A few questions

[Timothy Bates]

<warren at dirac.phys.washington.edu>

> I am using OmniGraffle to replace Ashlar Vellum
Vellum is way high end. I am not sure that graffle is in that race?

> Are there any ways of setting global preferences for default behaviors?
> For example, I usually don't use shadows on my shapes and would like to
> avoid clicking on the box every time.

In graffle, you change the default by clicking on a tool bar button and then
using the Info pane to set the button object to be the one you want by
default (remove shadow in your case).
  
> I assume there is no way to cut a section of a shape out? In Vellum
> there is a stiletto tool to do this; I think it is called "trimming".

You cut one object out of another in DreamWeaver as well, but graffle does
not have drawing tools for such actions. This is good in that it is easy to
use because you just drop templates on the stage, but still limiting (bar
the custom shapes directive others have noted). I am not sure that this is
the right app for drawing laboratory diagrams though? Unless you make up a
"laboratory objects" pallete? And release that to the community?

> The "rotate" tool is very fast and nice, but is there any way to set the
> pivot point?
Not that I have seen: again DreamWeaver yes, but 5 times the price.
You can of course simulate this by rotating to your desired angle, then
translating to your desired location. Two steps in know, but again, keeps
life simple for users who are doing diagramming rather than illustrator
layouts.