Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Format Toolbar

The Format Tool toolbar can change the appearance of  one or more selected elements by altering the font, color, line width and fill color.  This can help to group, differentiate or make an element stand out.

An abbreviated Format Tool toolbar can also be displayed temporarily beside an element or connector.  For elements, select one or more elements on the diagram, then click on the paintbrush icon beside the element.  For connectors, right-click on the connector and the Format Tool toolbar appears above the context menu.

Use to:

  • Modify the appearance of elements and connectors on a diagram
  • Save a set of modifications as a user defined style
  • Re-apply styles to other elements and connectors

Reference:

toolbar_format

Action

Usage

Shortcut

See also

Set Font

Set the text font, style, size and effects for the selected element(s) using the Font dialog

 

Set Element Font

Text Color

Set the text color for the selected element(s)

This option overrides the color setting of the Set Font option

 

 

Fill Color

Set the fill color of the selected element(s)

 

 

Line Color

Set the line color of the selected  connector or element border

 

 

Line Width

Set the line width of the selected connector or element border; choose a value between 1 (thinnest) and 5 (thickest)

 

 

Apply Style

Apply a copied style to the selected elements or connector

The style is copied using the Get Style option; if this is not used, the style defaults to the current setting of the Style List option

 

 

Get Style

Copy the current style of the selected element or connector

 

 

Style List

Apply a style from the saved style list to the selected element or connector

These styles are saved to the list using the Save Style option

 

 

Save Style

Click on the required element, click on the down arrow and select the appropriate option:

  • Save the style of the element to the Style List as a new style; enter the name of the style when prompted to do so
  • Save the (updated) style of the element under its current style name in the Style List
  • Refresh the Style List with any changes to the existing styles
  • Delete the style of the selected element from the Style List (refresh the list after selecting this option)

 

 

Align Left

Align the selected elements on the left border of the last-selected element

Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow

 

Align Right

Align the selected elements on the right border border of the last-selected element

Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow

 

Align Top

Align the selected elements on the top edge of the last-selected element

Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow

 

Align Bottom

Align the selected elements on the bottom edge of the last-selected element

Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow

 

Move to Top

Bring the selected element(s) to the top of the Z order

 

Diagram Context Menu

Send To Back

Move the selected element(s) to the bottom of the Z order

 

Diagram Context Menu

Diagram Auto-layout

Auto-layout the diagram (not for Behavioral diagrams) in one of the standard layouts, or modify a standard layout and apply that

 

Layout Diagrams

Diagram Properties

Display the Diagram Properties dialog for the diagram

F5

Diagram Properties

Delete

Delete the selected element(s)

Ctrl + D

 

Add or Remove Buttons

This drop-down arrow arrow at the right end of the toolbar enables you to:

  • Display or hide icons currently defined for the toolbar, or
  • Customize the toolbar to include other icons, to initiate commands found on other toolbars or totally new commands

(As an example, the last nine options on the Format toolbar are also found on the Diagram toolbar, which contains other options that could be duplicated here)

 

The Customize Dialog

Diagram Toolbar

Notes:

  • To set the global appearance of all elements throughout a model, use 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 of a selected element (or several selected elements) on all diagrams on which it occurs, set the Default Appearance for that element; right-click the element and choose the Appearance | Default Appearance context menu option

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