There are many ways to edit objects and their components, the most common tools and functions are presented briefly in this section.

The alternatives for editing that are available in dpPower fall into three categories, which together characterize the properties of a spatial object:

•Geometry - you can edit the position, shape and size of any graphical component.

•Attribute data - you can edit non-geometric properties for an object, which means descriptive data, such as texts and images.

•Topology - you can edit how an object is linked to another object, meaning the way objects are connected to each other or whether they are adjacent.

Edit geometry

When you edit geometries, you do it either on an entire object, that is, all graphic components belonging to the object, or on individual components. The most common tools are the ones you use to move, rotate or delete a component or an object in the graphical view. It is possible to change the shape and size of graphics components  - lines and polygons -  by editing the vertices or break points that define them. You can for example move, add or delete a break point to modify the geometry of a line or polygon. Furthermore, it is possible to change the size of symbols and texts, creating arcs from line segments, etc.

Many of the most common tools are available as icons in the toolbar - the rest can be found in the menu Edit and in the sub menus Object and Component. To learn more about the tools that you can work with, study the command descriptions in the Edit menu in the reference chapter.

When you place or edit objects in the graphical view, these icons can be displayed next to the mouse cursor:

When you edit objects in the graphical view, these icons can be displayed next to the mouse cursor: and , see section Place object in a view.

Edit attribute data

In the object's attribute form, you can add, change or remove information about the object. All objects that have graphical representation, which means those that can be displayed in the graphical view, also have an attribute form associated with the object. An attribute form is used to enter and update a variety of useful information about an object, ranging from ID numbers to information about the last date of inspection. It is also possible to right-click on a field label in an attribute form to show history for a specific field. The type of information and how extensive the data could be, depends on the type of object concerned. Usually it is not necessary to describe a Free graphics object with the same level of detail as a cable object or a network node.

You can find more information about the attribute forms in the section Show/change attributes.

Edit topology

In the Edit menu, you can select tools to connect or disconnect objects, and merge or split objects. Moreover, some tools that you can use for editing the topological relationships between objects. Topology describes how objects, via the graphical components, are connected or adjacent to each other. The tools available are found under Edit > Object.

 

Examples of topological relations:  

•The pipe is connected to the node.

•The cable contains fibers.