Add To Group > By Colour: Grouping Overlays by Matching Colours

If you need to automatically group overlays based on their colours, Scribble Maps provides a Bulk Style Change option through the Add To Group > By Colour tool. This feature allows you to select overlays with matching line and fill colours (with optional opacity matching) and place them into a designated group, streamlining map organization.

Note: To use the Add Group feature, you must be logged-in to a Pro account. To learn how to upgrade, visit this link: How to upgrade to a Pro account

Note: The example includes the option where opacity is a factor in the match.

Create the overlays

1. Create a line. For example; a straight line.

   To learn how to create a line, visit these links:

   • Line Tool—Draw a Straight Line, Connected Lines, Flight Line or Dimension Line
   • Draw Tool—Draw a freeform line
   • Pen/Curve Tool—Draw a precise curved line

    
2. In the top toolbar, select the Line Colour Picker by clicking the Circle/Pencil Icon displaying the tooltip: "Changes line/border colour".
    
3. Click the colour field to change the selected colour.
    
4. (Optional) Type in a new opacity value.
    
5. Create 2 more overlays. For example; a circle, and a label.

   To learn how to create the overlays, visit these links:

   • Draw a circle - (Circle Tool)
   • Draw a rectangle - (Rectangle Tool)
   • Draw a polygon - (Polygon Tool)
   • Create a label - (Label Tool)

    

Create a folder

6. At the top of the Layers Panel, click on the Folder Icon displaying the tooltip: "Add Group".
   You will see the folder added to the Layers Panel.

   (Optional) - To learn more about grouping overlays, see; Grouping markers/elements by using folders.

View the configuration headings

7. At the top of the Layers Panel, click on the Toolbox's gear and wrench icon.
   You will see a window with Core Operations and Plugin options appear.
    
8. Under the "Bulk" heading > "Add To Group" subheading, click on the link: "By Colour".
   You will see this window appear: "Add to Group By Colour". There are headings for:

   • Line Colour.
   • Fill Colour.
   • Match Opacity - (Optional).
   • Select Group.

   Note: For shapes to be considered a match, the individual colours of the border and fill area, each has to match. If the box for "Opacity" is checked, the opacity value of each also has to match.
    
9. In the top-right corner of the Toolbox window, click on the "X" button, to close the window.

Type the headings into a text editor

If you are using a Windows system, open the program: Notepad.

If you are using a Mac system, open the program: TextEdit.

To stay organized, type in these two headings:

• Line/Border Colour
• Fill Colour

Copy and paste the matching colour for the lines/borders

(TIP) If you want to find the opacity and hex code of a colour that isn’t currently selected, first select the Eyedropper Tool in the top toolbar.

In the Map View, click on the coloured line/border of the overlay.

This colour will now be the currently selected colour.

10. In the top toolbar, click on the Circle/Pencil Icon displaying the tooltip: "Changes line/border colour".
     
11. (Optional) - View the value under the heading: "Opacity %".

    In Notepad/TextEdit, type the value under the heading "Line/Border Colour".

     
12. Copy/Paste the hex code.
    Double-click to highlight the 6-digit hex code. Then copy the hex code by pressing:
    • Quick Key: Ctrl+C (for Windows).
    • Quick Key: Cmd+C (For Mac).

    In Notepad/TextEdit, paste the hex code under the heading "Line/Border Colour" by pressing:

    • Quick Key: Ctrl+V (for Windows).
    • Quick Key: Cmd+V (For Mac).

Copy and paste the matching colour for the fill area

13. In the top toolbar, click on the Circle/Bucket Icon displaying the tooltip: "Changes fills. Fill connected lines". 
     
14. (Optional) - View the value under the heading: "Opacity %".

    In Notepad/TextEdit, type the value under the heading "Fill Colour".

     
15. Copy the 6-digit hex code.

    In Notepad/TextEdit, paste the hex code under the heading "Fill Colour"

Specify the match colours

16. At the top of the Layers Panel, open the Toolbox and select "Add to Group By Colour".
     
17. (Optional) - Under the "Opacity" heading, check the box if you want to make opacity a factor in the match.
     
18. Under the "Line Colour" heading, click on the coloured square.
     
19. (Optional) - Under the "Opacity %" heading, type in the value you noted in Notepad/TextEdit for the Line/Border Colour.
     
20. In the hex code field, delete the current value. Copy the new value from Notepad/TextEdit. Paste the new value into the field. Press Enter on your keyboard.
     
21. Under the "Fill Colour" heading, click on the coloured square.
     
22. (Optional) - Under the "Opacity %" heading, type in the value you noted in Notepad/TextEdit for the Fill Colour.
     
23. In the hex code field, delete the current value. Copy the new value from Notepad/TextEdit. Paste the new value into the field. Press Enter on your keyboard.

Select the group

24. Under the "Select Group" heading, click on the button: select.
     
25. Click on the group you created earlier.

Add the matching overlays to the group

26. Click on the button: "Add To Group"
     
27. In the top-right corner of the Toolbox window, click on the "X" button, to close the window.

View the matching overlays in the group

28. In the Layers Panel, you will see the matching overlays have been moved to the group.