The Selection Criteria specifies to which elements a rule is applied. Generally the criteria are based on values of database attributes, but it is also possible to filter out shapes fulfilling specified Visio formula. The database criteria can be defined in three ways;
If the ‘Type & attribute value’ is selected it provides the possibility to select the type of elements to which the rule should be applied and then to define the number of attribute filters. It is also possible to select ‘All types’ which means that the attribute filters will be matched to all elements. To specify attribute filters select the Attribute from the drop down in the
Attribute column in the grid. It is possible to use regular attributes as well as referenced attributes. It is also possible to key in the attribute name rather than select it from the list. The attributes list contains system attributes and UDAs valid for the selected type including referenced attributes defined in
Attribute Presentation in Diagrams
Options. It does not contain pseudo attributes unless they are added in the
Attribute Presentation. If there is no type specified for the rule (‘All’ is selected in the
Type drop down) the list consists of merged attributes for all database types that can be represented on a diagram. After the attribute is selected, the operator and value to compare should be specified as shown in the screen shot above. A new row for the next attribute filter is added automatically after the current row is edited. To delete an existing attribute filter row select the whole row and press the
Delete key on the keyboard.
After the selection criteria are defined it is possible to check to which shapes the rule will be applied on the current drawing using the Highlight link placed at the right bottom of the dialog. After this is clicked all shapes meeting the criteria will be highlighted on the current drawing.