Shapes Formatting

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This is where you can set global preferences for drawing shapes. For all Shapes you can set Font and Color Options, Horizontal Alignment, Vertical Alignment, Rendering, Display Options and Line Display Options. The availability of the formatting elements depends on the element you select.

Font and Color Options

You can change the fonts, font size, font colors, and the fill and line colors of a selected element in the Colors and Fonts portion of the Formatting dialog.

To change the font select a font from the drop-down menu in the Font text box. You can also change the font size by selecting a size from the drop-down menu in the size text box. You can edit the font settings of all element labels. The following commands are available:

Command	Icon	Description
Front Style		Select a new font style from the drop-down list.
Front Size		Select a new font size from the drop-down list.
Bold		Applies bold formatting to the label text.
Italics		Italicizes the label text.
Underline		Underlines the label text.
Strikeout		A line is drawn through the label text.

You can also change the font color, element outline color, and element fill color with the following

Command	Icon	Description
Change Font Color		Opens the Color dialog. You can select an existing color or create a custom color for the color of the label font.
Change Line Color		Opens the Color dialog. You can select an existing color or create a custom color for the border of the element.
Change Fill Color		Opens the Color dialog. You can select an existing color or create a custom color for the background of the element.

Horizontal Alignment

You can change the justification settings for the text label in an element.

Note: These commands do not justify the text labels on elements that use text boxes outside the element.

Command	Icon	Description
Left Justify Text		Justifies the text on the left side of the text box.
Center Text		Centers the text in the text box.
Right Justify Text		Justifies the text on the right side of the text box.

Vertical Alignment

You can change the top to bottom alignment settings for the text label in an element.

Command	Icon	Description
Top		Places the text in the top portion of the element.
Center		Centers the text within the element.
Bottom		Places the text in the bottom portion of the element.

Rendering

There are two commands available that affect the appearance of elements in the Diagram View:

Command	Description
Gradient	When this option is selected the element has a gradient shading. If it is not selected the element is a solid color. The Gradient option is the default setting.
Shadowed	When this option is selected the element has a slight shadowed background. The Shadowed option is the default setting.
Transparent	The shapes have a transparent background when this preference is selected.
Transparent Line	This preference refers to the border of the text box. When placed in a pool, you can set the preference so the border does not show.

Display Options

The Show Name on Creation option displays an element’s name when that element is placed on a diagram.

Note: This only applies to newly created elements on a diagram. Existing elements are not updated when you click the Apply to Diagram button.

Line Display Options

You can set the line display preferences for the Line object.

Command	Description
Line Width	This preference sets the width of an interaction or relationship in a diagram. Select 1 through 5 pixels from the drop-down list box.
Line Style	This preference sets the line style of an interaction or relationship in a diagram. You can select from one of five different styles from the drop down list. The list includes solid, dash, dot, dash-dot, and dash-dot-dot.
Source Decorator	Set the preference for the beginning or source of an interaction or relationship connection in a diagram. Your five options are None, Arrow, Diamond, Crows Feet, or Triangle.
Target decorator	Set the preference for the end or target of an interaction or relationship connection in a diagram. Your five options are None, Arrow, Diamond, Crows Feet, or Triangle.