1309: User Defined Boundary - how?

[Paolo F Cantoni]

I created a NEW User Defined boundary - as mentioned in the release notes.  The New (local) Help files didn't mention User-Defined and there doesn't appear to be any mechanism on the context menu to allow me to add points to configure the boundary with.

Help! (and reported)
Paolo

[Eve]

Ctrl+Click (same as connectors)

Not sure why the help doesn't have that yet.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Ctrl+Click (same as connectors)

Not sure why the help doesn't have that yet.

FWIW, it was the downloaded version of the User Guide.  Also, there wasn't a context menu entry such as [Ctrl+Q] for connectors (it doesn't actually say [Ctrl+Click] - and [Ctrl+Q] doesn't work for the boundary).

So now I have an extra [] on the shape, but I can't seem to "grab it".  How do I do that?

Paolo

[KP]

So now I have an extra [] on the shape, but I can't seem to "grab it".  How do I do that?

You need to grab the edge next to the new line point and drag that.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

So now I have an extra [] on the shape, but I can't seem to "grab it".  How do I do that?

You need to grab the edge next to the new line point and drag that.

Well THAT was obvious.  (That's ironic, )

The reason I say that is that you can't actually (from what I've seen so far) create arbitrarily irregular shapes, you can ONLY create irregular rectilinear shapes that can only have right angle changes of direction. 

Also, [Ctrl+Click]  (left button) creates a duplicate boundary (or another of the last shape you created) if you haven't accurately positioned the cursor.  Could I suggest adding [Ctrl+Q] to make it explicit that you want a new line point?

Paolo

[RoyC]

The description is in the Help now (I was on holiday when the spec came through) and will be published with the next release.  The text reads:

Shape Field
Click on the drop-down arrow and select from these options:

• 'Rectangle' - if you have previously switched from the default rectangular border with sharp corners, return to that default
• 'Rounded Rectangle' - set the shape to a rectangle with rounded corners
• 'Ellipse' - set the shape to a circle or oval to accommodate the enclosed elements
• 'User Defined' - enable setting drag-points on the border to create a custom shape (see the Customize System Boundary section); this option disables the 'Horizontal Swim Lanes' and 'Vertical Swim Lanes' fields

Customize System Boundary
When you have selected the 'User Defined' option in the 'Shape' field, you can add way-points to the sides of the System Boundary, to drag in a vertical or horizontal direction. This helps you to create shapes that enclose more-scattered elements than could be enclosed in a rectangle or ellipse.
To set a way-point on an edge:
  o  Ctrl+click on the edge
To clear a way-point:
  o  Ctrl+click on it
To move a way point:
  o  Move the cursor onto it until it changes to an 'up-down' arrow or 'left-right' arrow, and move the way-point
      in the appropriate direction; the boundary is orthogonal, maintaining horizontal and vertical lines during
     movement

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Thanks, Roy,

What about adding [Ctrl+Q]?  As I mentioned, it got REALLY irritating getting additional shapes on the diagram when I didn't want them (with [Ctrl+Click]).

Paolo

[Graham_Moir]

Ctrl+Click (same as connectors)

Not sure why the help doesn't have that yet.

I have always used Shift+Click to add/clear points to a connector.  Does that do exactly the same thing as Ctrl+Click/Crtl+Q?  If so it may help avoid the irritating side effect of Ctrl-Click.

[qwerty]

I always used Ctrl-click but now see that Shift-ciick works the same. EAUI.

q.