Layout Settings (Modeling)

Layout procedure

Depending on the chosen layout, different model types and setting options will be offered.

Model type (Select button)

All the possible model types are listed. In the following column, the underlying layout procedure is assigned to each model type listed in a row.

Minimum object spacing

Enter the spacing between the modeling objects.

• If the grid is disabled, the value you entered defines the exact spacing between the objects.
• If the grid is enabled, the value you entered defines the minimum spacing between the objects.

The first value specifies the horizontal spacing, and the second value the vertical spacing in millimeters. You can enter a value between 1 and 100.

Do not line up connections

Does not include connections when lining up.

Scale objects

Enlarges objects when the number of anchor points for the incoming connections is no longer sufficient.

Minimize connection anchor points

Reduces the number of anchor points in the layout. If you use the grid at the same time, you can obtain the effect of superimposing several incoming connections.

Horizontal layout

Specifies the modeling direction from left to right instead of top to bottom.

Adapt columns/rows

Optimizes the width and/or height of columns in layouts of row/column models.

If you have disabled this check box, the horizontal and vertical values will only have an effect on those columns and/or rows for which you have already defined values for the corresponding height/width. For example, if you have specified that objects should have a horizontal spacing of 500 millimeters and the Adapt columns/rows check box is disabled, this spacing can be applied only to objects that have enough space in their column/row.

Insert space using part layout

Prevents objects overlapping when applying layout generation to selected objects. Space will be inserted for the newly arranged objects if they are placed where other objects were positioned in the original layout.

Alignment

Specifies the alignment of the objects. The spacing corresponds to the horizontal and vertical spacing values you entered:

• Centered

  The main path is aligned on the center. Branches will be arranged to the left and right of the main path. Depending on the modeling, this option may have the same layout result as the longest path - centered option.

• Longest path - centered

  The longest model path is aligned on the center. Branches will be arranged to the left or right. Depending on the modeling, this option may have the same layout result as the Centered option.

• Longest path - left

  The longest model path is aligned to the left. Branches will be placed to the right.

• Longest path - right

  The longest model path is aligned to the right. Branches will be placed to the left.

Satellites arrangement

Specifies the arrangement of satellites, i.e. of the objects that are assigned to structurally relevant objects. When satellites are arranged, different connection types are also included. Satellites that are connected to an object via the same connection type will be grouped together in one space.

• Horizontally

  Satellites are arranged from left to right. Satellites that are connected to the structurally relevant object by the same connection type are placed directly next to one another.

• Quadratic

  Satellites are arranged inside a square if possible. Satellites that are connected to the structurally relevant object by the same connection type are combined in a common space.

• Vertically

  Satellites are arranged from top to bottom. Satellites that are connected to the structurally relevant object by the same connection type are placed one directly below the other.

Root position with regard to subtree

Specifies where objects which have subordinate objects are placed in relation to these subordinate objects.

• Centered

  The root is centered above the subordinate objects.

• Left

  The root is aligned to the left of the subordinate objects.

• Right

  The root is aligned to the right of the subordinate objects.

Strategy

Specifies the arrangement strategy.

• Quadratic

  The objects are arranged inside a square if possible.

• Original

  The objects are arranged according to the original layout.

• Hierarchical

  The objects are arranged according to the object hierarchy from top to bottom.

Root node position

Specifies how objects that do not have any incoming connections are arranged.

• Arrange all roots above

  All root nodes are placed on the highest level.

• Place single roots lower

  The length of the connections between the root nodes and the connected objects is made as short as possible, so that they are positioned close together.

• Place roots with components lower

  The length of the connections between the root nodes with directly connected objects and connected objects positioned farther away is made as short as possible. This ensures that the roots and their components are positioned as close as possible to the following objects.

Change to vertical layout

Specifies the position at which you want to start placing the objects from top to bottom instead of from left to right.

Number of artificial gaps

Specifies the number of artificial gaps that are to be inserted between associated object groups. The objects will then be grouped together in a clear structure.

Quality of procedure

Specifies the number of passes used to improve the quality of the layout generation. You can enter a value between 1 and 5. The higher the value you enter, the higher the quality of the layout will be, but also the longer it will take to calculate.

Minimum spacing between two objects

Specifies the minimum required distance between two objects in millimeters.

Minimum port spacing

Specifies the minimum required distance between incoming connections on an object in millimeters.

Grid size

Specifies the distance between placed objects.

Margins

Specifies the distance of the model from the top and left borders of the model window in millimeters.