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Layout Ribbon
The 'Layout' ribbon can be used to create sophisticated views of a model alignment of elements and sections to create high-quality diagrams. Diagrams are one of the most compelling ways of visualizing information. The appearance of elements in diagrams can be completely changed by adding border, fill and text colors, creating meaning and appeal. Diagram 'Filters and Layers' and Layout tools can be used to automatically change the appearance of diagrams, and Swimlanes and Roadmaps can be configured, adding rich presentations. A filter can be applied to hide elements that don't meet a specific condition, and a range of helpers can assist with element alignment.
Panels
Panel |
Description |
See also |
|---|---|---|
|
Diagram |
The 'Diagram' Panel provides a collection of tools for managing the use of diagrams and for manipulating the appearance and presentation of elements in a diagram. |
Diagram Panel |
|
Style |
The 'Style' panel contains a range of tools for applying different styles to the elements in a diagram, to emphasize their importance or relevance in the context of the diagram. An element's fonts, fill and borders can be colored and styled, and the settings can be individually copied to other elements or saved as a style that can be applied to other elements as a group. |
Style Panel |
|
Alignment |
The 'Alignment' panel provides a series of tools that can be used to refine the positions of the diagram's elements relative to each other. Groups of elements can be selected and their edges or centers aligned vertically or horizontally. An element's position in the visual stack can be altered by moving them forward or backwards, and you can display a convenient grid that can be configured so that elements and connectors 'snap' into position on the grid. |
Alignment Panel |
|
Tools |
The 'Tools' panel provides a series of facilities for laying out, viewing or filtering the elements in a diagram. These are tools that assist in working with large or detailed diagrams. Diagram Filters can be used to hide elements that aren't relevant in a certain context. The Pan and Zoom window helps you change a diagram's magnification, and to quickly traverse a large diagram. The Diagram Layout facility can automatically change and organize the layout of elements in a diagram. |
Tools Panel |
|
Filter |
The '' panel helps in emphasizing aspects of a diagram, filtering out elements so that only the relevant or important elements are clearly visible whilst the other elements are muted. The filtering can be based on a variety of element properties that can be set for exact matches, presence of text strings or ranges of dates. The tool is invaluable for quickly locating and visualizing particular elements in a diagram. |
Filter Panel |
|
Helpers |
The 'Helpers' panel contains a series of specialized tools for working with the elements in a diagram, to save time, preserve layouts and enhance visualization. |
Helpers Panel |
|
Auto Refresh |
The 'Auto Refresh' panel provides access to the diagram Auto Refresh facilities, which assist in collaborative diagram design by providing improved support for multiple people giving input on the same diagram. |
Auto Refresh Panel |
Notes
- You can also temporarily display an abbreviated toolbar of formatting options beside an element or connector; for:
- Elements, select one or more elements on the diagram and click on the 'paintbrush' icon beside
the element (and, for multiple selected elements, the
icon)
- Connectors, right-click on the connector; the toolbar appears above the context menu
- To set the global appearance of all elements throughout a model, use the 'Preferences' dialog; select the 'Start > Appearance > Preferences > Preferences' ribbon option, then select 'Diagram | Standard Colors' and 'Diagram | Appearance' from the options tree
- To override the global appearance and define a default appearance for a selected element (or several selected elements) on all diagrams on which it occurs, right-click on the element and choose the 'Appearance | Default Appearance' option