Resize State Component

[CheraB]

In a UML Activity Diagram, more text in the State componet creates a longer
shape, and I've tried to resize a State component to make it multiline so
that all shapes are the same width. Even with protection off, I still can't
resize--is there any way to resize or make multiple lines of text in a State
(or Action State) component?

Thanks,
Chera

 

[Chris Roth [MVP]]

Hi Chera,

We have to be somewhat careful about messing with the UML shapes, because
there is a lot of extra code "behind" the drawings that make the extra UML
features work.

I was able to sub-select the title portion of the State shape and manually
add line-breaks by hitting enter. Just select the state shape, then click a
second time on the Name field's text. Hit F2 to enter "text edit mode"

This *works*, however, the name in the Model Explorer tree gets a funny
box-character. For instance, the name changed from: "State 1 with a really
really long name" to "State 1 with a really [] really long name"

And when I double-clicked on the shape, the Name in the dialog got truncated
to: "State1 with a really "

I'm not sure if this is acceptable.

Also, the State shape can show other attributes that you enter in the
dialog's various pages, so they will affect the width of the shape as well.
I can see that the designers might have thought that each attribute should
occupy only one line of text, for clarity.

With the sub-selecting mentioned above, you could also reduce the font-size
of just the Name field.

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

Register today for the 2008 Microsoft Office Visio Conference!
http://www.msvisioconference.com/

Visio Guy: Smart Graphics for Visual People
http://www.visguy.com

 

[CheraB]

Thanks, Chris, I appreciate the response. Multiple lines isn't worth that
box character, but at least it's a possibility. I didn't realize the
complexity of the shapes and thought I was missing something pretty basic.
I've been working with the font sizes and shorter descriptions and will make
it work that way.

Thanks again.
Chera

Hi Chera,

We have to be somewhat careful about messing with the UML shapes, because
there is a lot of extra code "behind" the drawings that make the extra UML
features work.

I was able to sub-select the title portion of the State shape and manually
add line-breaks by hitting enter. Just select the state shape, then click a
second time on the Name field's text. Hit F2 to enter "text edit mode"

This *works*, however, the name in the Model Explorer tree gets a funny
box-character. For instance, the name changed from: "State 1 with a really
really long name" to "State 1 with a really [] really long name"

And when I double-clicked on the shape, the Name in the dialog got truncated
to: "State1 with a really "

I'm not sure if this is acceptable.

Also, the State shape can show other attributes that you enter in the
dialog's various pages, so they will affect the width of the shape as well.
I can see that the designers might have thought that each attribute should
occupy only one line of text, for clarity.

With the sub-selecting mentioned above, you could also reduce the font-size
of just the Name field.

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

Register today for the 2008 Microsoft Office Visio Conference!
http://www.msvisioconference.com/

Visio Guy: Smart Graphics for Visual People
http://www.visguy.com

In a UML Activity Diagram, more text in the State componet creates a
longer
shape, and I've tried to resize a State component to make it multiline so
that all shapes are the same width. Even with protection off, I still
can't
resize--is there any way to resize or make multiple lines of text in a
State
(or Action State) component?

Thanks,
Chera

 

[Tim Wilsens]

Superb!

This morning I had exactly the same problem.

The F2 solution works perfect for me.

Thanks, Chris, I appreciate the response. Multiple lines isn't worth that
box character, but at least it's a possibility. I didn't realize the
complexity of the shapes and thought I was missing something pretty basic.
I've been working with the font sizes and shorter descriptions and will make
it work that way.

Thanks again.
Chera

Hi Chera,

We have to be somewhat careful about messing with the UML shapes, because
there is a lot of extra code "behind" the drawings that make the extra UML
features work.

I was able to sub-select the title portion of the State shape and manually
add line-breaks by hitting enter. Just select the state shape, then click a
second time on the Name field's text. Hit F2 to enter "text edit mode"

This *works*, however, the name in the Model Explorer tree gets a funny
box-character. For instance, the name changed from: "State 1 with a really
really long name" to "State 1 with a really [] really long name"

And when I double-clicked on the shape, the Name in the dialog got truncated
to: "State1 with a really "

I'm not sure if this is acceptable.

Also, the State shape can show other attributes that you enter in the
dialog's various pages, so they will affect the width of the shape as well.
I can see that the designers might have thought that each attribute should
occupy only one line of text, for clarity.

With the sub-selecting mentioned above, you could also reduce the font-size
of just the Name field.

--
Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

Register today for the 2008 Microsoft Office Visio Conference!
http://www.msvisioconference.com/

Visio Guy: Smart Graphics for Visual People
http://www.visguy.com

In a UML Activity Diagram, more text in the State componet creates a
longer
shape, and I've tried to resize a State component to make it multiline so
that all shapes are the same width. Even with protection off, I still
can't
resize--is there any way to resize or make multiple lines of text in a
State
(or Action State) component?

Thanks,
Chera