The Flex Draw Tool is used to "draw" a smooth Flex Tube path with your mouse or pen. As you draw the tube's path, it will be converted into Bezier curves, which you can then edit with the Flex Path Edit Tool.

Flex Brand

The first list is the Flex module brand to use.

Color

The second list is the Flex Module's color, which filters the third list of Flex modules. If you select (All), then there will be no filtering of the modules.

Product

The third list is the Flex module to use. This list is filtered by the Brand and Color.

Tolerance

The Tolerance determines how smooth the path is when you draw with the mouse.

Drawing a Path

To freehand draw a Flex Tube path, simply left-click and drag and the Flex Tube will be created as you drag. Release the left button to stop.

Note: you can continue a prior path by clicking near the end of it and dragging. The cursor will change to include a small "+" sign to indicate that you are connecting with the prior run.

[GIF]

If you drag a new path that's some distance away from any other path, it will be a new path.

[example gif animation of new path]

To make a straight line from the previous point or starting point, hold the CTRL key as you drag.

If you make a sharp corner, the tube will be broken if it cannot bend that tight. Otherwise the tube will be drawn with a radius around a corner.

Remember that you cannot edit an existing path with this tool. Use the Flex Path Edit Tool for editing the flex path.

Changing the Module

You can change the module after creating a freehand Flex Tube path. The module is changed to the one you selected and it's redrawn.

The Flex Draw Tool can be used in the following ways:

1. Draw on a blank layout, or a blank "canvas."
2. Draw on top of an imported bitmap file.
3. Draw inside or outside of a vector object.

When you use the Flex Draw Tool, you will always be creating a new object. Even if you have another vector or bitmap object selected, this tool will create a new object.

Please Note: if you create an open loop flex object using the Flex Draw Tool, then some of the Stat objects may not be valid, such as Area and Modules per Square Foot or Meter.