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Annotation Automation Object

The annotation automation object (ANNOBJECT_AUTOMATION) is an object that lets you maintain default properties when using the automated annotation functions. This object has no position or dimensions. It is never placed in a container, but is associated with a root container using the LAnnAutomation::SetAutoContainer function.

The class for Automation Annotation objects is LAnnAutomation.

Any properties that you set in the automation object become the default values for any new objects that are inserted into the associated container. In addition to the properties of other object types, the automation object also has properties, such as the default toolbar selection, that control the automated user interface.

This object has an automation tool property that you can use without implementing the toolbar. For example, if you want to supply your own toolbar or menu options, you can use the automation object alone to keep track of the tool selection.

Applicable properties have the following defaults, which you can change:

Property	Default value
Automation tool	Defaults to the selection pointer. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetTool function.
Name	Defaults to an empty string. It can be changed using the LAnnotation::SetNameOptions function.
Line width	Defaults to 0.75 points. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetLineWidth function. (Note that when displayed, the line must have a minimum width of 1 pixel.)
Line style	Defaults to solid. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetLineStyle function.
ROP2 code	Defaults to ANNROP2_COPY. It can be changed using the LAnnotation::SetROP2 function.
Transparent option	Defaults To Do Not Use Transparent Color. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetTransparent function.
Transparent Color	Defaults to White. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetTransparent function.
Fill pattern	Defaults to solid. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFillPattern function.
Fill mode	Defaults to transparent. It can be changed using the LAnnotation::SetFillMode function. Before calling this function enable the alpha background fill mode by calling the LAnnotation::SetOptions function.
Polygon fill mode	Defaults to winding. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetPolyFillMode function.
Foreground color	Defaults to red. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetForeColor function.
Background color	Defaults to white. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetBackColor function. The default does not affect highlight, redaction, or note objects.
Note Background Color	Defaults to yellow. It can be changed using the LAnnNote::SetBackColor function.
Redact Background Color	Defaults to black. It can be changed using the LAnnRedact::SetBackColor function.
Hilite Background Color	Defaults to yellow. It can be changed using the LAnnHilite::SetBackColor function.
Font size	Defaults to 10 point, translated with a scaling factor of 1. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontSize function.
Font underline	Defaults to FALSE. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontUnderline function.
Font strikethrough	Defaults to FALSE. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontStrikeThrough function.
Font italic	Defaults to FALSE. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontItalic function.
Font bold	Defaults to FALSE. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontBold function.
Font name	Defaults to "Arial". It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetFontName function.
Button Font	Defaults to a regular MS Sans Serif red font at 10 points.
Hotspot Metafile	Defaults to a campfire graphic. It can be changed using the LAnnXXX::SetMetafile function.
Encrypt Metafile	Defaults to an image of a black skeleton key. It can be changed using the LAnnEncrypt::SetMetafile function.
Decrypt Metafile	Defaults to an image of a red skeleton key. It can be changed using the LAnnEncrypt::SetMetafile function.
Ruler	Defaults to Show Length and Show Tic Marks, using smart English as the measurement unit with a precision of 2, and a tic mark length of 30. These options can be changed using the LAnnRuler::SetShowFlags function, the LAnnRuler::SetGaugeLength function, the LAnnRuler::SetTicMarkLength, and the LAnnRuler::SetUnit function.
Nodes	Defaults to displaying every node. It can be changed using the LAnnXXX::SetNodes function.
Protractor	Defaults to drawing the inside angle in degrees with a precision of 2 and at an arc radius of 30. These options can be changed using the LAnnProtractor::SetProtractorOptions and the LAnnAutomation::SetShowFlags function.
Point	Defaults to using a bitmap and not using transparent color. These options can be changed using the LAnnPoint::SetTransparent function, LAnnPoint::SetTransparentColor function, the LAnnPoint::SetPredefinedBitmap function, and the LAnnPoint::SetBitmap function.
Encrypt	Defaults to Encryptor. Set encryption options using the LAnnEncrypt::SetEncryptOptions function.
Fixed State	Defaults to not fixed. It can be changed using the LAnnXXX::SetFixed function.
Hyperlink	Defaults to ANNLINK_NONE. It can be changed using the LAnnotation::SetHyperlink function.
Menus enabled	Defaults to TRUE. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetAutoMenuEnabled function.
Automation text strings	Default to hard-coded strings for menus and dialog boxes. Strings can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetAutoText function.
Highlight Pen Color	Defaults to white. It can be changed using the LAnnAutomation::SetAutoHilightPen function.

Additional automation properties can be set with the following functions. For details, see the corresponding documentation.

Use the LAnnotation::SetOptions function and the LAnnotation::GetOptions function to control the following features:

Rubber Stamp Display Style
XP Style Annotation Toolbar
Alpha Background Fill Option
Annotation Rotate Option
Annotation Side Handles
Annotation Multi-select
Annotation Cursors
ESC to Cancel
Calibrate Ruler Feature
Dot Dash Lines
Text Annotation Options

For more information about these features, refer to Key Annotation Features

If the annotation objects are container, automation, text, text pointer, stamp, note, pushpin, or button objects it is possible to use the LAnnotation::GetTextOptions and the LAnnotation::SetTextOptions functions to set the objects to show or hide the text and to set the color of the text. In addition, if the annotation objects are text or stamp objects these functions can set the objects to show or hide the borders of the object. These features must be enabled using the LAnnotation::SetOptions function.

The LAnnotation::SetFillMode and the LAnnotation::GetFillMode extends the original functions to support the ANNMODE_ALPHA fill mode. Before calling these two functions, enable the alpha background fill mode by calling the LAnnotation::SetOptions function.

Annotation Automation Object

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