Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Set an Element's Default Appearance
To override the global appearance and define a default appearance for a specific element on all diagrams on which it is found, you use the Default Appearance dialog.
Access Element | Appearance | Default Appearance (Ctrl+Shift+E)
Use to
| • | Alter the background, border and font colors |
| • | Change font styles, including font face and size |
| • | Alter the border width for an element |
Reference
Field |
Usage |
See also |
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Background Color |
Set the color of the background for an element. This setting overrides all other fill color definitions in the model, except for an element-specific definition from the Format Toolbar, or a color defined in a Shape Script and applied through a stereotype.
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Border Color |
Set the color of the border for an element.
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Border Width |
Set the width of the border surrounding an element, the minimum setting being 1, the maximum setting being 5.
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Font Style (...) |
Set the typeface of element text. The current font typeface is displayed within the text field; click on the (...) button. The Font dialog displays, which enables you to select a different typeface, style, (such as bold/italic) and font size. You can also select from a limited number of font colors and effects on this dialog.
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Font Color |
Set the font color of the element text.
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Reset to defaults |
Reset all appearance settings to default values.
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Preview |
Review a representation of the colors, border width and font styles, which updates as you choose the new settings.
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Notes
| • | You can adjust several elements at the same time; select all of the required elements, right-click on one of them and select the Default Appearance context menu option, or use the Format toolbar |
| • | If the Show Project Custom Colors in Color Combo Boxes checkbox is selected on the Options dialog, Standard Colors page, the last 16 color squares in the color selection palettes contain the project colors set on that dialog |
| • | The Font Color field affects only the element name text; it does not override the feature text colors as defined on the Options dialog, Standard Colors page |
| • | When it has been called directly on one or more selected elements (Appearance | Set Font), the Font dialog overrides the Default Appearance dialog |
| • | When called from the Default Appearance dialog, the Color field on the Font dialog is overridden by the Font Color field on the Default Appearance dialog |
| • | The Font and Style fields affect all text except for the Note compartment text |
| • | The Size field affects all text |
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