name from the Transform menu ### Measure Measuring Length and Distance Measure the length of a segment using Measure | Length Measure a distance using Measure | Distance Measuring Angles Measure an angle by selecting three points and using Measure | Angle Measure an angle by making a selection rectangle around its vertex and choosing Measure | Angle Measuring Area, Perimeter, and Circumference Measure an area using Measure | Area Measure a perimeter using Measure | Perimeter Measure a circumference using Measure | Circumference Measuring Arc Angles/Arc Lengths Measure an arc angle using Measure | Arc Angle Measure an arc length using Measure | Arc Length Measuring Coordinates Measure the coordinates of a point using Measure | Coordinates Measure the x-coordinate of a point using Measure | Abscissa Measure the y-coordinate of a point using Measure | Ordinate Change the number of decimal places in measured coordinates using Edit | Preferences Measuring Slopes and Equations Measure the slope of a line using Measure | Slope Find the equation of a line or circle using Measure | Equation Creating a Slider Create a slider using Measure | Value of Point ### Number Creating a Parameter Create a new number (parameter) using Number | New Parameter Changing Parameters Change the value of a number (parameter) Animate a parameter using Display | Animate Parameter Using the Calculator Calculate an expression using Number | Calculate Edit a calculation by double-clicking with the Arrow tool Click a value in the sketch to enter it into the Calculator Enter a value or function into the Calculator Understanding Precision Understand the precision of a measurement Working with Tables Create a table using Number | Tabulate Add a row to a table by double-clicking with the Arrow tool Remove a row from a table using Number| Remove Table Data Plot data points using Graph | Plot Table Data Creating and Editing Functions Create a function using Number | New Function Edit a function by double-clicking with the Arrow tool ### Graph Working with Coordinate Systems Create a coordinate system using Graph | Show Grid Change the scale of a coordinate system Move a coordinate system Make points snap to nearby locations using Graph | Snap Points Show or hide grid lines using Graph | Show/Hide Grid Display a trigonometric axis using Graph | Grid Form Change the color of grid lines using Display | Color Plotting Points Plot points using Graph | Plot Points Plot a point by selecting two values and using Graph | Plot as (x,y) Plotting Functions Plot a function using Graph | Plot New Function Plot a function using Graph | Plot Function Making a Geoboard Construct a geoboard Download entire Sketchpad Tip library (.zip)