Systems Architects and Engineers specialising in the effective use of Systems Architecture, Methods and Tools since 1982

Viewing the Diagram

Click the View button of the flow finder to view a graphical representation of the flow. This displays the flow diagram control form where details of the current flow and the controls for varying its object sizes etc. are contained in order to maximise the available space for the diagramming area of the flow diagrammer form. To view the diagram without changing any of the default settings, now click the Draw button of the control form.

Note that when the Draw button is used, the diagram control form appears on top of the diagram form and that the message "Float special toolbar for more drawing space is displayed". This arrangement maximises the visible drawing area. To see the diagram on top, simply click anywhere on the diagram form thus bringing the diagram itself to the front. Although this may obscure the controls, the most important are available on a small toolbar which can be located wherever is most convenient. This toolbar is first shown as the third layer at the top of the screen but you can move it by drag and drop. Place the mouse cursor on any part of the toolbar area in use (but not on a button) to do this. The toolbar layer will then reappear as the small floating toolbar shown in the flow diagrammer form. Click the leftmost button of the toolbar if you need to return to the control form.

Settings for the Diagram

Viewable screen sizes are adapted to a limited number of formats to optimise printing of the results. Currently available are a single width of A4 or letter (8.5 x 11 in) paper in either portrait or landscape orientation. Click the appropriate radio buttons to choose a configuration. You can choose how many nodes (objects) you would like to appear across and down the page by entering your choices in the named fields. Object sizes are then automatically reduced or expanded to fit inside the selected format. Diagram forms of 1, 3 or 6 pages are selected to fit the flow content. Scaling is a question of choosing values which provide readable objects matched with making room for the details of the flow. Sizes revert to the default values each time the forms are displayed and can be reset to default during use by clicking the Default button. The default paper format is that currently set for the printer in use.

Default object sizes have been calculated to provide a working diagram with minimum eyestrain but reasonable content. The nodes of the lowest level on the higher page are repeated on the lower page to assist in viewing or making up a multi page diagram. The default node separation corresponds to approximately 1.1 inches (about 28mm) in the printed diagram and the resulting node size allows for a full-length item header at font size 6.

Features of the Flow Diagrammer

Other features of the diagrammer include the ability to display or not the repetitions and volumes attached to their corresponding nodes or links and the ability to print a graphical view of the flow for further review off line. Both repetitions and volumes are included as default and you should click the control form or toolbar button to exclude an unwanted option.

Click the Print button of the control form or the toolbar to print the two forms. To print only the diagram, abort the first print choice which you are offered.