To draw a line left click on the :guilabel:`single line` button on the toolbar on the left or :guilabel:`Shape --> Line`. Then click at one point where you want the line to start and move with the mouse to where you want it to end. To draw a rectangle left click on the :guilabel:`rectangle` button on the left bar or :guilabel:`Shape --> Rectangle`. Then click on one corner of the rectangle and then more the mouse to the other corner diagonally of where you want the rectangle. To draw an ellipse left click on the :guilabel:`ellipse` button on the left bar or :guilabel:`Shape --> Ellipse`. Then left click on one side of the ellipse and move the mouse to where you want the other side of the ellipse to end. At the end of drawing something it will be selected and you can move and resize it as you wish.
To switch to a selection tool left click on the :guilabel:`mouse cursor` image on the left bar. To move what you have selected left click and drag it to where you want it. To resize an item keeping its proportion left click on a corner of the boxes that show up and click and drag to the desired side. To squish or stretch while resizing something click on corner on the side and the click and drag to the desired size. To delete an selected part press :kbd:`delete` while you have it selected.
To draw an arrow click on the :guilabel:`Left Pointing Arrow` button on the left bar. To choose among many different arrows :menuselection:`Shape --> Insert --> Block Arrows`. To change which type of arrow click on the drop down and left click on the arrow to select that kind. Then left click where to put one end of the arrow and then move the mouse to the other end of the arrow. To draw a few different shapes click the :guilabel:`Shape` button on the left bar. To choose a different shape click on the drop down next to the shape. The click where you want the shape and move the mouse to choose how big to make the shape. More shapes can also be chosen from :menuselection:`Shape --> Insert --> Basic Shapes`.
To change the color of your line press the :guilabel:`lines, dots, and drops` dropdown menu to choose many different colors. To choose your color for things filled in press the dropdown :guilabel:`underlined bucket button` on the left bar. To switch to a color left click on it. To switch to a recently used color click on the color under :guilabel:`Recent`. To select a custom color click on :guilabel:`Custom color`.
To insert a star or banner :menuselection:`Shape --> Insert --> Stars and Banners` and select your star or banner or press the :guilabel:`Star button` and select which one with the drop down next to it. Then use the mouse to choose how big to make your star.
To insert a 3d object into your drawing :menuselection:`Shape --> Insert --> 3D objects` or the :guilabel:`3D Objects` button on the bottom of the left bar. Then choose the size of your 3d object with the mouse.
To rotate an object select it and :menuselection:`Shape --> Rotate`, right click and select :menuselection:`Transformation --> Rotate`. Then left click on the corner to spin an object around. To change the axis of where you are rotating an object move the dot in the center to change the center of rotation.
To flip a shape vertically :menuselection:`Shape --> Flip --> Vertically` or right click :menuselection:`Flip --> Vertically`. To flip a shape horizontally :menuselection:`Shape --> Flip --> Horizontally` or right click :menuselection:`Flip --> Horizontally`.
To move the alignment all the way to the left of a page :menuselection:`Shape --> Algin Objects --> Left`. To move an object to the center :menuselection:`Shape --> Align Objects --> Centered`. To move an object to the right of the page :menuselection:`Shape --> Align Objects --> Right`. To move an object to the top :menuselection:`Shape --> Align Objects --> Top`. To move an object to the center vertically :menuselection:`Shape --> Align --> Center`. To move an object to the bottom :menuselection:`Shape --> Align Objects --> Bottom`.
To insert a textbox press :kbd:`F2`, press the button :guilabel:`with a T in a box`, or :guilabel:`Insert --> Text box`. Drag the text box into what shape you want it. Then type the text you want in the text box.
To save your drawing press :kbd:`Control+s`, press the :guilabel:`Floppy disk` button, or :menuselection:`File --> Save`. To save your file as a separate name press :kbd:`Control+ shift + s` or :menuselection:`File --> Save As`. To open a file press :kbd:`Control +O`, the :guilabel:`Folder` button, or :menuselection:`File --> Open`. To save your file in a different format press the :guilabel:`rectangle with the rightward pointing arrow` or :guilabel:`File --> Export`. To export the file into a PDF directly press the button with the :guilabel:`black rectangle and a bent corner on a piece of paper` or :guilabel:`File --> Export As --> Export Directly as PDF`.
To undo if you make a mistake press :kbd:`Control + Z`, press :guilabel:`the u shaped arrow pointing to the left` button, or :menuselection:`Edit --> Undo`. If you want to redo something you undid press :kbd:`Control+ Y`, press :guilabel:`the u shaped arrow pointing to the right` button, or :menuselection:`Edit --> Redo`.
To cut or copy something first select it. Then to copy press :kbd:`Control+C` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Copy`. To cut press :kbd:`Control+ X` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Cut`. To paste press :kbd:`Control+ V` or :menuselection:`Edit --> Paste`.
To toggle showing a grid press the :guilabel:`Grid` button on the toolbar or :guilabel:`View --> Grid and Helplines --> Display Grid`. To bring the grid to the front of the drawing :menuselection:`View --> Grid and Helplines --> Grid to Front`.
To change properties of your line select the line and then select :menuselection:`Line` or :guilabel:`Format --> Line`. The :guilabel:`Line` tab has settings for your line. To choose your style for your line choose one from the :guilabel:`Style` drop down. To change the color of your line use the :guilabel:`Color` drop down. To change how wide your line is change the :guilabel:`Width` field. To change transparency of your line change the :guilabel:`Transparency`.
