# Loop Pad Surface Operations

Creating/Moving/Resizing/Closing a Loop Pad: To create a Loop Pad, select the Loop Pad icon from the tool bar. Then, deposit the icon in the desired location by clicking once. When you create a Pad, you'll get a blank page such as the one shown in Figure 6-3. Note that Figure 6-3 shows where to click and/or drag to move, resize and close the Pad. It also identifies the salient features of the default Loop Pad page.

Figure 6-3 Default Loop Pad Page

Pad Icon Operations: As shown in Figure 6-4, associated with the Loop Pad is a Pad icon. The icon exists on the surface of the Interface level. When the Pad is accessible (either because you have closed the Pad or because you have made active the level containing the Pad), it is amenable to a variety of operations. These are summarized in Figure 6-4.

Figure 6-4 Loop Pad Icon Operations

Pinning and Unpinning: The push-pin icon on the Loop Pad is used to pin the entire pad to the surface of the Interface level. Pinned pads will move along with the level to which they are affixed, when you click, drag, scroll, etc., on the level. Unpinned pads will "float," either above or below the level. Click once on the push-pin to pin the pad to the surface. Click again on the push-pin to unpin the pad. Figure 6-5 illustrates a pinned Loop Pad.

Notes: When a pad is pinned, its title bar and resizing controls disappear. To move or resize, you must first unpin the pad. Because a pinned pad is attached to its level, access to building blocks and objects is retained while the pad is extant.

The Pin will be grayed out, unless the entire area of the pad is within the borders of the Interface level.

Figure 6-5 A Pinned Loop Pad

Turning Pages: When a Loop Pad contains more than one page, the page-turning apparatus on its lower left corner will become active. The Pad will also tell you what page of the Pad you are on. As shown in Figure 6-6, a click on the upper triangle will move you to the next page in the pad. A click on the lower triangle will move you to the previous page.

Figure 6-6 Turning Loop Pad Pages

Other Surface Operations: Using the Paintbrush tool, you can change the color of backgrounds, variable names, and Pad icons. Chapter 5 summarizes the use of the Paintbrush in this context. You can delete pages using the Dynamite tool. Chapter 5 shows you how to use the Dynamite tool on the Loop Object.