The schema matrix preferences allow you to determine how schema matrices are displayed by default (options controlling what is displayed and how). This applies to all attribute, relation, and attributed-relation matrices displayed for facilities. Individual schema matrices can then be customized, as desired.
Options set in the Project Preferences dialog establish the defaults for all future diagrams. Any diagrams which are open or diagrams for which the view settings have been saved will not be affected by changes to the project preferences. To change these diagrams, open the individual diagram and change the local options.
Use Aliases - controls whether class, relation, and attribute aliases should be used on the diagram. If this option is toggled off, names will be used instead.
Show Frame - controls whether a frame will be shown around the diagram. If a frame is shown, the frame block contents are specified by the General Diagram settings.
Use Local Icon Settings - determines whether each individual diagram defaults to use its own independent (local) icon settings or these global settings. If the diagram is marked to use local icon settings, changes to the icon settings in the Project Preferences will not impact that diagram. If the diagram is marked to use global icon settings, diagram icons will update as the user changes the icon settings in the Project Preferences. If you wish to standardize the look of your diagrams across each individual diagram, using global settings will simplify icon management. When a specific diagram has special needs, using local icon settings allows you to customize the diagram-level icon settings.
Color - controls the font, line, and fill color for the diagram background. On the schema matrix diagram, the line color controls the diagram frame. In addition, the line and text colors control the color of the grid lines and the corresponding row and column labels.
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Tips and Tricks When using graphical images on diagrams, it is often best to use a white background. |
The icon settings control the default display of the activity icons on the diagram. The graphic pane displays a sample icon based upon the current icon settings. This is useful in evaluating how much space is available to display information on the icon. On a given diagram, individual icons can then be customized, as desired.
Icon Size - controls the default width and height of icons on the diagram. The width and height must each be between 10 and 500 pixels, inclusive.
Color - provides access to the standard color palette to set the default font, line, and fill color used when drawing matrix marks on this diagram.
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Because icons on schema matrix diagrams are simple circles that map where specific attributes or relations are defined (as opposed to full representations of objects with names, etc), many of the icon settings you are familiar with on other CORE diagrams are not available for the schema matrices. |