Nodes and Links

LEXICON User Guide

Window : Graphical View : Nodes and Links

View nodes represent database elements. They consist of an outline, whose shape depends on the element's type and the view context. Nodes contain a number of items, starting at the top with the element name, followed by the element description, if there is one. In addition, at top right above the element name the node may also include a stereotype which helps to identify what type of element is shown. Example stereo types include UDA, UDET and Element. These are shown as necessary to distinguish between different types in the same view.

In many contexts the node contains lists of other items grouped into compartments. Each compartment has a header followed by a list. The list items show an icon and name. If the item has a value then the value will also be shown to the right of the name. If the item is a UDA and the UDA Lock attribute is set, then the item is also shown with a padlock icon. Example compartments are Attributes (ATTRIBUTES), Hidden Attributes (HIDDEN) and UDAs (UDA). To the right of the compartment title is a chevron button that can be used to open and close the compartment. If compartments are shown, then a node also has a chevron at top right. This chevron closes all compartments and hides all compartment headers.

A progression is shown from left to right, where the chevrons are used to progressively expand the node to show more detail. At right a node is shown with many compartment items, each having an associated value. In this case they are the attributes and values of the PID UDA type.

Selection of single items can be achieved with a left-click in the Graphical View window. Multiple selections can be achieved by using bounding outline, selected nodes and links are shown with handles. Selected items in a node compartment are shown by a change in the item's background colour.

Nodes and links can be modified by dragging selection handles. The width of a node can be adjusted by dragging the left and right handles. Node height cannot be adjusted. Likewise the route of a node can be modified by dragging a node's selection handle. The node's attachment points to a node are fixed, however, modifications to nodes and links are temporary.

Selected items can be copied to the clipboard in the usual manner. The view's graphics can therefore be pasted into another application, such as an image or document editor. For example: press Ctrl-A to select all the items then press Ctrl-C to copy the graph to the clipboard. The selected items can then be pasted into the application of choice.

A selected node or compartment item can be used to open a new Graphical View window, right-click on the selected node or compartment item, select Navigate to a new Graphical View window for the selected node or compartment item is displayed.