Options General Tab

Use the General tab in the Options dialog box to set the basic program options.

Measurements

	Choose either English (inches) or Metrics (centimeters) as your measurement units. All measurements are displayed in these units.

	Measurements such as line widths and font sizes are measured in points (abbreviated pts). There are 72 points to the inch. Your choice of measurement units does not effect these measurements.

Imported Graphics

	You can choose to scale all graphics that you import or drag-and-drop into your diagram. For example, if you set this to 200%, graphic images will be imported at twice their original size.

Create one figure at a time

	When you create a figure and this option is checked, the new figure automatically becomes selected and the mode changes back to select mode as soon as one figure is created. To create another figure, you will have to press the figure style button again and repeat the process. Without this option checked, you remain in figure create mode until you change modes yourself.

Create one connector at a time

	When you create a connector and this option is checked, the new connector automatically becomes selected and the mode changes back to select mode as soon as one connector is created. To create another connector, you will have to press the connector style button again and repeat the process. Without this option checked, you remain in connect mode until you change modes yourself.

Open most recent file on start-up

	When this option is checked. The most recently edited diagram will be opened automatically when you start the program.

Edit text automatically when creating a figure

	When this option is enabled, each time you create a figure in your diagram you are automatically entered into text mode to edit the text of the figure.

Auto-label (label figures as they are created)

	When this option is checked and you create a new figure AND that figure's style has auto-label text configured, a stapled label containing the auto-label text is automatically created below the new figure.

Double-click edits label/figure text

	When this option is checked, double-clicking the mouse on a figure in your diagram initiates text editing for that figure. Otherwise double-clicking will pop up the figure properties for that figure.

Calculate fitted bounds for imported graphics

	When this option is checked and you import (or drag-and-drop) a graphic image into your diagram, a bounding shape is fitted in the shape of the content of the graphic rather than simply a rectangle of the same size as the graphic. The fitted shape is used to determine the clickable select area of the figure and to attach line ends right up to the image on all sides.

	We recommend that you check this option. However, for some complex or detailed images, the approximation of the bounding shape may not be appropriate. In such cases you might want to uncheck this option while importing the graphic.

Export full text lines to WMF/EMF (imperfect align)

	When this option is checked, lines of text are exported to Windows Metafiles as whole lines rather than individually positioned characters (when you do an Export or Copy). This allows you to edit the text more easily once it has been imported or pasted “As a Picture” into tools like Microsoft Powerpoint. However, text exported in this way may not be aligned properly or may extend beyond the confines of its enclosing shape.

Snap labels to connector label slots (in-line)

	When this option is checked you can create and drag labels onto in-line connector label slot areas and they will become in-line connector labels. In-line connector label slot areas are anywhere in which the center of the label lies on the connector. If this option is not checked, then the only way to create an in-line connector label is to right click on the connector and use the Add In-line Connector Label Here feature.

Snap labels to connector label slots (lateral)

	When this option is checked you can create and drag labels onto lateral connector label slot areas and they will become lateral connector labels. Lateral connector label slot areas lie along the length of a connector slightly above or below the connector. If this option is not checked, then the only way to create a lateral connector label is to right click on the path and use the Add Lateral Connector Label Here feature.

Snap labels to flow label slots

	When this option is checked you can create and drag labels onto flow label slot areas and they will become flow labels. Flow label slot areas are located on either side of the point where a connector attaches to a figure. If this option is not checked, then the only way to create a flow label is to right click on the flow point and use the Add Flow Label feature.

Snap labels to figure label slots

	When this option is checked you can create and drag labels onto figure label slot areas and they will become figure labels. Figure label slot areas are located in nine positions surrounding a figure. If this option is not checked, then you can create a figure label by selecting a figure and a label and using the Attach Label to Figure feature. Or by using the auto-label style property.

Snap labels to figure label primary position only

	This option matters only when the Snap labels to figure label slots option is set. If this option is set as well, labels will only snap to the single figure label slot defined as the Primary Position in the Diagram Properties dialog box (General tab).

Snap figures into flows

	When this option is checked you can create and drag figures onto a flow (a connector) and it will become part of the flow (the connector will enter and exit the figure).

Enable old style (in decision) branch labels

	This option exists for backwards compatibility. In later versions (after 4.0), branch labels (yes/no for decisons) are implemented using flow labels. However, in earlier versions, branch labels were supported by small letters Y/N within the corners of decision symbols and labeled automatically.When this option is checked the old style implementation of decision labels is enabled. If you exit and re-enter the Tool Options dialog, you will notice the old Branch Labels tab appears and all of the previous branch label functionality is restored.

Prompt to apply property edits to selected groups

	When this option is checked (the default) and you apply a property change to a selection that includes a group, you will be asked whether the change should apply to grouped objects.If you answer and check the “Don't ask again” box, it will remember your response until you return to uncheck this option.

Undoable navigation (scroll/pan/zoom)

	When this option is checked you can undo movement within your diagram such as scrolling and zooming in addition to edits. Otherwise, only actions that change the diagram will be undoable.

Remove connectors when one or both ends deleted

	When this option is checked (the default), connectors are automatically deleted if you delete a figure that either end is attached to.

Limit workspace to page area

	When this option is checked (the default), the off-page area surrounding the white page area of the diagram is decreased to simplify scrolling and navigating. The scrollable workspace extends if necessary to include any objects located outside the page area.

Display the full path in window captions

	When this option is checked, window captions show the full path of the diagram rather than simply the diagram name. This option is useful when editing files with the same name but located in different folders or on different machines. If your path names are too long to be displayed you may need to uncheck this option.

When printing, warn if objects are outside margins

	When this option is checked, each time your print a diagram a warning will appear if any objects in the diagram are outside the margins. Uncheck this option to disable the warning.

Do not display splash screen on start-up

	When this option is checked, the introductory splash screen will no longer be displayed each time you start the program.

High quality on-screen display (slower)

	Uncheck this option to increase display update speed for slower computers. Display quality and drawing speed are most pronounced when diagrams contain a large number of graphics such as clip-art.