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

You can set the global appearance of all elements throughout a model, using the Options dialog. Select the Tools | Options menu option, then select Standard Colors and Diagram | Appearance from the options tree.

To override the global appearance and define a default appearance for a specific element on all diagrams on which it is found, right-click on the element and select the Appearance | Default Appearance context menu option. The Default Appearance dialog displays.

To change the appearance of an element on the current diagram only, use the Format toolbar. If the Format toolbar is not displayed, select the View | Toolbars | Format Tool menu option.

Note:

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.

ConfigureDefaultAppearance

Change a Background, Font or Border Color

To reset the background color, font color or border color, follow the steps below:

  1. On the Default Appearance dialog, select the Background Color, Font Color or Border Color radio button as appropriate.

Note:

You have further options for changing the font of element text in the Set Font menu option.
  1. Deselect the Use Default Color checkbox, to enable the Select button.
  2. Click on the Select button. The Color dialog displays.
     
    ConfigureDefaultAppearance-ColorPicker2
     
  3. Select the required color (click on the Define Custom Colors>> button and define a specific color if necessary) and click on the OK button. You return to the Default Appearance dialog, on which the Preview panel indicates the selected color for the element.
     
    ConfigureDefaultAppearance-ColorSelected2
     

Note:

To change to a different color, click on the Select button again, or to return to the default color, select the Use Default Color checkbox.
  1. Click on the OK button. The new color is applied to the selected element or elements.

Change the Border Thickness

To change the border thickness, follow the steps below:

  1. On the Default Appearance dialog, in the Border Thickness field, type the number of points to apply. Alternatively, click on the scroll arrows to increase or decrease the number.
     
    The Preview panel indicates the effect of the change in border thickness.
     
    ConfigureDefaultAppearance-Border2
     
  2. Click on the OK button. The new border thickness is applied to the selected element or elements.