To add a shadow to your line use the :guilabel:`Shadow` tab. To add a shadow check the :guilabel:`Use shadow` checkbox. To change the color of the shadow change the :guilabel:`Color` drop down. To change which side the shadow is press the button towards which side you want the shadow to appear. To preview your shadow look on the right hand side of the window. To change how far the shadow is from the object use the :guilabel:`Distance` field. To blur your shadow change the :guilabel:`Blur` field. To change the opacity of your shadow use the :guilabel:`Transparency` field.
To change change the settings for your shape right click and select :menuselection:`Area`. The :guilabel:`Area` tab has settings for how your shape appears. To choose a color use the :guilabel:`Color` button. To select a color in your pallette left click on that color in the pallet. To change your pallette select in the :guilabel:`Palette` drop down. To choose a recent color left click it under :guilabel:`Recent Colors`. To change to a particular color in a color picker window press the :guilabel:`Pick` button. To view your current color see the :guilabel:`Active` column. To see what color you are changing to view the :guilabel:`New` column. To change the amount of red in your color change the :guilabel:`R` field. To change the amount of green in your color change the :guilabel:`G` field. To change the the amount of blue in your color change the :guilabel:`B` field. To enter a particular hex code for a color enter it in :guilabel:`Hex` field.
To give your shape a gradient of colors press the :guilabel:`Gradient` button. To select a type of Gradient left click on it under the :guilabel:`Gradient` on the left hand side. To view how the gradient will look view :guilabel:`Preview`. To change how the gradient changes shape change the :guilabel:`Type` drop down. To change how quick one color changes to the next use the :guilabel:`Increment` field. To change where the gradient is center use the :guilabel:`Center` field. To change what angle your gradient is at change the :guilabel:`Angle` field. To change how far to start a transition change the :guilabel:`Transition start` field. To chose the starting color for your shape use the :guilabel:`From Color`. To choose another color for your area choose the :guilabel:`To Color`. To change the opacity of your color change the percent field to the right of your color.
To have an image for your area use the :guilabel:`Image` button. To choose a preselected image use the :guilabel:`Image` on the left hand side. To add a saved image for your shape press the :guilabel:`Add/Import` button. To view how your image will appear view the :guilabel:`Preview` column on the right. To select having the image repeat the bigger it is select :menuselection:`Tiled` under :guilabel:`Style`. To choose to strech an image to the size of your shape select :menuselection:`Streched` under :guilabel:`Style`. To move your image to a particular position on the sahpe select :menuselection:`Custom position/size`.
To choose a pattern for your area press the :guilabel:`Pattern` button. To choose a preselected pattern left click under :guilabel:`Pattern` on it on the left hand side. To preview your pattern look at it under :guilabel:`Preview`. To change your foreground color of the pattern change :guilabel:`Foreground Color` field. To change the background color of your pattern change the :guilabel:`Background Color` field. To change which which part of your pattern is which color left click on where you want left click on that part to choose between the foreground or background color.
To choose a hatch pattern use the :guilabel:`Hatch` button. To choose a hatch pattern left click on the hatch pattern under :guilabel:`Hatch`. To view your hatch pattern look at it under :guilabel:`Preview`. To change how big the hatches are change the :guilabel:`Spacing` field. To rotate the hatch pattern change the :guilabel:`Angle`. To change which type of line to use for your hatch pattern change the :guilabel:`Line type` field. To choose the color of your lines change the :guilabel:`Line color` field. To have a background color of your hatch pattern check the :guilabel:`Background color` checkbox and then select your background color in the drop down.
To add a shadow to your shape use the :guilabel:`Shadow` tab. To use shadow check the :guilabel:`Use Shadow` checkbox. To view your shape use the :guilabel:`Preview` on the right side. To choose what side your shadow is on click the corner you want the shadow to be on. To choose the color of your shadow use the color field. To choose how far your shadow is from your image change the :guilabel:`Distance` field. To blur your shadow change the :guilabel:`Blur` field. To change how transparent the shadow is change the :guilabel:`Transparency` field.
To zoom in and out there is a zoom bar on the bottom right. To zoom in move the zoom bar towards the :guilabel:`+`. To zoom out move the zoom bar towards the :guilabel:`-`. The current zoom is displayed to the right of the zoom bar. To zoom to see the entire page :menuselection:`View --> Zoom --> Entire Page`. To zoom to the width of the page :menuselection:`View --> Zoom --> Page Width`. To return to your previous level of zoom :menuselection:` View --> Zoom --> Zoom Previous`. On the bottom right hand corner there is a bar to adjust the zoom. In the right of this bar shows the current zoom. Move the bar to the right to zoom and to the left to zoom out. To set the zoom back to your default view press the :guilabel:`four arrows in different directions` button. To choose to switch your current zoom right click on your current zoom and select a new zoom.
On the left there is a sidebar that shows your a summary of each page of a drawing. To add a new page right click on the page sidebar and select :menuselection:`New Page` or :menuselection:`Page --> New Page`. To switch between pages left click on the page you want to switch to on the left hand side. To delete a page right click on the page sidebar and select :menuselection:`Delete Page`. To duplicate your page right click on the page on the sidebar and select :menuselection:`Duplicate Page`. To rename a page right click on the sidebar and select :menuselection:`Rename Page`.
To toggle showing rulers in LibreOffice Draw press :kbd:`Control+ Shift + R`, :menuselection:`View --> Rulers`, or right click and select :menuselection:`Rulers`.
To print a drawing press :kbd:`Control+P` or :menuselection:`File --> Print`. To select your printer use the :guilabel:`Printer` drop down. To change how many copies to print change :guilabel:`Number of copies`. To change your paper size choose the :guilabel:`Paper size` menu. To preview what you are printing view the left side of the window. To actually print choose the :guilabel:`Print` button.
