Change settings

Use templates to specify the graphic properties of models, object symbols, and connections.

Models

To change the look of models, you specify the following settings.

Background color

Specifies the color of the modeling area. The color box shows the current background color. Clicking the color box opens the Choose color dialog for you to select the required color.

Size of appearance [%]

Specifies the size of diagrams in the modeling area. The lower the percentage you specify, the larger the model section that is displayed and the smaller the diagram elements you place.

New connections right-angled

Specifies that new connections may be only right-angled and not straight. If you clear this check box, you can also create straight connections in the model.

Connection bridge height [%]

Specifies the height of connection bridges for crossing connections in the model. The higher the value in %, the higher the bridge. A preview of the specified bridge height is displayed.

Connection rounding intensity [%]

Specifies the degree of connection rounding for connections with directional changes in the model. The higher the value in %, the stronger the rounding.

Display wallpaper

Displays the graphic as a wallpaper that is assigned to the related database.

Use grid

Displays the grid in the diagram window and aligns objects, edges, and other diagram elements to the grid according to the grid width when placing them.

Grid wit [%]

Changes the distance between points in the grid that you can display in the diagram window. Model items are aligned on the grid.

Hide assignment icon

Hides the Assignment icon assignment icons in models.

If you assign a model to objects, for example, to describe them in more detail, the object is added an assignment icon. This icon symbolizes the assigned model and you can open the model by double-clicking the assignment icon.

Remove color behind text

Applies a light background to text areas contained in objects. This setting improves the readability of the text in dark-colored objects. This setting is also useful when text in colored object areas is hard to read when printed.

Text attributes in symbol

Specifies how text placed inside object symbols is to be handled.

Text extends beyond symbol

The text extends beyond the symbol borders.

Text extends beyond symbol

Resize symbol

The symbols are changed in height and width to suit the text inside. Object scaling is not possible if you enabled the Resize symbol option in the model properties. In this case the Element handle object handles are grey and the input boxes are no longer accessible.

Resize symbol

Multi-line text

The text is displayed on multiple lines. If the text does not completely fit into the symbol, the remaining text is cut off and is replaced with three dots (...).

Multi-line text

Single-line text

The text is displayed on one line. If it extends beyond the border of the object, the remaining text is cut off and is replaced with three dots (...).

Single-line text

Object symbols

For symbols, you can change the size, color and shading as well as the line color, weight, and style.

Fill color

Displays the setting options that can be used to specify the colors of objects.

Line color

Changes the color of the line that borders the object symbol.

Line style

Specifies the type of line.

You can choose from the styles Solid, Dashed or Dotted.

Line weight [pt]

Changes the width of the line that borders the object symbol.

Symbol width [%]

Width in %. Change the width of the symbol. 100% corresponds to the default ARIS size.

Symbol height [%]

Height in %. Change the height of the symbol. 100% corresponds to the default ARIS size.

Shaded

Adds a shading to the object symbol.

3D

Displays the object symbol with additional shadows and emphasis to produce a three-dimensional impression.

Connections

For connections, you can change the color, style, arrow heads and line weight.

Line color

Changes the color of the line that connects object symbols in models.

Line style

Specifies the type of line.

You can choose from the styles Solid, Dashed or Dotted.

Line weight [%]

Changes the width of the line that connects object symbols in models.

Arrow towards source

Provides the connection ends that can be used to link the connection to the source item. If you select ARIS default, the shape predefined by ARIS is used.

Arrow towards target

Provides the connection ends that can be used to link the connection to the target item. If you select ARIS default, the shape predefined by ARIS is used.

Attribute placement

You can also specify which attribute is displayed where on a connection or symbol and in which font format.

Placement

Specifies where the selected attribute is placed. Use the preview to check your selection.

Alignment

Places the selected attribute left-aligned, right-aligned, or centered.

With attribute name

Displays the name of the placed attribute in the model in addition to the attribute value. The attribute name is written directly in front of the attribute value.

As a symbol

Displays specific attributes as a symbol.

If such an attribute was specified and placed, for example, the Existence attribute, the As a symbol check box is displayed. If you enable the check box, for the Existence attribute, a plus sign is placed in the model instead of Yes and a minus sign instead of No.

Font format

Assigns the required font format from the list of available font formats to the selected attribute.

Character formatting

Displays existing font formatting of texts or text fragments.