# Using the Style Inspector

One of the most powerful aspects of Artboard is its ability to go way beyond simple stroke and fill styles. The Style Inspector is used to create and edit expert "stacked" styles, comprised of various style components, such as gradients, arrows, and pattern fills.

The Style Inspector is also used to save custom styles to the user's Library collection.

Play with the Style Inspector's many style components to build "stacked" styles and you'll be an expert in no time flat. See Available Style Components for more information.

## Show Hide To Open the Style Inspector:

Do one of the following:

- Click the Style Inspector icon in the toolbar.
- Choose Window > Style Inspector from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Reset the Style to the Default:

1. Click the 'Reset' button in the Style Inspector to reset to the default style (grey fill, black stroke).
2. Edit the style properties as desired.
3. Continue drawing (subsequent objects have the same style properties until they are changed).

## Show Hide To Copy a Style using 'Clone':

'Clone' makes a copy of an existing style so you can make changes to it and continue drawing without affecting the original. This makes it easy to adjust some properties, such as a stroke’s width or color, while retaining other style component settings as desired.

1. With the Style Inspector open, make an existing style the active style (it should show in the Style Inspector 'Preview') by doing one of the following:

- Select an object with the style to be cloned.
- Select a style in the Styles & Clip Art palette.
- Select a style in the Library Manager.

2. Click the 'Clone' button in the Style Inspector to copy to the style.
3. Edit the style properties as desired.
4. Continue drawing (subsequent objects have the same style properties until they are changed).

HINT: Styles in the built-in Mapdiva collection cannot be over-written – to enable editing styles in the built-in collection, use "Clone" to make a copy of the original.

## Show Hide To Work with Non-Saved (Ad Hoc) Styles:

Styles you create while you draw are called "ad hoc" styles unless they are added to your user library. Unless you want to save a style for future re-use, there is no need to rename or add these styles to your Library collection. Simply create styles as desired and continue drawing.

## Show Hide To Enable Editing a Library Style:

Saved styles are “master styles” and when saved they are, by default, set as not editable to prevent unintended changes.

1. With the style active, check "Editable" in the Style Inspector.
2. If presented with a confirmation message, click 'Make Editable'.
3. After editing, we recommend unchecking the box 'Editable' to prevent further unintended changes.

HINT: Styles in the built-in Mapdiva collection cannot be over-written – to enable editing styles in the built-in collection, use "Clone" to make a copy of the original.

## Show Hide To Build a Style Using the Style Inspector:

Styles are "built" by combining various style components.

1. Select or draw an object to receive the new style.
2. With the object selected, press the '+' button to add a style component from the drop-down list.
3. Adjust the properties of the style component as desired. Multiple components may be added. See Available Style Components for more information about style component settings.

For example, to build this cased line with a center dash, three strokes of varying widths are defined and stacked. Here we combine a black solid line, a narrower magenta solid line, and a green dashed line. The black stroke is defined first, then the magenta, then the green line. The list shows the order that components are drawn, so the last (bottom) item in the list is drawn last, which will appear 'on top' of components already drawn. Drag to rearrange the stacking order of style components.

## Show Hide To Remove a Style Component:

1. With the style active, click onto the style component name in the style component list.
2. Do one of the following:

- Click the '-' button to remove the style component.
- Right-click the style component name and choose 'Delete Component' from the contextual menu.

## Show Hide To Enable (or Disable) a Style Component without Removing It:

1. With the style active, click onto the style component name in the style component list.
2. Check (or uncheck) the 'Enable' box to show (or hide) the style component without removing it.

HINT: To edit a style component it must be enabled (check box). Disabled components can neither be edited, nor show up when the style is used to draw an object. If desired, individual components of a style can be uniquely named by double-clicking in the master list of the Style Inspector.

## Show Hide To Copy/Paste Style Components:

Each style component carries its own adjustable properties. You can copy and paste a component (and its associated property settings) to the same or other styles.

1. With the style active, click onto the style component name in the style component list.
2. Right-click the style component and choose 'Copy Component' from the contextual menu.
3. Do one of the following:

- Right-click again in the style component list area and choose 'Paste Component' from the contextual menu. Adjust style properties as desired.
- Make a new or different style active, right-click in the style component list area and choose 'Paste Component' from the contextual menu. Adjust style properties as desired.

## Show Hide To Save a New Library Style:

Optionally, use the Style Inspector to name your styles and add them to "My Collection…" for future use.

1. When you’re satisfied with your new style, click back onto the "Style" heading in the component list to return to the front dialog.
2. Click onto the ad-hoc name, highlight it and type a new style name.
3. Optionally, click the text 'Optional description' and type a description for your new style.
4. Click the 'Add to User's Collection…' button. The Library Manager is launched and the style is added to My Library > My Collection.

New styles are immediately available in the Styles & Clip Art Palette where you can use them for drawing.

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