EucliDraw is divided in two collaborating parts: a) The Drawing Environment and b) the Programming Environment. In the Drawing Environment you have the simulation of a paper sheet, representing the Euclidean plane, coordinate axes and various tools to draw shapes, such as points, lines, triangles, circles etc. Apart from geometric objects you can draw there also text-boxes, small labels for your figures and pictures (BMP or EMF formats). This gives you the ability to construct fairly complex documents and save them in the proprietary "*.euc" format.

With the pressing of a button you can convert your drawing to a script (text), which is automatically displayed in the programming environment. Conversely, you can compile such a script and generate a drawing that is automatically displayed on the drawing environment. This interaction between drawing and programming enables you to create tools of your own. Of course you have to learn the rules of the game and apply them correctly. The drawing of figures should be considered the first, primary, and most often occuring activity. The scripting and the production of tools should be considered as a more advanced activity, supposed to complement the first one. For an example of a user-created-tool you may look at the two inscribed squares (in a generic quadrangle) picture, in the Gallery.

In the drawing environment you need to learn the tools and their use. These are selectable from the toolbar or the various menus, compiled after the objects they produce. There is for example a whole menu containing tools related to triangles, the so-called triangle-menu. When you select a tool, then on the bottom status-bar of the window appears a short text indicating the use of the selected tool. Often this advice is sufficient to remind you the correct use of the tool.

In the programming environment you need to know the language, which I call "EUCLA". It is not difficult to learn and perhaps not even necessary if you don't need more tools than the ready to use appearing in the toolbar and the various menus. The language is examplified through the many examples included or/and automatically produced from drawing-documents. It is also explained in the help. In the snapshot is shown an example of script, producing the quadratic transformation w = z^2 , of the complex plane onto itself.

Anyway, the help is very extensive and covers all subjects of both environments. The snapshot of the contents gives a taste of its extent. It is included in all versions of the program, the Demo, the Reader and, of course, the full version.