An overview of Functional Decomposition Diagrams in the Visible Analyst. The videos demonstrates the use of Change Item, Coloring Symbols, Snap Symbols, Auto-connect to connect symbols, Analyze, and using Spawn to generate a Data Flow Diagram set.
Adding Lines to a Diagram
Now add a line to connect the two symbols you have drawn.
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Turn on Auto Label Lines: |
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Open the Options menu. There should be a check mark next to the selection Auto Label Lines. This indicates that you are automatically prompted to label a line as soon as it is drawn. If there is no check mark next to the selection, set the option by clicking on the selection. |
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Set Line-Drawing Mode: |
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Click the first line button in the diagram tools tool bar to put Visible Analyst in line-drawing mode. The cursor changes to indicate this. |
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Draw the Line: |
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Position the cursor on the edge of the symbol labeled First that is nearest to the symbol labeled Second. |
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Press and hold the left mouse button. |
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Drag the line to the edge of symbol Second. The way the line stretches between the cursor and the start-point is sometimes called ―rubber-banding.‖ |
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Release the mouse button to signal the end of the line. If you release the mouse button within the symbol, the line is connected automatically to the edge of the symbol. When the line is completed, it changes color and handles appear at the endpoints. (See Figure 5-5.) A dialog box appears for labeling the line. |
Figure 5-5 A Line With Its Handles
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Label the Line: |
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Type ―Flowname.‖ |
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Click OK to draw the label next to the line on the diagram. |
Now that you know how to add a line to a diagram, you can adjust the position and appearance of that line.
Note
2 If you want to move the name of a line, select the name by positioning the cursor on the text and press and hold the left mouse button. Drag the label to the desired position and then release the mouse button.
Selecting and Adjusting Lines
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Return to Selection |
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Click the ë button on the control bar or press the |
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Mode:
Select the Line: |
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ESC key.
If the line is not currently highlighted, click on any point |
along the line. When a line is selected, you can see its handles, little boxes at the end of each segment that allow you to move the segments by dragging the handles with the mouse.
Set Line 3 From the Options menu select Line Settings.
Characteristics:
- Choose Single Dashed for Line
- Click The line is redrawn using the new type.
Changing Line Settings as above allows you to adjust the line characteristics for the selected line. If no line is selected, you choose the characteristics for the next line you draw.
Adding Caption Text to a Diagram
You can add text in the form of a title or a paragraph. This text is used to enhance the definition of your diagram or its parts. When entering the text, press ENTER to continue the text on another line.
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Set Caption Text Mode: |
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Click on the large T (text) button on the control bar. |
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Select the Caption Position: |
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Position your cursor at the top of the diagram and click with the left mouse button. |
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Enter the Text: |
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Type ―Unstructured Diagram #1.‖ Then press ENTER to move the cursor down to the next line. Type ―Diagram Drawing Techniques.‖ |
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Click OK. |
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Click the ë button on the control bar or press the ESC key to return to editing mode. |
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Change the Caption Characteristics: |
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Click the right mouse button over the caption you just added to display the Object menu for the caption. |
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Select Text Settings from the Object menu. |
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Select Times New Roman in the box labeled Typeface. Refer to Figure 5-6. |
Figure 5-6 Text Settings Dialog Box
- Change the Point Size to 16 in the Size
- Select Bold in the box labeled
- Select Center in the box labeled Format Options.
- Click the OK button and then deselect the The completed diagram should appear more or less like that shown in Figure 5-7.
Figure 5-7 The Completed Diagram
Note
2 The ―T‖ icon text should not be used to define symbols or lines. Only symbol labels are entered into the repository for rules based components. To label an unlabeled diagram object, click the object with the right mouse button and choose Change Item from the object menu.
