Model appearance: Display properties


There are two locations where you can change the appearance of your model.

The options on the Display Properties dialog box allows you to do things such as add a background image to your model; use images for elements instead of shapes; change the shape, color, and font of selected elements; and change the arrow size and style of selected connector. Especially useful for larger diagrams is the ability to add tooltips to model elements, which appear when you hover the mouse pointer over an element.

Display properties allow you to alter settings for three different display properties:

Graph properties

For display purposes, the graph is the background of the model diagram.

To view graph properties, right-click the background of the model diagram and click Display Properties. These properties are shown below.

Display properties


List of selected graph properties
Name The text for the graph. By default, this is the same as the model label.

NOTE: Changing this property has no effect on the model name or label.

ToolTip The text that appears when the mouse pointer is placed over the diagram background.
URL This property has no effect.
Nodes Displays the current number of nodes in the model.
Edges Displays the current number of edges in the model.
Labels Displays the current number of labels in the model.
Child Graphs This property will always be zero.
Background Color To change the background color, click the cell next to the Background Color property, then click the Color button that appears.
Picture This property specifies if there is a graphic used in the background of the model and is used in conjunction with the Picture Filename property.
Picture Filename This property specifies the name and path of the graphic used in the background of the model and is used in conjunction with the Picture property.
Center Picture Choose False to have a graphic that is not centered in the background of the model; choose True to have the graphic centered in the background of the mode.
Tile Picture Choose False to display a single graphic in the background of the model; choose True to tile the graphic over the entire background of the mode.
Picture Left or X Picture Offset Adjust the location of the graphic, when not tiled or centered, from the left side of the window, or Adjust the location of the graphic when tiled and centered from the left of the center of the window.
Picture Bottom or Y Picture Offset Adjust the location of the graphic, when not tiled or centered, from the bottom of the window, or Adjust the location of the graphic when tiled and centered from the bottom of the center of the window.
Grid Type The property can have a grid type of none, with lines, or point and will display lines or points according to the grid size.

NOTE: You should avoid setting this property as may conflict with the settings made on the General tab of the Diagram Properties dialog box.

Grid Size Specifies the distance interval used to define the grid.

NOTE: You should avoid setting this property as may conflict with the settings made on the General tab of the Diagram Properties dialog box.

Node properties

A node is any tool or variable element in the model. After selecting one or more tools or variables, right-click and click Display Properties. These properties are described below.

Node display menu


List of selected node properties
Name The text for the node.

NOTE: You should avoid setting this property as it may conflict with the variable or tool name.

ToolTip The text that appears when the mouse pointer is placed over the node.
URL This property has no affect.
Font To change various font properties, click the cell next to the Font property, then click the Font button that appears.
Shape To choose a different shape for the node, click the cell next to the Shape property and click the drop-down arrow that appears.
Background Color To change the color of the node, click the cell next to the Background Color property, then click the Color button that appears.

NOTE: You should avoid changing this property since it will be overridden by the Symbology settings (found on the Diagram Properties dialog box) whenever the model is validated or you exit from ModelBuilder.

Border Color This property sets the color of the border around the node and works in conjunction with the Border Width property.
Border Width To change the width of the border, click the cell next to the Border Width property, then click the drop-down list that appears.
Fit To Name This property specifies how tightly the background property fits with the Name property. No Fit lets you alter the Width and Height properties for the background. Tight Fit restricts the background to fit tightly around the text.
Text Justification This property changes the way the text is justified in relation to the background—left, center, or right.
Width This property changes the width of the background.
Height This property changes the height of the background.
X Center This property changes the x-axis location of the node. The point of origin is considered the bottom left of the ModelBuilder window.
Y Center This property changes the y-axis location of the node. The point of origin is considered the bottom left of the ModelBuilder window.
Left Ports This property effects the appearance of the label but has no significant effect.
Right Ports This property effects the appearance of the label but has no significant effect.
Top Ports This property changes the appearance of the label but has no significant effect.
Bottom Ports This property changes the appearance of the label but has no significant effect.
Actual Level Number This property has no effect on model elements.
Invertible This property has no effect on model elements.
Stretchable This property has no effect on model elements.
Min Stretchable Width This property has no effect on model elements.
Side Offset This property has no effect on model elements.

Edge properties

An Edge is a connector line in a model. After selecting one or more connectors, right-click and click Display Properties. These properties are described below.

Edge display properties


List of selected edge properties
Name This property has no effect.
ToolTip The text that appears when the mouse pointer is placed over the edge.
URL This property has no affect.
Style To choose from a number of dashed and solid line patterns, click the cell next to the Style property and click the drop-down arrow.
Width To choose from a number of line widths, click the cell next to the Width property and click the drop-down arrow.
Color To choose a new color or create a new color, click the cell next to the Color property and click the browse button that appears.
Arrowhead Style To change the arrowhead style and location, click the cell next to the Arrowhead Style property and click the drop-down arrow.
Arrowhead Width To change the arrowhead width, click the cell next to the Arrowhead Width property and change the value.
Arrowhead Height To change the arrowhead height, click the cell next to the Arrowhead Height property and change the value.
Arrowhead Color To change the arrowhead color, click the cell next to the Arrowhead Color property and click the browse to choose a color or create a custom color.
Source Port Style This property has no effect on model connectors.
Source Port Number This property has no effect on model connectors.
Target Port Style This property has no effect on model connectors.
Target Port Number This property has no effect on model connectors.
Non Leveling This property has no effect on model connectors.

See Also