The Favorites tool in the toolbar stores elements for later reuse. Defaults define pre-formatted styles for elements that will be used automatically for that element type.

Why use Favorites & Defaults?

Because it makes your work with SnipSVG radically faster, easier and more fun. That's why!

Why use Favorites?

Using Favorites means you only have to edit standard element type once, then insert it with a single click every time you need it. For example a curved arrow with a specific width, head style, color and shadow. The callout text bubbles in the example below were made like this: They're defined with Courier New bold, a subtle shadow and a 3-pixel red outline, with placeholder text. To use them we just click once in Favorites and edit

Why use Defaults?

Defaults take this one step further: They set a specific predefined element as the universal standard for that element type. Then, when you insert the FIRST element of that type in a new image, that pre-edited version will be used. After that, all following elements take their formatting from the first element of that type. And if you want to start with a different style you just save that different style as a Favorite and use that instead.

Favorites

Using Favorites and Defaults couldn't be easier: Edit an element the way you want to have it, right-click on it and add it as a Favorite or Default. That's it!

Defining favorites

Select an element on the screen, then right-click and select Add to Favorites. This option is also available in the Edit menu.

Using favorites

Open the Favorites tool in the toolbar and click on the favorite thumbnail to insert it in your image.

Managing favorites

Favorites are stored in a standard SnipX file called Favorites.snipx, which can be edited just like any regular SnipX image. Select the Manage option in the Favorites tool drop-down menu to edit the contents.

Defaults

An element stored as a default defines the style of new elements in the same category, when they are inserted as the first element of that category. The categories are Shapes, Callouts, Numbering Steps and Text. For example, if you define a default callout style, the first callout you add to a new image will have that style automatically.

Creating defaults

Creating a default is the same as creating a favorite: Just right-click on the element, then select Set Format as a Default instead of Add to Favorites.

When the default format is used

When you insert the first element of that category in an image. After that, all new elements of that type will get their style from the previous element. If you want to use a different style you can save that as a favorite (see above).

When the default format is not used

If an element of the selected category is already present the next element you insert will have the formatting and style of last element of that category inserted. Then the default format is ignored.

Managing defaults

Defaults are stored together with the favorites in the Favorites.snipx file (see above). Select the Manage option in the Favorites tool drop-down menu to edit the contents.

File location: The file is stored in the folder \Users\<UserName>\AppData\com.ecsoftware.snipsvg. You may have to enable viewing hidden folders on Windows to access this folder.

Names of favorite and default elements in the Favorites.snipx file

All the elements in the Favorites.snipx files have their own names that you can view and change with the Position, Size & Name dialog in the Edit or right-click context menu. However, please don't change the name of default items, as they are identified and used on the basis of these special, predefined names. Of course, if you no longer wish to use an element as a default you can change it to a favorite by changing its name to some arbitrary name of your own choosing.

Identifying favorites and defaults in the Favorites file

The elements stored as favorites and defaults are all normal elements in the Favorites.snipx file. You can distinguish them by looking in the status bar below the editor window when they are selected:

•Defaults have a name starting with the word DEFAULTSTYLE in capital letters.

•Favorites just have regular, automatically-assigned names.