'Palette' Tool Window
This tool window provides samples of both predefined as well as user-defined visual
representations for nodes and edges. Moreover, it displays representations for
the different kinds of nodes and edges in the current graph.
Working with the Palette
- Drag and Drop for Nodes
-
Any of the sample node representations from the Palette tool window can be dragged
into the active editor window (using a
mouse drag gesture) to create
a new node that uses this visual representation.
- Drag and Drop for Edges
-
Dragging a sample edge representation onto a node in the active editor window
starts creating an edge of the corresponding kind at the that node.
- Setting Defaults
-
Default representations for the nodes or edges of a graph can be defined by
double-clicking a respective sample in any of the sections of the palette. When
a new node or edge is created in the editor window, the currently active default
representation is used to define the visual characteristics of the graph element.
The defaults for closed groups and for open groups can be set in the same way.
The context menus for the sample representations in predefined and user-defined
palette sections, respectively in the section 'Current Elements', provide further
actions.
The Palette Sections
The palette tool window consists of several sections with predefined or
user-defined templates for visual representations of nodes and edges.
Sections with Predefined Representations
These sections provide several representations for nodes and edges:
- 'Shape Nodes'
-
geometric shapes (rectangle, circle, diamond, triangle, ...)
- 'Modern Nodes'
-
rectangular shapes (with/without rounded corners) with different gradients and
shadows
- 'Edge Types'
-
"Polyline," "Arc," "Bezier," "Quadratic Curve," and "Spline" edges
- 'Group Nodes'
-
different representations for open and closed group nodes;
group nodes can contain other nodes (including other group nodes), thereby creating
a hierarchical organization; also, open group nodes can be closed and their
contained nodes are no longer rendered, which leads to clearer diagrams
- 'Swimlane Nodes and Table Nodes'
-
specific representations for group nodes as used in 1-dimensional (horizontal
and vertical orientation) and 2-dimensional Swimlane diagrams;
a description of the features and properties of swimlane nodes and table nodes,
respectively, is in Support for Swimlane Diagrams
- 'People'
-
stylized representations for persons;
the available representations are (SVG) vector graphics that are appropriately
scaled when zoomed in/out
- 'Computer Network'
-
representations for computer hardware and network devices;
the available representations are (SVG) vector graphics that are appropriately
scaled when zoomed in/out
- 'UML'
-
specific representations for elements as used in UML diagrams
- 'Flowchart'
-
specific representations for elements as used in flowchart diagrams
- 'BPMN'
-
specific representations for elements as used in BPMN diagrams
- 'Entity Relationship'
-
specific representations for elements as used in Entity Relationship diagrams;
in particular, edge representations support Crow's Foot notation
The context menu for predefined sample representations contains the following entries.
- Apply
-
Allows to apply the sample node (edge) representation to the currently selected
nodes (edges) from the active editor window.
This effectively changes both type and attributes of the selected elements to that
of the sample.
Applying a group (table) node representation to a normal node will
change the selected node into a group (table) node. Similarly,
applying a normal node representation to a group (table) node will
change the selected node into a normal node.
When changing an open group (table) node into a normal node,
the contents of the changed node will be assigned to its parent node.
When changing a closed group node into a normal node,
the contents of the changed node will be discarded and lost.
- Apply Type
-
Unlike "Apply" the type of the selection changes according to the sample, but the other
attributes remain mostly unchanged. Whereas "Apply" for example applies the fill color of
the sample with "Apply Type" a selected node keeps its own fill color. What actually changes
is the type of a selected node or edge. You can transform a modern node to a geometric
node or an edge with bends to a rolling one without changing the color or line type at the
same time. If "Apply Type" is applied to a geometric node with a geometric node sample only
the shape of the selected node changes.
Group and table nodes are treated as with "Apply".
- As Default
-
Sets this sample representation as the default for graph element creation of the
respective kind.
A visual feedback is used to indicate the current default sample.
Note: Setting the default sample can also be achieved by simply double-clicking
on the sample.
Section 'Current Elements'
This section dynamically displays sample representations for the different kinds of nodes and edges
in the current graph. The distinctive features used for computing these representations (e.g.
fill color of a node or target arrow of an edge) are configurable using the context menu as
described below.
The maximum number of displayed sample representations is limited. The limit can be
configured.
The context menu for this section provides the following entries in addition to the
entries for predefined sample representations.
- Select Matching Graph Elements
-
Sets the selection of the current graph to the elements which match the entry under the mouse.
- Configure Distinctive Features...
-
Opens a dialog for configuring the distinctive features used for computing the representations
in the section 'Current Elements'. While the dialog is open, the effect of the current
selection of distinctive features can be tested by pressing the 'Apply' button. The
'Reset' button allows to reset the set of distinctive features to those which were
active when the dialog was opened.
User-defined Sections
Aside from the aforementioned predefined sections, a user may create and
manage custom palette sections using yEd's
Palette Manager.
All user-defined sections are saved on application exit and are available
when yEd starts up again.
Additionally, the context menu that is displayed when right-clicking on the
title bar of a section provides convenient access to most of the palette manager's
functions.
- Hide Section
-
Removes the clicked-upon section from use in yEd. A removed section
can be added for use again in the palette manager.
- Import Symbols...
-
Imports image or SVG files from the local hard disk into the
clicked-upon section. Importing symbols is only available for
user-defined palette sections.
- Convert to Document
-
Converts the clicked-upon section into a new document for editing.
The document is opened as a new editor window, which
becomes the active editor window.
See Editing Palette Sections
for more information.
- Adopt from Document
-
Replaces the elements in the clicked-upon section with the elements
in the currently active document. Adopting the contents of
a document is only available for user-defined palette sections.
- New Section...
-
Creates a new palette section. New sections can be created as empty sections, as
copies of existing sections, or as sections containing the diagram
elements of the currently active document.
- Import Section...
-
Creates a new palette section from a GraphML file.
- Export Section...
-
Stores the clicked-upon section as a GraphML file.
- Manage Palette...
-
Opens the Palette Manager dialog.
Adding Sample Representations to User-defined Palette Sections
Sample representations of nodes and edges can be added to user-defined
palette sections as follows.
- From the active editor window
-
The current selection of nodes or edges from the active editor window
can be added to the sample representations of user-defined sections
in the Palette tool window by choosing 'Add to Palette' from the
editor's context menu.
- From the file system
-
The Import Symbols... menu entry in the context menu of
user-defined palette sections and the Import Symbols... button
in the Palette Manager dialog can be used to load image and SVG
files which are added to the corresponding palette section.