Learning Center > Using Sketchpad > Sketchpad Tips
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Tip Key

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)