The Text tool is slightly different; in addition to the Text mode, it also has the Edit submode. These modes are discussed below.

Visual Thought has six major drawing tools. They are: Select, Text, Connection, Shape, Pan, Zoom. Each tool has an accompanying mode. Thus, the Select tool, when chosen, enters you into the Select mode.

These tools are used to create and manipulate drawings in the View windows.

Each tool has a simple keyboard accelerator that facilitates changing tools quickly.

Tool	Key	Icon	Function	Cursor
Select	1		Select, move and resize objects
Text	2		Create and edit text
Connection	3		Create connections
Shape	4		Create and edit shapes
Pan	5		Move around in the View window
Zoom	6		Change magnification

Notice the tool bar in the upper-left-hand corner of the View window.

The similarities and differences between Connections and Shapes are discussed in the chapter entitled "Using Connections" on page 67.

Each tool has a different icon, a different purpose and a different cursor. Click on each icon to see the different cursors.

The Connection and Shape cursors are the same. Technically, both Connections and Shapes are subtypes of objects.

Notice that a different tool is highlighted when you press each number.

For further information and examples on selecting objects and using the Select mode, see the chapter entitled "Selecting Objects" on page 63.

Select any object or group of objects using this tool. In Select mode, click on an object to select it. Eight selection handles appear around the object to represent the fact that it is selected. To select multiple objects, click-and-drag a selection rectangle so that it intersects the objects you wish to select.

For an example of how to use the Selection dialog, see "Selecting Multiple Objects of the Same Type" on page 65 and "Selection Dialog" on page 201.

When you click on this icon, you enter the Select mode. Select mode is the default mode, and the mode most users are in a large percentage of the time.

Press 1 on your keyboard to enter Select mode from another mode.

The Selection dialog offers an additional set of selection capabilities.

For information and examples of how to use both the Text and Edit modes, see the chapter entitled "Using Text" on page 111.

When you are in Text mode, you can create text objects in a View window by simply clicking once in free space in the diagram. You can also click on an object to edit text in that object. In both cases, you are then put immediately into Edit mode.

Use the Inspector or the items in the Text menu to format selected text at any time; you don't have to be in Text or Edit mode.

For further information and examples of how to use connections, see the chapter entitled "Using Connections" on page 67.

Create connections using this tool. Connections are special lines that "rubberband" between the objects they connect.

To enter the Connection mode, click on the Connection tool icon or press the number 3.

If you then click once in an object, move the cursor and then click in another object, you will connect the two objects. You can create connections between objects, connections attached to only one object or connections with two free ends.

There are several methods of creating shapes. Each method is described in detail in the chapter entitled "Creating Shapes" on page 57.

For further information and an example of how to use Shape mode, see "Creating Shapes from the Shape Tool" on page 60.

Create shapes using this tool.

To enter the Shape mode, click on the Shape tool icon or press the number 4.

To create a shape of the default size and type, click once in the View. To create a shape of a specific size, click-and-drag in the View. The size of the last shape created by the Shape tool becomes the new default size.

You can change the type of shape produced with a Ctrl-Shift-click on any shape of the desired type in any View or Palette.

For examples of how to use Pan mode, see "Using the Pan Tool" on page 134.

Change which portion of your diagram you are seeing using this tool.

To enter the Pan mode, click on the Pan tool icon or press the number 5.

Click-and-drag in the View window to change the portion of the drawing that is displayed in the View; the Pan tool does not alter the diagram in any way.

For a full discussion of how to zoom, see "Zooming" on page 129.

To enter Zoom mode, click on the Zoom tool icon or press 6.