Layout Diagram weak

[Hugo]

I added a bunch of requirement elements to a diagram.

I wanted them listed in some sensible way (order ascending by name) vertically down page for example.

Well layout diagram option laid them out horizontally, and it went past the page border too for some reason.

It seems to use some ingenious algorithm that decides to lay out the requirements as

Row 1 -> 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2
Row 2 -> 12, 11, 10, 1

Each requirements is named WAUk1, WAUk2 etc.

I also tried altering the "Set Layout Style" options for the diagram yet despite the many variables and option, it had absolutely no effect on how the diagram was laid out.

I simply cannot understand why it disregards the page width and why I cannot control ordering based upon some lexical rule.

Finally I selected every requirement in my diagram and then used Element..Space Evenly..Down and incredibly it laid every element out DIAGONALLY across page, going from top right to bottom left (and again disregarding page border!!!).

I really do not understand how one can expect to serioulsy use this tool given the great degree to which it refuses to behave intuitively.

Is there any way to increase the capability of layout diagram???

H

[Eve]

The ordering can be set by changing the z-order of the elements.  If this hasn't been set, it will correspond to the order they were added to the diagram.

Element | Space Evenly | Down, does roughly what you're wanting, but it doesn't change the horizontal position of any elements.

When I am creating a diagram similar to what you want I tend to use mostly Element | Alignment | Left, Element | Space Evenly | Down.

I also use the Make Same commands frequently and when I have multiple columns I use Align Top for each top element and then space evenly down from those points.