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The Change rule properties window can be accessed by right-clicking on a type in Rules and selecting Properties. The type properties window is also displayed when creating a new relation with Add rule.

The type properties window permits to

  1. Define the type of the relation (element, flow or bidirectional flow).
  2. Control the visual appearance of the type in Rules as well as the appearance of the object instances of the type, notably in the Internal Block Diagram.

The upper part of the type properties window contains the following fields:

  • Parent object text field: the parent type in the rule in question. Non modifiable.
  • Child object combo-box: the child type whose properties are shown. Non modifiable when accessing the properties of an existing rule.
  • Flow is defined check-box: whether the relation in question is defined as a flow.
  • Hide in Expanded Block check-box: a property only relevant to flows, see here for more information. By default not checked.
  • Bidirectional check-box: a property only relevant to flows, see here for more information. By default not checked.
  • Flexible check-box: whether the individual object appearance is defined as modifiable, see here for more information.

The lower part of the type properties window contains various tabs controlling the graphical appearance of the object type and its instances as well as abstraction; these tabs are presented below. If the lower part of the window is not visible, it can be displayed by clicking on the More >> button.

Icon

Changes in the type properties should be saved by clicking on the Save button before trying to Close the window; otherwise they will be lost.

General Properties

The General section is the section visible by default. It contains the following information:

  • Name text field: allows to rename the child type in question.
  • Keys text field: allows to define key words for the type (this can be useful for scripts where the type's name is not known).
  • Text Transparent check-box: allows to hide the object name on the object container.
  • Label Transparent check-box: allows to hide the flow label. This property is only relevant to flow relations.
  • Block Shape drop-down list: allows to choose the shape of the container displayed in the Internal Block Diagram and in the Palette.
  • Line Type drop-down list: allows to define the type of link representing a flow. This property is only relevant to flow relations. The choices are:
    • Curve
    • Orthogonal line
    • Straight line
  • Arrow Style drop-down list: allows to define the arrow type of a link. This property is only relevant to flow relations.
  • Background button: allows to add an image to the object background in the Internal Block Diagram (visible as the background of the focus object).
  • Foreground button: allows to add an image to the object foreground in the Internal Block Diagram (visible to the parents of the object).
  • Icon panel: allows to choose the icon representing the type in Rules. Click on Go to access the menu of available icons.
  • Size Settings panel: allows to define a default size for object instances. Both Default Width and Default Height have to be set at the same time. Keep Ratio permits to fix the ratio of width and height. (Modifying the size setting does not affect existing instances of the type.)

Graphical Properties

Font

The Font tab permits to choose the font options for the object name displayed on the container of the object instance:

  • Font type
  • Font effects (regular, bold, italic, underline, strike-out)
  • Font size
  • Font color

The tab also permits you to review the font.

This tab applies to both objects and flows.

Fill

The Fill tab permits you to control the following aspects:

  • Foreground Color: the color filling the object container in the Internal Block Diagram (visible for the children of the focus object).
  • Background Color: the color filling the object container background when a hatch type has been selected.
  • Transparent Fill: the object foreground color is transparent.
  • Transparent Background: the background color is transparent.
  • Hatch: the hatch type for the foreground and background colors.

This tab applies to both objects and flows.

Icon

When a foreground image has been defined, this image prevails over the fill colors.

Border Line

The Border Line tab permits to define various options relative to the container border line:

  • Color: the color of the container border line in the Internal Block Diagram.
  • Transparent: define the border line as transparent.
  • Style: the style of the border line (solid, dashed, dotted etc). A style can only be applied when the width is defined as O point (1 pixel).
  • Width: the width of the border line.

This tab applies to both objects and flows.

Flow Font

The Flow Font tab permits to choose the options applied to the label of a flow instance:

  • Font type
  • Font effects (regular, bold, italic, underline, strike-out)
  • Font size
  • Font color

The tab also permits you to review the label font.

This tab only applies to flows.

Flow Line

The Flow Line tab permits to define various options relative to links (flow instances) shown in diagrams:

  • Color: the color of the link.
  • Transparent: define the link as transparent.
  • Style: the style of the link (solid, dashed, dotted etc). A style can only be applied when the width is defined as O point (1 pixel).
  • Width: the width of the link.

This tab only applies to flows.

Functional Properties

Contain Flows

The Contain Flows section is treated in Contain Flows. This option only applies to types that have children that have been defined as flows.

Events

The Events section is treated in Trigger Events.

 

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