The Properties window allows you to set many attributes such as color for background, border, and text. You can set the font text, face, size and alignment, and the shape border size. It is also possible to define the location of the shape by specifying the coordinates for the left and top. The shape dimensions can also be specified in the Height and Width boxes. Lastly, you can specify whether the selected shape should be in the foreground or background. By default, the newest shape is placed in the foreground, but it can be sent to the background from this control, which is useful with the “label” shape.
Details about the various attributes that can be controlled via the Properties window are described below:
Ident
The Ident displayed as read-only is the identifier assigned to the Target/Token whose Properties window is open.
This identifier can be viewed in the canvas of the Enhanced Matching type item as shown below:
To assign a custom alphanumeric identifier to the Token/Target, you must select the Use custom ident check box, which opens the Ident text box for editing.
Upon applying the properties, the Ident property is updated in the canvas of the Enhanced Matching type item as shown below:
The following characters are accepted for custom identifiers:
- max of 36 characters
- uppercase English letters (A-Z)
- lowercase English letters (a-z)
- Westernized Arabic numerals (0-9)
- period (.)
- colon (:)
- hyphen (-)
- underscore (_)
Upon deselecting the Use custom ident check box, the Ident field is disabled and the value of the identifier changes to the default as follows:
- For Tokens: The identifier resets to the default value according to the Default option labels setting in the Question tab of the Project's configuration.
If this setting is set to Alphabetic, then this is set to the alphabetic equivalent sort order according to when the Token was created (i.e., "A" for 1st Token, "B" for 2nd, "C" for 3rd, and so on).
If this setting is set to Numeric, then it is set to the numeric sort order according to when the Token was created (i.e., "1" for 1st Token, "2" for 2nd, "3" for 3rd, and so on). - For Targets: The identifier resets to the default value according to the following format: <QuestionNumber>_R<SortOrder>, where <QuestionNumber> is the item number of the current Enhanced Matching type item (if it already exists, or else it is blank for an item being created), and <SortOrder> is the numeric sort order of the ident according to when the Target it was created (i.e., "1" for 1st Target, "2" for 2nd, "3" for 3rd, and so on).
BackColor
The BackColor can be selected via the color picker drop-down list, or the hexadecimal value can be entered in the text box.
Border properties
The Border properties color control is the same as for BackColor mentioned previously, and this property applies to the border of the shape. The Size box allows you to set the border width in pixels.
Content section
The Content section is a text box into which you can specify the text for the shape.
A background image can be attached to the Token or Target by clicking the Attach asset button, which opens the Attach Asset pop-up window. You can then retrieve and select an Asset from there. Only one Asset can be attached to a Token or Target, and it is not possible to attach Asset Stacks.
- Click Attach asset and select an image from the Attach Asset pop-up window or upload an image to attach.
- You will see the name of the attached image.
- Click Apply to enable the Resize token/target to image button, which allows you to resize the Token or Target to the size of the attached image.
Text alignment in the shapes
The text inside the shape can be aligned vertically and horizontally in the Text Align section. Horizontal alignment includes Left, Center, and Right options, while Vertical alignment includes Top, Center and Bottom options.
Font (Face, Size, Color)
Here you can select font face, font color, and font size. The Color control is similar to other color controls. Font Face selection is a drop-down list with different values supported in the Pearson VUE Test Driver. Tahoma is the default selected value.
Font Size selection is a drop-down list with a minimum value of 9 and maximum value of 36. The default value is 10.
Location of the shapes
Coordinates, with respect to the canvas, for the left and top edges of the selected shapes can be provided here. You may apply the Left and Top coordinates for each of the shapes.
Size of the shapes
Height and width of the selected shapes can be specified here. You may apply the Height and Width attribute in pixels for each shape.
Bring to front, Send to Back, and Apply
As the name suggests, these buttons allow you to bring the selection to the front or send it to the back, as required, by clicking the appropriate button. You must click the Apply button to set any changes you have made to the properties.
As you can see below, the Label shape "Fruits & Berries" has been sent to the background to hold the two Target shapes "Strawberry" and "Banana". This is achieved by clicking the Send to Back button.
It is also possible to select multiple shapes and set their collective properties or even move them around together.
The modified properties are applied to the selected shape(s) only after clicking the Apply button.
How does Copy-Paste work with shapes?
Copy - Paste Shape (Single Shape)
When a shape is selected and copied, all of its properties including the text are also copied and pasted into the new shape created when it is pasted. The location of the pasted shape is offset by 20 pixels to the right and 20 pixels lower than the source.
Select multiple shapes
Click a shape to select it. Then click another shape. This deselects the first shape and select the second shape. Multiple shapes can be selected together by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor around all the desired shapes.
Extend Copy/Paste to multiple shapes
As mentioned earlier, multiple shapes can be selected together by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor around all the desired shapes. This selection can then be copied and pasted. The pasted shapes are added to the canvas with an offset of 20 pixels to the right and 20 pixels down. The pasted shapes have the same set of properties.
What is a Grid?
By default, the canvas is blank and users may find it hard to set the relative alignments of the added shapes. The grid feature helps solve this alignment problem. The grid can be enabled by selecting the Grid check box on the top right. After enabling the grid, it is applied to the canvas and appears as a grid box as seen below. The check box can be used to toggle it ON or OFF.
A shape now snaps to the visible grid when moved around the canvas, which provides a visual method of determining the shape alignment.
How to resize and move the shapes?
The Target, Token, and Label shapes can be dragged around the canvas to rearrange as required. They can also be resized by selecting them and dragging their corners or sides.
To resize horizontally, move the mouse cursor over the small square 
To resize vertically, move the mouse cursor over the small square 
To resize a shape while maintaining its aspect ratio, move the mouse cursor over the small square 
To move a shape around the canvas without disturbing its dimensions, move the mouse cursor over any part of the shape except the small squares 
