Reference Objects Formatting

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This is where you can set global preferences for Reference Object elements. For all Reference Objects you can set Font and Color Options, Horizontal Alignment, Vertical Alignment, and Diagram Display Options. You can also set Line Display Options for the Link and Usage Reference Objects. The availability of the formatting elements depends on the element you select.

Note: Since Domains are not visualized on a diagram, you cannot set formatting preferences for them.

Font and Color Options

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

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.

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 setting for the text label in an 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.

Diagram Display Options

You can set preferences for what you want displayed on creation of a reference object.

Command	Description
Show Name on Creation	Displays an element’s name when that element is placed on a diagram. This preference is available for all reference objects.
Show Usage on Creation	Displays the Usage settings when a usage is created on the diagram (C=Create, R=Read, U=Update, and D=Delete). This preference is available only for the Usage reference object.

Note: These only apply 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 preferences for the Link and Usage Reference objects.

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. This is the only line display option you can set for a Link.
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. This applies only to a Usage.
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, Triangle, or Hollow Circle. This applies only to a Usage.
Target decorator	Set the preference for the end or target of an interaction connection in a diagram. Your five options are None, Arrow, Diamond, Crows Feet, Triangle, or Hollow circle. This applies only to a Usage.