> Is there a way in FontLab to move
> selected points other than using
> the arrow keys?

Pretty easy. Select some nodes, open Window / Transformation Panel, click on the first button on the panel (Shift), enter the distance and click on Apply.

Adam

1. transform selected parts of outlines transformation in the glyphwindow

> transform seems to move all the points in the glyph, whether selected > or not.

this won't happen if you use the 'little' Transform-palette (open it via menu : Windows -> Transform) there you find several operations wich will work for the only selectet parts of your glyph or for the whole if no points are selected.

2. transformation in the fontwindow

you can get your shorter dash without the width changed by Tools -> transform (or apple-T) -say: 75% -unclick: proportional -unclick: scale metrics -choose: center of selection you will get the same result with the 'little' Transform-palette (you can use it also in the FontWindow for several glyphs)

have fun

Also note that shift + the arrow keys moves the selected points ten units at a time.

[mental dialogue . . .] This is FontLab, the most powerful font manipulation program on Earth. Now I don't know if I've tapped the arrow five times or six . . . the question is, do I feel lucky?

And Ute: if, as I said, the dash is not all straight lines, you will get a slightly different result from scaling than from moving points.

Charles

> Now I don't know if I've tapped the > arrow five times or six . . . the question is, do I feel lucky?

can't tell if you feel lucky but why don't you use the mask layer as reference and concentrate?

> And Ute: if, as I said, the dash is not all straight lines, you will > get a slightly different result from scaling than from moving points.

ahh, you're right. i didn't get what you wanted to do. but how should it work? i think moving nodes is designing while automated actions like scaling etc. are 'machinery work'.

what you want FL to manage seems to me like telling my computer what to do by talking to it. mine doesn't understand me yet, though i really try hard maybe there comes a time ...

Charles, have you figured out how to use the Transform palette to move selected points specific distances? It seems from your comments that you haven't.

Charles,

you may have missed my first posting in this thread, so I'm repeating it: "Pretty easy. Select some nodes, open Window / Transformation Panel, click on the first button on the panel, enter the distance and click on Apply. "

Adam

Adam,

No I got it, thanks so much. I'll get the training wheels off pretty soon. I've been using Fontographer since the early 1990's; it is, as the musicians say, "in my fingers," so it will take a while to get there with FontLab. Worth the struggle, though, FontLab is a much better program.

I just couldn't resist adapting the quote from Dirty Harry -- much better to enter a number thant to try & remember how many "shots" you've fired.

Charles