Pointer Editor

The Pointer editor lets you change the color, size, and shape of the mouse pointer and the busy pointer. Figure 5-7 illustrates the Pointer editor window. A magnified view of the current pointer is shown to the left. To the right are reduced copies of the pointer, showing how it looks against the Workbench colors.

Figure 5-7.

Pointer Preferences Editor Window

The Pointer cycle gadget above the magnified view box lets you select either the mouse pointer or the busy pointer for editing.

The pointer has three changeable colors on an unchangeable background. Areas using the background color are transparent.

To change the colors of the existing pointer:

1. Select a color from the color selection gadget.
2. Change the amounts of red, green, and blue in that color using the three color sliders.

To create a new pointer, you can draw it pixel by pixel:

1. Select the Clear gadget to erase the contents of the magnified view box.
2. Select the color with which to draw.
3. Point within the magnified view to position a pixel and click the selection button. Hold the selection button down to draw with that color.

Repeat Steps 1 through 3 until your design is complete.

1. Select the Set Point gadget and then click on one of the pixels in the pointer to position the pointer's hot spot.
2. Click on Use to use the pointer you created in this session or Save to use it across sessions.

The Test gadget lets you change the screen pointer to see how it looks at actual size without closing the editor.

The Cancel gadget cancels all changes and closes the editor window.

The Clear gadget erases the magnified view box. All pixels change to the background color for drawing a new pointer.

The Resolution cycle gadget lets you choose between High Res and Low Res settings. This is available only on Amigas with the AGA chip set. Selecting High Res provides twice as many pixels to work with, giving you finer detail and more control over your drawing.

The Set Point gadget lets you choose where to put the pointer's point or hot spot. In the magnified view, the point pixel is surrounded by a different color. Select the Set Point gadget and click on the position where the hot spot is to be located.

The Reset Color gadget returns the last set of colors that were in use when you entered the editor.

The Project and Edit menus have the Open, Save As, Quit, Cut, Copy, Paste, Erase, Undo, Load Image, Reset to Defaults, Last Saved, and Restore items described starting on page 5-4.