Figures

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Description

Figure objects are reusable diagram artifacts that turn live model data into a visual view. A figure stores its root objects, render mode, layout choices, styling, and manual overrides while continuing to read names, relationships, values, and hierarchy from the underlying model. Figures are useful when a diagram needs to be edited once and reused in multiple documents or presentations. Because a figure references model objects rather than copying them, changes to the model are reflected the next time the figure renders or refreshes.

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Creating a Figure

1. Create a Figure object from the model index, normally inside a package.
2. Open the new figure in its Figure view.
3. Add one or more root objects from the Roots menu, or drag model objects from the index onto the figure canvas.
4. Select a Render Mode appropriate for the objects you added.
5. Use Settings to configure layout, labels, relationships, theme, styling, and the legend.

A new figure starts in Tree mode. It remains empty until at least one root object is added.

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Root Objects

Roots are the starting points used to generate the diagram. A figure can have multiple roots, allowing related areas of the model to appear in one artifact. Roots can be managed in two ways:

• Open Roots and use Add Root to search for model objects.
• Drag objects from the model index directly onto the figure canvas.

The selected render mode determines how each root is interpreted. For example, Gantt mode looks for scheduled tasks, while Risk Matrix mode looks for risks. If a root has no applicable content, the Roots control displays a warning badge and explains why the root was not shown.

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Render Modes

The same roots can be displayed in different ways by changing Render Mode. Changing modes preserves the figure’s roots and reusable styling. Mode-specific layout settings change to match the selected visualization.

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Configuring the Figure

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Layout

Layout settings vary by render mode and can include:

• Horizontal or vertical orientation
• Traversal depth
• Relationship types
• Activity endpoint and layout style
• State transition visibility
• Gantt scale and date range
• Risk criticality thresholds

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Labels and Connections

Figures can display full names, short names, or both. Connection labels can be shown or hidden, and connection routing can use direct, orthogonal, or spline lines.

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Themes and Styles

Use a built-in theme for a consistent appearance, or switch to custom styling. Custom settings include the figure canvas, default node and edge colors, line weight, label color, font size, node width, padding, and corner radius.

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Style Rules

Style rules apply reusable formatting to matching content. Rules can target object types, selected nodes, connection types, a tree subtree, or a state scene. They continue to apply as matching objects are added to the model. Property-based color rules can visualize supported live values such as risk measures, requirement satisfaction, and task status.

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Legend

Enable the legend when colors or line styles carry meaning. A legend can:

• List custom entries with node or edge swatches
• Show relationship categories derived from the rendered diagram
• Be moved, resized, and styled like other figure content

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Editing the Canvas

Select nodes or connections to edit their figure-specific presentation. Depending on the render mode, you can:

• Drag one or more nodes to create manual positions
• Resize nodes
• Adjust connection routing and label placement
• Show documentation, type, or selected attributes inside a node
• Expand tree children or relationship groups
• Hide an object from this figure
• Restore previously removed objects from Settings

Manual edits are stored as overrides on the Figure object. They do not alter the represented model objects.

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Reusing Figures

Figure objects can be embedded in Documents and Slides.

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Documents

1. Place the caret at the desired insertion point.
2. Open Insert and choose Figure.
3. Search for and select the Figure object.
4. Select Insert.

The document creates a figure block that references the Figure object. Select the block to resize, align, refresh, change its focus object, or open the source Figure.

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Slides

1. Open the slide where the figure should appear.
2. Open Insert and choose Figure.
3. Search for and select the Figure object.
4. Select Insert, then position and resize the new element.

The slide element references the same Figure object, so its render mode and figure-level settings remain centralized.

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Figure Objects Versus Direct Object Figures

The Figure insertion wizard also accepts ordinary model objects:

• Selecting a Figure object embeds the reusable figure. Its roots, render mode, layout, and styles belong to that Figure object.
• Selecting another model object creates a direct figure reference. The host Document or Slide stores a local display mode such as Block, Tree, Gantt, or Risk Matrix.

Use a Figure object when a diagram needs custom styling, manual layout, multiple roots, or reuse. Use a direct object reference for a simple one-off visualization.

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Refreshing Embedded Figures

Rendered figures are cached for performance. If an embedded figure does not yet show a recent model or styling change, select it and choose Refresh. Refreshing clears the cached render and rebuilds the diagram from current model data.

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View Types

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Properties Fields