Shapes

Regular Shapes

Tables, views and queries are represented by diagram shapes. To get such shapes in a diagram, drag one or more selected table, view or query nodes from Databases and drop them into an open model diagram area. Or right-click on those nodes and select if you want to add them to current model/query, or you want to create a new model/query for them.

Shape’s icon may tell you if that’s a dependent or independent table,  intersection or lookup table etc.

Note Shapes

Notes or comment shapes are added with the Add Node big toolbar button. A note shape will auto-resize after editing. Notes may be linked to other shapes if you select those shapes before adding the note.  Transparent notes will show their text in italic. Here are two such notes with different styles:

Frame Shapes

A note shape may become a transparent container for other shapes if you fully contain at least one other shape in it. Its title will appear in bold, and its border will be yellow dashed. Here is how you can use such frames to show a modular/functional view of your system:

Shape Status

Comments can be represented expanded or minified. Regular shapes can be represented:

• expanded – shape title and items visible.
• collapsed – just the shape title visible, items not.
• minified – displayed as a circle with eventually shape’s icon in it.

Shape Operations

Shapes can be resized by selecting them and adjusting their size with one of the frame elements. Their selection frame shows empty selectors if they have their optimal size.

Multiple shapes may be selected and aligned at top/bottom/left/right, on horizontal or vertical axe, made same width/height/size.

Transparent shapes don’t show borders and colors. Double-click the title to get it highlighted (i.e. on yellow background). Edit its title to create an alias for the related object (this alias is Xtractor-specific and makes no database changes at all).