Difference between revisions of "Arranging nodes to make clear diagrams"

m
m
Line 6: Line 6:
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
  
−
===Adjust node size===  
+
===Adjust node sizes ===  
  
−
The '''Adjust size''' is a smart way to make node sizes look more consistent:
+
'''Adjust size''' option tries to make node sizes more consistent, using at a range of criteria:
−
* Select a set of nodes by dragging a rectangle around them (or press ''ctrl+a'' to select all).  
+
# Select a set of nodes by dragging a rectangle around them, or press ''ctrl+a'' to select all nodes in the diagram.  
−
* Select '''Adjust size''' (''ctrl+T'') from the [[Diagram menu]] to adjust their sizes t.
+
# Select '''Adjust size''' from the [[Diagram menu]] or press ''ctrl+T'' to adjust their sizes.
 +
# If you don't like its first attempt, try again by pressing ''ctrl+T'', and see if you like it better.
  
−
'''Adjust size''' looks at a lot of things to decide what is "more consistent".  If you don't like its initial attempt, try again by pressing ''ctrl+T'', and see if you like it better.  It cycles through options with different trade-offs, considering the nodes' contents (title and picture), font, where word wraps would occur, default minimum node size (set on the [[Diagram Style dialog]]), current height and width, edge alignments, groupings for nodes are inside text or picture nodes, locations of corners and edges relative to the grid (when '''Snap to grid '''is on), and aspect ratios.
+
'''Adjust size''' cycles through options with different trade-offs, considering the nodes' title (and picture, if any), font, word wraps, the default node size (set on the [[Diagram Style dialog]]), current height and width, edge alignments, groupings for nodes within a text or picture node, the locations of corners and edges relative to the grid (when '''Snap to grid '''is on), and aspect ratios.
−
 
 
−
If you load a model created in Analytica 4.3 or earlier, you will need to enable ''ClearType fonts ''by selecting '''Set Diagram Style... '''on the [[Diagram menu]] with the top-level model diagram in focus. The '''ClearType fonts '''checkbox appears on that dialog only when you are editing a legacy model. When you turn ClearType fonts on for the first time, the font width and spacing changes slightly, which usually causes some nodes to word wrap in new, undesirable places. A good trick at that point is to select all nodes by pressing ''Ctrl+A'', then select '''Adjust size '''repeatedly until a satisfactory appearance is reached.
 
  
 
You can also resize several nodes by the same amount simultaneously by following these steps:
 
You can also resize several nodes by the same amount simultaneously by following these steps:
Line 23: Line 22:
 
You can set several nodes to the same width, height, or size as the last node in a selected group of nodes -- the node with solid black selection handles. (Use ''shift+click'' on a node add it as the last node in the selection.)  Use the [[Diagram_menu#Make_Same_Size_submenu|Make Same Size submenu]] fromthe [[Diagram menu]], and select sub-option:
 
You can set several nodes to the same width, height, or size as the last node in a selected group of nodes -- the node with solid black selection handles. (Use ''shift+click'' on a node add it as the last node in the selection.)  Use the [[Diagram_menu#Make_Same_Size_submenu|Make Same Size submenu]] fromthe [[Diagram menu]], and select sub-option:
  
−
* '''Make Same Size Width '''— Sets their width to be the same as the last node.
+
* '''Make Same Size Width '''— Set their width to be the same as the last node.
−
* '''Make Same Size Height '''— Sets their height to be the same as the last node..
+
* '''Make Same Size Height '''— Set their height to be the same as the last node..
−
* '''Make Same Size Both '''— Sets their width and height to be the same as the last node..
+
* '''Make Same Size Both '''— Set width and height to be the same as the last node..
  
 
=== The diagram grid ===
 
=== The diagram grid ===

Revision as of 18:08, 30 September 2018

Analytica User GuideCreating Lucid Influence DiagramsArranging nodes to make clear diagrams


The Diagram menu offers a rich set of options to help in arranging diagrams to be tidier and clearer.

Adjust node sizes

Adjust size option tries to make node sizes more consistent, using at a range of criteria:

  1. Select a set of nodes by dragging a rectangle around them, or press ctrl+a to select all nodes in the diagram.
  2. Select Adjust size from the Diagram menu or press ctrl+T to adjust their sizes.
  3. If you don't like its first attempt, try again by pressing ctrl+T, and see if you like it better.

