- The Diagram Properties dialog box allows you to change the arrangement of elements on the diagram. These properties are discussed in this section.
- The Display Properties dialog box allows you to change look of individual elements as well as overall diagram color and other graphic properties. Learn more about Display properties
NOTE: Any changes that you make on the General or Layout tabs will take effect the next time you click the Auto Layout button 
on the toolbar.
Layout Mode
- Automatic means that the Auto Layout button will arrange the model based on settings in the Layout tab. This is the default mode.
- Manual means that clicking the Auto Layout button will have no effect and it is up to you to arrange the model elements.
Grid Properties
You can show a grid in the ModelBuilder window. If you are in automatic mode, this is the grid to which elements will be snapped. If you are in manual mode, you can use the grid to line up your elements.All layout options work only in automatic layout mode, which is set on the General tab. These options only take effect when you click the Auto Layout button on the toolbar.
Changing the layout does not affect a model's processing flow and logic, so you are free to experiment with these settings.
Check the Variable Level Spacing box to let ModelBuilder readjust the spacing between levels. This primarily affects models that contain crossed connector lines—the spacing between levels is distributed so that levels with crossed lines are given more space.
Incremental Layout can be turned on and off while you work. The effects of Incremental Layout are applied whenever you click the Auto Layout button on the ModelBuilder toolbar.When the Respect Flow option is checked, ModelBuilder assigns elements to levels incrementally as much as possible while respecting the flow of the connector lines. When the Reduce Crossings option is checked, ModelBuilder assigns elements to levels incrementally and preserves their ordering within levels as much as possible while trying to reduce the number of crossings.
When the Orthogonal Routing option is checked, you can use the Merge Connections option to merge the connector lines that connect to the same input element so all vertical lines meet at the same point, as shown below. You can also set the vertical and horizontal spacing between connectors.
The Minimum Slope option sets the lowest slope value that any diagonal connector line can have. When the model orientation is vertical, slope is measured by the angle of the connector line from an imaginary horizontal line. When the model orientation is horizontal, slope is measured by the angle of the connector line from an imaginary vertical line.Slope is measured in percentages: Zero percent is flat, and the value of a perpendicular slope approaches infinity. In practice, increasing the minimum slope by approximately 300 percent has no noticeable effect.
on the toolbar.
Changing the layout does not affect a model's processing flow and logic, so you are free to experiment with these settings.
Orientation
Orientation determines the visual direction of flow in the model.
About levels
Several of the layout settings allow you to alter certain aspects of the diagram levels. You can think of diagram levels as an invisible grid used to distribute elements within the layout. The following illustration shows levels in a model diagram.
Level Alignment
Level Alignment determines whether elements will align to the center, left, or right of a level line. Changing level alignment doesn't have much effect unless your model contains many elements of different sizes.Level Constraint
The Level Constraint option determines how the elements in different chained processes are aligned. The illustration above shows the default constraint (towards output), and the illustration below shows level constraint towards input.
Minimum Spacing
You can set the spacing between levels and elements. The default is 30 diagram units for each.Check the Variable Level Spacing box to let ModelBuilder readjust the spacing between levels. This primarily affects models that contain crossed connector lines—the spacing between levels is distributed so that levels with crossed lines are given more space.
Layout Quality
Layout Quality controls how rigorously the diagram layout adheres to the layout settings you make. In Draft mode, there is the least adherence to the layout settings—a simple computation is used—making the layout of elements quicker. In Proof mode, the maximum amount of adherence to the layout settings is attained. The default is a compromise between Draft and Proof.Incremental Layout
Incremental Layout is a kind of compromise between automatic and manual layout. By enabling Incremental Layout, once an element or connector has been placed, it will be moved as little as possible, minimizing the amount of reorganization that occurs within ModelBuilder. A common use of incremental layout is illustrated below. In the illustration, the Auto Layout button places the Network variable on the bottom of the stack of input variables. If you want it to appear on top of the stack, set incremental layout to Active, move the Network variable to the top of the stack, then click Auto Layout. The Network variable will remain on top of the stack.
Incremental Layout can be turned on and off while you work. The effects of Incremental Layout are applied whenever you click the Auto Layout button on the ModelBuilder toolbar.When the Respect Flow option is checked, ModelBuilder assigns elements to levels incrementally as much as possible while respecting the flow of the connector lines. When the Reduce Crossings option is checked, ModelBuilder assigns elements to levels incrementally and preserves their ordering within levels as much as possible while trying to reduce the number of crossings.
Connection Routing
Connection Routing sets whether diagonal or orthogonal connector lines will be used. When Orthogonal Routing is unchecked (the default), diagonal connector lines are used. When Orthogonal Routing is checked, connector lines are straight and make 90-degree bends, as shown below.When the Orthogonal Routing option is checked, you can use the Merge Connections option to merge the connector lines that connect to the same input element so all vertical lines meet at the same point, as shown below. You can also set the vertical and horizontal spacing between connectors.
The Minimum Slope option sets the lowest slope value that any diagonal connector line can have. When the model orientation is vertical, slope is measured by the angle of the connector line from an imaginary horizontal line. When the model orientation is horizontal, slope is measured by the angle of the connector line from an imaginary vertical line.Slope is measured in percentages: Zero percent is flat, and the value of a perpendicular slope approaches infinity. In practice, increasing the minimum slope by approximately 300 percent has no noticeable effect.
Unlike the General and Layout tabs, changes made on the Symbology tab take effect immediately after you click OK or Apply.
Options on the Symbology tab allow you to control the default color of elements and the default font properties of element text, and they give you control over element shape. Tool elements are displayed as rectangles by default, and other elements are displayed as ovals. Below is an example of the default symbology.
You can switch the default setting so that tool elements display as ovals and all other elements display as rectangles. Below is an example of altered element symbology.
You can switch the default setting so that tool elements display as ovals and all other elements display as rectangles. Below is an example of altered element symbology.
You can change the default color and font for any of the five elements: tool, value variable, project data, derived data, and derived value. On the Symbology tab, right-click the element and click Color or Font.
Unlike the General and Layout tabs, changes that you make on the symbology tab take effect immediately after you click OK or Apply.You cannot change the appearance of connectors with Diagram Properties, but you can using Display Properties. You cannot use the Strikeout or Underline option on the Fonts dialog. Selecting either option has no effect on the model elements.Learn how to change connector appearance
Unlike the General and Layout tabs, changes that you make on the symbology tab take effect immediately after you click OK or Apply.You cannot change the appearance of connectors with Diagram Properties, but you can using Display Properties. You cannot use the Strikeout or Underline option on the Fonts dialog. Selecting either option has no effect on the model elements.Learn how to change connector appearance