The Rectangle tool is used for creating rectangles and squares. Once this tool is selected from the Toolbars panel, you can draw a rectangle by dragging out the shape to the size and length you want as you hold down the mouse key and then release. You will now have a rectangle on the artboard. Using the same tool, you can continue to draw out more rectangles. Refer to Figure 6-5.
Figure 6-5. Use the Toolbars’ Rectangle tool selected to draw rectangles and squares
If you want a square, hold down the Shift key as you drag out the shape like before and release the Shift key and mouse at the same time. If you want to drag out the shape from the center as you drag, hold down the Alt/Option key or Alt/Option+Shift keys. You can apply this option to the other tools later as well as you use them.
If you want to set some settings for an exact size, rather than drag out a shape, while the Rectangle tool is selected, click once the artboard to bring up the dialog box and enter your width and height. You can also constrain width and height proportions using the link icon should you want to type the same setting ratio while the link is active. Once you have entered your settings, click OK. Refer to Figure 6-6.
Figure 6-6. The Rectangle dialog box with Constrain Width and Height Proportions link inactive and active and a square on the artboard
The currently selected rectangle can have its corners rounded by dragging on the live corner widgets, or you can use the next tool to do that automatically. In this example, all four sides will be round. Refer to Figure 6-7.
Figure 6-7. Drag on the rectangles live corner widget to round all sides at the same time
If you cannot see the widgets check that you have, set your View ➤ Show Corner Widget as active. You can toggle between show and hide. Rectangles are often good for containers for surrounding a graph’s legend or surrounding another shape or art that is being focused on or contained.