Binders group other [JSup Graphic objects|graphic objects] in a [JSup graphic windows|JSup graphic window].

Binders are useful for many reasons:

• By grouping [JSup Graphic objects|graphic objects] that are logically related you can keep your [JSup graphic windows|graphic windows] clean and easy to edit/maintain.
• You can apply [JSup Animations|animations] to binders so the animations act on all the [JSup Graphic objects|objects] in the binder at the same time (for example you can [JSup Enable animation|enable] or [JSup Visible animation|show/hide] all the [JSup Graphic objects|objects] in the binder.

There are two kind of binders:

• Rigid binders cannot be stretched and scaled, but only moved.
• Non rigid binders can be stretched and scaled.

A binder that has a [JSup Graphic object name|name] and that is contained by a [JSup Library windows|library window] is a [JSup Graphic library objects|library object].

How to create a binder

To create a binders you have to [JSup editor object selection and navigation|select] at least two [JSup Graphic objects|graphic objects] in the current [JSup Edit context|editor context].

• Press F3 (or menu Arrange / Bind objects (rigid)) to create a rigid binder.
• Press Ctrl+F3 (or menu Arrange / Bind objects) to create a non rigid binder.

A binder can be exploded so it's replaced by its content. To do so use the menu Arrange / Unbind object (or Shift-F3).
Note that a binder have to be exploded to be edited: see later.

A binder can be converted in a [JSup Composite shapes|Composite shape] with the menu Arrange / Compose binder in a single shape (or F4 key).

Edit binder content

To edit the content of a binder there are two ways:

• [Focusing the JSup editor view#How to change the view focus|Focus the binder].
• Open the binder with Ctrl+Shift+Click of the [http://www.forlani.it/JSup/JSupMouse.html|mouse] or using the [JSup Graphic navigation|graphic navigation]. See [JSup Edit context] for more information.

Set the default animated sub-object

Sometimes the main function of a binder is contained in the [JSup Animations|animations] a particular sub-object.
In this case it's useful to identify this object so, when the binder is [JSup editor object selection and navigation|selected], you can easily access to those animations by simply using the toolbar button or the Enter key.

To define the default animated sub-object

• [JSup editor object selection and navigation|select] the binder;
• right click the mouse and select Set path for default animated subobject;
• use the [JSup Graphic navigation|Navigation window] to select the object that has to be the default animated one.

It's better that all the [JSup Graphic objects|objects] in the path to reach the default animated one (included) have a [JSup Graphic object name|name] (if not, by adding/removing [JSup Graphic objects|objects] around the path will invalidate the default animated object).

If you have defined a default animated sub-object you can still access the animation of the binder itself by keeping the Shift key hold when using the toolbar button or the Enter key.