Diagram Tab - Diagram Ribbon

The Diagram tab contains commands related to adding and selecting blocks.

Blocks

Add Block adds a new block to the diagram.

Add Annotation adds a new annotation to the diagram. You can edit the text that appears in the annotation by double-clicking it to open the Edit User-Defined Label window.

Auto Arrange automatically arranges the blocks in the diagram so that all blocks are evenly spaced and aligned.

Settings

Connect Blocks allows you to create connectors between blocks in the current diagram. When this command is selected, click the source block, hold down the left mouse button and drag a line from the source block to the destination block. When the crosshairs are located above the destination block, release the mouse button to create a connector. To stop adding connectors and return to the normal mode, right-click the diagram or clear the Connect Blocks command (i.e., by choosing the command again).

Lock Diagram locks the current diagram. When the diagram is locked, you cannot make changes to it. Select Lock Diagram again to unlock the diagram

Properties

Rename Block opens the Rename Block window, which allows you to customize the block's name.

Line Bend alters the bend style of the selected connectors. The commands are: Default, Straight Line, Angle, Right Angle and Custom.

The following commands are available only if the style is Custom: Remove Bend Point and Remove All Bend Points.

Selection

Cascade Select selects all the blocks that are connected from the selected block. This allows you to easily select all blocks that are connected to a block.

Trace Path traces the path of the selected block. Click another block or the diagram to remove the traced path. The color of the traced path is the same as the color for a selected connector and can be set in the Diagram Style window.

Diagram Actions allows you to perform various actions on the diagram.

- Refresh Diagram updates the diagram to show any changes.
- Diagram Style opens the Diagram Style window, which allows you to customize the appearance of the current diagram and set the default properties for connectors and new blocks that are added to the diagram.
- Export Graphic saves the diagram as a graphic in one of the following formats: *.wmf, *.png, *.gif or *.jpg. You will be able to use the exported graphic in any application, provided that the application supports the file format.