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
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- Online Resource Center
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## Teaching with Sketchpad

- Why Teach with Sketchpad
- Sketchpad in the Classroom
- First Steps
- Sample Activities
- Sketchpad LessonLink
- Training

- - 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)

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