To create a new LDS, select New from the File menu.  Add new LDS objects by selecting the object type from the tool palette.  Place the object selected on the screen by clicking on the left mouse button over the white drawing canvas. If you are new to LDS Draw look at the file tutorial.ps in the TUTORIAL directory with a postscript previewer. 


To create a new entity, click on the "new entity" button from the toolbar. This is the topmost button that looks like blank entity. Next, click on the white LDS Draw canvas where you want the new entity to be located.

For help on how to modify this new entity, see the help on "Modifying an existing entity."

If the toolbar is not displayed, select "Show toolbar" from the Tools menu.


To create a new relationship, click on the type of relationship desired on the toolbar.  Then, click on the first entity to be connected by the new relationship.  Finally, click on the second entity to be connected by the new relationship.

For help on how to modify this new relationship, see the help on "Modifying an existing relationship."


If the toolbar is not displayed, select "Show toolbar" from the Tools menu.


Text boxes have yet to be implemented.


Deleting LDS elements has yet to be implemented.


Text boxes have yet to be implemented.


Deleting LDS elements has yet to be implemented.


To load an LDS, select "Load..." from the File menu.  Use the file select dialog box to find the LDS you wish to load.  You can select files by double-clicking on the file names displayed or by entering a file name in the edit field called "Filename." Note that at this point no checking is done to make sure that the file is a true LDS data file. If you loaded a file that was not a file you previously saved and LDS Draw is being weird you may need to quit LDS Draw and restart.


To change the NAME of an existing entity, first make the entity active by clicking once over it with the left mouse button. Next click directly on the text field of the name at the top of the entity. A flashing I cursor appears. Once the Cursor appears you can use delete and backspace to erase characters and you can type in new characters. If you do not see a flashing cursor in the name try clicking again directly on the name field.

To change the text of an existing ATTRIBUTE, first make the entity active by clicking once over it with the left mouse button. Next click directly on the text field of the attribute you wish to modify. A flashing I cursor appears. Once the Cursor appears you can use delete and backspace to erase characters and you can type in new characters. If you do not see a flashing cursor in the attribute you are attempting to modify, try clicking again directly on top of it.

To insert a new attribute, pick an existing attribute that you want to precede the new attribute. Place the cursor flashing I cursor in the text field of the existing attribute. Click on the "insert new attribute" button in the attribute toolbar. The new attribute will be added on the line after the existing attribute. If you do not see the flashing I cursor this button will have no effect. Make sure you have picked an existing attribute by clicking on it first. New attributes are always inserted after existing ones. If you wish to add an attribute in the first line use the "insert new attribute button" when the cursor is flashing on the name of the entity.

To delete an existing attribute, place the cursor on the line of the attribute and click on the "Delete attribute" button on the attribute toolbar or type <Control-k>.

To make an attribute an identifier, place the cursor on the line of the attribute and click on the "Make identify" button on the attribute toolbar or type <Control-i>.

To make an attribute that is currently an identifier non-identifying, place the cursor on the line of the attribute and click on the "Make unidentify" button on the attribute toolbar or type <Control-u>.

To place the cursor on a location within an entity, click on the entity then click on the location within that entity you want to select. You can also use emacs style key bindings or the arrow keys on the numeric key-pad to move around.

If the attribute toolbar is not displayed, select "Show attribute toolbar" from the Tools menu.


To modify an existing relationship, first click on one of the two relationship descriptors of the relationship to make it active.  A relationship descriptor is an end of a relationship and is located right next to the entity it describes. Once it is active it is displayed in red and you can modify either reltationship descriptor by using the relationship descriptor dialog box .

To change the cardinality of a relationship descriptor, click on the appropriate cardinality of the appropriate relationship descriptor in the Relationship Information dialog box.

To change the identifying status of a relationship descriptor, click on the appropriate identifying status of the appropriate relationship descriptor in the Relationship Information dialog box.

If the relationship information dialog box is not displayed, select "Show relationship information" from the Tools menu.

See help on moving a relationship to change the entity of a relationship or simply to reposition the relaitonship on the same entity.


Text boxes have yet to be implemented.


To move a relationship descriptor, first click on it to make it active. Then, with the left mouse button depressed, drag it  to the edge of any entity. You must be sure that the descriptor straddles the side of the entity you are connecting. If everything goes well the descriptor orients itself properly with respect to the new entity. If it does not  position itself when you release the left mouse button experiment with the position of the relationship descriptor.

To move a line segment of a relationship, click on the line segment and drag it to the location you desire.


Text boxes have yet to be implemented.


To move an entity, click on the entity you wish to move. With the left mouse button depressed, drag it to the location you desire.


To print an LDS to the default printer, pull down "Print LDS..." from the File menu.

To print an LDS to a file, pull down "Print LDS to file..." from the File menu.  Use the file select dialog box to select a file name that will contain the resulting LDS. This file will be in postscript format.


To quit LDS Draw, pull down the File menu and select Quit.


To save an LDS, pull down the File menu and select Save.

To save the LDS as a different name, select "Save As..." from the File menu.


