Resizing Grouped Objects
Many of the symbols in the software libraries are grouped SmartDraw objects. These SmartDraw objects grow and
shrink together as if they were one shape. Due to restrictions on text shrinking, some grouped objects will be
distorted when shrunk.
To change the restrictions on text shrinking, select the shape, go to the Design tab,
and select Text Entry Properties from the Shape Properties group.
Check the box under Allow Text to Shrink and specify a small size such as "8". Now, you should be able to shrink your object without distortion.
If you want even more freedom in editing these symbols, you can ungroup them in the Design tab
under the Shape Layout group's Group command.
Once ungrouped, you can stretch, shrink, and grow the elements of a symbol separately and reassemble them to your liking.
Ungroup a UML symbol for better editing
Arranging Objects
You can arrange objects on your page by selecting them and moving them with the mouse. For finer adjustments
you can use the arrow keys to nudge the object or objects into place. The Design tab provides
a variety of helpful commands that help you position your objects better.
For example, to align a number of class objects to each other, first, select the objects you want to arrange.
Do this by clicking on each object in turn (while holding down the Shift key).
The last object you click has black selection handles and is called
the Target Object. When you use the Align or
Make Same Size commands, all the selected objects
will be aligned or sized to match the target object.
Applying the Align Left command to the selected classes
Making the objecs the same size
The results after using both Align Left and Make Same Size
Arranging Objects Vertically
You can think of the objects in your drawing as a vertical stack of blocks. Objects drawn earlier are on the
bottom of the stack while objects drawn later are at the top of the stack. The object drawn last is the shape
that's on top.
If a recently drawn object like a loop on a sequence diagram
covers parts of your drawing, you can go to the
Shape Styles group and select the
transparent fill from the Fill command or you can go
to the Design tab and choose Send to Back on the
Shape Layout group to
change the order of the stack.
The loop shape obstructs the rest of the sequence diagram
To reveal the hidden parts of the drawing, go to the Shape Style group
and choose the Transparent fill for the loop shape or...
...go to the Design tab and choose Send to Back.
The sequence diagram once the loop has been
sent to the bottom of the drawing stack
Rotating Objects
Although most software diagrams have a horizontal layout, there might be cases where you will need
objects to be at an angle. Most objects have a rotating handle near their right edge. To rotate an object
manually, move your cursor over the handle until it changes into a circular arrow, click down with the
mouse, and rotate. When finished rotating, release the mouse to see the rotated object.
When on object is too small to have a rotator handle or you want to rotate it more precisely, select
the object, go to the Design tab, and using the Rotate command, specify
the exact angle of rotation within one tenth of a degree.
You can rotate straight lines, any shape, and even most imported items. However, you cannot rotate
segmented lines, curves, automatic connectors, and bit maps. Objects also don't rotate when linked.
To rotate a hooked element, such as the initial and final state symbols, first unhook it and reattach it
only after it's been rotated.
Rotation angles are calculated clockwise from the horizontal. Use the diagram below to estimate the
correct angle of rotation.
