The flow chart editor includes a toolbar with the following sections:
Create Section
Use buttons from this section to create a new item within the flow chart.
In order to draw a new object or a connection:
| • | Click "Object" or "Connection" on the toolbar to create a new object or connection. |
| • | Drag the mouse pointer diagonally in the direction you want. |
The default background and foreground colors are displayed on the lower-left corner of the editor screen. Use the left mouse button to draw with the foreground color or the right mouse button to draw the background color.
Object Section
Use buttons from this section to customize object formatting.
| • | To change object shape, use the "Shape Style" button. |
| • | To change the border width of an object, first select the object, then use the "Shape Line Width" button. |
| • | Use the "Text Font" button to change the font of object text. |
| • | Use the "Text Layout" button to change text layout within the flow chart window. |
| • | Use the "Image Layout" button to change image layout within the flow chart window. |
Connection Section
Use the buttons in this section to customize the look of a selected connection.
| • | Change the connection type by clicking the "Line Style" button (first left). |
| • | Use the "Text Font" button to change the font used for connection text (first right). |
| • | Use the "Source Arrow" (second left) and "Destination Arrow" (second right) buttons to specify the style of the source and destination edges of a connection. |
| • | Use the "Source Arrow Size" (third left) and "Destination Arrow Size" (third right) buttons to change the size of source and destination arrows. Generally, a connection can have arrows with arbitrary size, but the drop down menu within the flow chart editor allows you only predefined sizes. Use the Properties popup menu item to change the arrow size of the connection. |
| • | Use the "Linked Point of Source Object" (fourth left) and "Linked Point of Destination Object" (fourth right) buttons to specify to linked source and destination objects. |
Zoom Section
Use the buttons within this section to change the scale of the flow chart.
| • | Use the "Zoom" button to zoom a flow chart's view. First, toggle this button, then zoom in the flow chart view area. To zoom out, use the ALT key when zooming. |
| • | Use the "Fit" button to fit a flow chart's contents to the flow chart window. |
Palette Section
Use this palette to change the color of a current object or connection.
Use the left mouse button to change the foreground color. Use the right mouse click to change the background. Double click the current foreground or background boxes in order to specify a color that differs from available palette colors.
To change the border color of an object, select it and then specify a new foreground. To fill an object with a particular color, first select the object and then specify a new background color.
To change the color of a connection line, first select the connection, then specify a new foreground color. To specify the color of connection arrows, first select the connection then specify a new background color.
Note: If there are no selected objects or connections within the editor, setting a new background color changes the flow chart's background color.