You can use free-form text to add additional information to your model.
In an open model, you can place text in the modeling area irrespective of other model items. This way you can add additional information to your model.
Warning
Free-form texts are not saved in groups and are thus not protected by access privileges for groups. Therefore, it is possible to have reports output the free-form texts of models for which the person running the report does not have read privileges. Therefore, remember not to include confidential information in free-form texts but to use model and object attributes for that.
Procedure
Open the Symbols bar if it is not already open by clicking Symbols.
Click Text. When you drag the mouse pointer onto the model background, an icon is added to the
pointer:
Click the position in the modeling area where you want to place the text. A text box opens, in which you can make your entry.
Click next to the text box to finish the input.
Your text is displayed in the model and you can place it anywhere.
In an open model, you can change the content of free-form text any way you want.
Warning
Free-form texts are not saved in groups and are thus not protected by access privileges for groups. Therefore, it is possible to have reports output the free-form texts of models for which the person running the report does not have read privileges. Therefore, remember not to include confidential information in free-form texts but to use model and object attributes for that.
Procedure
In the modeling area, click the free-form text twice. Alternatively, you can click the free-form text and then press the F2 key.
Use the arrow keys to select the text area you want to overwrite.
Overwrite the text area you want to modify.
Click next to the text box to end the input.
The free-form text is modified.
In an open model, you have several options for formatting free-form texts. You can format the entire free-form text as well as a selected part of the free-form text.
Warning
Free-form texts are not saved in groups and are thus not protected by access privileges for groups. Therefore, it is possible to have reports output the free-form texts of models for which the person running the report does not have read privileges. Therefore, remember not to include confidential information in free-form texts but to use model and object attributes for that.
Procedure
To format the entire free-form text, click the free-form text. It is marked by handles.
Activate the Format tab bar.
Select formatting options, such as Bold or
Centered.
To format selected free-from text, click the free-form text twice. Alternatively, you can click the free-form text and then press the F2 key. Use the arrow keys to select the text area you want to overwrite.
Select formatting options, such as Bold or
Font.
The free-form text is formatted.
Tip
Alternatively, you can select all or a part of the free-form text. The formatting toolbar is displayed above the selection to format the selected free-form text.
In an open model, you can place free-form text anywhere in the modeling area.
Warning
Free-form texts are not saved in groups and are thus not protected by access privileges for groups. Therefore, it is possible to have reports output the free-form texts of models for which the person running the report does not have read privileges. Therefore, remember not to include confidential information in free-form texts but to use model and object attributes for that.
Procedure
Click the free-form text and hold down the mouse button.
Drag the free-form text to the position where you want to place it.
Release the mouse button.
The free-form text is placed at the new position.
Tip
You can also move selected free-form text using the keyboard:
Use the Shift key and the arrow keys to move it by increments of one gridline.
Use the Ctrl key and the arrow keys to move it regardless of the grid.
Use the Alt key and the arrow keys to move it by increments of four gridlines.
In an open model, you can create a free-form text as an occurrence copy to make changes to text at different positions in the model or in various models at once.
Warning
Free-form texts are not saved in groups and are thus not protected by access privileges for groups. Therefore, it is possible to have reports output the free-form texts of models for which the person running the report does not have read privileges. Therefore, remember not to include confidential information in free-form texts but to use model and object attributes for that.
Procedure
Click the free-form text and select Copy.
In the same model or in another model, click Paste as > Occurrence copy.
Move the mouse pointer to the position in the model at which you want to place the occurrence copy of the free-form text.
A new occurrence exists for the same free-form text. If you edit one of the occurrences, the free-form text of the other occurrences is also changed automatically.
Tip
You can copy free-form text as a normal copy, that is, as text that can be changed without affecting other free-form texts, using the Copy/Paste functionality.
The formatting toolbar is enabled for the selected texts, for example, for the text of the placed attributes or free-form text. The formatting bar is not available for attributes that the system changes, for example, for the attribute Creator.
Procedure
Select the placed attribute in the modeling area.
Click the attribute again.
The text of the attribute is selected for you to overwrite it, and the formatting toolbar is shown. If you deselect the placed attribute, the formatting toolbar is hidden.