Raven, I went ahead and opened a new thread for the question from the EXP format thread.
What you see there are your Direction lines. Whenever you use the Area tool set to Satin Stitches (aka zigzag), you can input different stitch angles (Direction lines). If you look at the ribbon when you have the Area tool selected, or just on your right-click menu, one of the elements is Directions, along with Entry / Exit Points, etc.
When you´re using the Column tool, you may not know it but you´re actually entering your stitch angle as you put down your nodes - that´s why you enter two nodes at a time, one of each side of the column (that´s your angle).
When you´re using your Path tool, the stitch angle is automatically set perpendicular to the line.
But areas are closed shapes, hence the need for stitch angles (Direction lines).