Adjust size cycles through options with different trade-offs, considering the nodes' title (and picture, if any), font, word wraps, the default node size (set on the Diagram Style dialog), current height and width, edge alignments, groupings for nodes within a text or picture node, the locations of corners and edges relative to the grid (when Snap to grid is on), and aspect ratios.

You can also resize several nodes by the same amount simultaneously by following these steps:

  1. Select the nodes to resize.
  2. Resize one of the selected nodes by dragging one of its handles. All other selected nodes are also resized.

You can set several nodes to the same width, height, or size as the last node in a selected group of nodes -- the node with solid black selection handles. (Use shift+click on a node add it as the last node in the selection.) Use the Make Same Size submenu fromthe Diagram menu, and select sub-option:

  • Make Same Size Width — Set their width to be the same as the last node.
  • Make Same Size Height — Set their height to be the same as the last node..
  • Make Same Size Both — Set width and height to be the same as the last node..

The diagram grid

In Edit mode, diagrams show a 64 x 64 pixel grid. When Snap to grid is on (the default), and you create, move, or resize a node, it snaps the center and corner to a point on a 8x8 pixel grid (the dots on the 64x64 grid). This makes it easy to align nodes and arrows horizontally or vertically.

To turn the grid off in edit mode, uncheck Snap to Grid from the Diagram menu. The grid still appears in edit mode, but you can move the nodes pixel by pixel.

Even when Snap to grid is on, you can drag nodes and sizes by pixel increments ignoring the grid, when you press the shift key. You can also move selected nodes using the arrow keys to the next grid point when Snap to grid is on, or by single pixels when you press the shift key.

Chapter6 6.png

If nodes are not centered on a grid point, re-center them by following these steps:

  1. Select all nodes in the diagram with the Select All (Control+a) command from the Edit menu.
  2. Select Align Selection To Grid from the Diagram menu (Control+j).

Align nodes

To line up selected nodes with each other, use the Align submenu in the Diagram menu. You can align selected nodes in the following ways:

  • Align the left edges.
  • Align the centers left and right — this aligns the centers horizontally.
  • Align the right edges.
  • Align the left and right edges — this makes all the selected nodes the same width and aligns them so that their left and right edges match up.
Chapter6 7.png
  • Align the top edges.
  • Align the centers up and down — this aligns the nodes so that their centers are at the same vertical height.
  • Align the bottom edges.
Chapter6 8.png

Distributing nodes evenly

To distribute selected nodes evenly, use the Space Evenly submenu in the Diagram menu. You can distribute selected nodes so that the centers are evenly spaced vertically (Space Evenly → Across) or horizontally (Space Evenly → Down). To ensure that the nodes end up on the grid, use Space Evenly → Across, on grid and Space Evenly → Down, on grid. The “on grid” variations may change the begin-to-end span of the nodes, while the non-on-grid variants preserve the span but may place nodes off grid.

Choosing which node is in front

By default, text and picture nodes are behind arrows, and arrows are behind all other types of nodes (decision, chance, variable, etc.). If nodes overlap, the more recently created node is on top of the older node. You can change this order by selecting a node(s) and using the Send to Back and Bring to Front options from the right-click menu.

Hide less important arrows

Sometimes so many nodes are interrelated that it is hard or impossible to arrange a diagram to avoid arrows crossing each other or crossing nodes. It might be helpful to hide some arrows that show less important linkages. For example, indexes and functions are often connected to many other variables; that’s why arrows to and from them are switched off by default.

You can hide all of the arrows linking indexes, functions, or modules, or the grayed feedback arrows in dynamic models, using the Set Diagram Style command from the Diagram menu in the Diagram Style dialog. You can also hide the input or output arrows from each node individually, using the Set Node Style command in the Node Style dialog.

Keep diagrams compact

Screen space is valuable. To save space, keep nodes close together, leaving enough space between them for the arrows to be visible.

When first creating a diagram, use plenty of space. Your diagram window can be as large as your monitor screen. Using this space, first find a clear arrangement, which minimizes arrow crossing and avoids node overlaps. Then, you can usually make the diagram more compact by moving the nodes closer together and moving the entire diagram closer to the upper-left corner of the window. Finally, you can reduce the window size to fit the diagram.

Chapter6 9.png

See Also


Guidelines for creating lucid modelsArranging nodes to make clear diagramsOrganizing a module hierarchy
Comments


You are not allowed to post comments.