Block Style Window

You can customize the appearance of a block or annotation using the Block Style window. Changes made in this window will apply only to the current block; the Diagram Style window allows you to make changes to all new blocks added to the diagram as well as to all current blocks in the diagram that are using default settings.

To open the Block Style window, select a block or annotation and choose Diagrams > Format & Style > Edit Block > Block Style.

The Block Style window consists of two tabs, which are presented next.

Block Style Window Block Tab

The Block tab of the Block Style window allows you to specify the appearance of the block itself and of the caption associated with the block. You can customize the following:

The shape and size of the block, as well as whether or not a shadow is shown for the block. The options available in the Shape drop-down list depend on the block type. You can change the shape of standard blocks; node blocks, junction blocks and annotations have permanently assigned shapes.
The background color, fill color and fill style used for the block as well as the style (e.g., solid, dash, etc.), color and thickness of the block border. (The background color is the underlying color applied to the block; the fill color is applied over the background color in the pattern specified by the fill style.) To modify these properties, you must clear the Use Default Interior and Border Settings check box. If this check box is selected, these properties use the settings defined in the Diagram Style window on the Defaults > General page for the current block type.
How the block caption appears, including:
- Location and Horizontal Alignment allow you to specify where the caption will be displayed (e.g., under the block, inside the block, etc.) and whether it will be left aligned, center aligned or right aligned. If you choose to place the caption to the left, right or inside the block, you can also specify the Vertical Alignment (i.e., at the top, center or bottom of the block). If you choose to hide the caption, the Alignment fields will not be available.

To use the default settings for the Location and Alignment properties, as specified in the Diagram Style window on the Defaults > General page for the current block type, choose the Diagram Default option.

- The color and font used for the text. To modify these properties, you must clear the Use Default Color and Font check box. If this check box is selected, these properties use the settings defined in the Diagram Style window on the Defaults > General page for the current block type.

Block Style Window Image Tab

The Image tab of the Block Style window allows you to specify the image that is displayed on the block, if any.

To change the image used, clear the Use Default Image check box. You can then click the Load button to browse for the desired image file. Use the Position drop-down list to specify how the image will be placed on the block. Selecting the Transparency Mask Color check box allows you to choose a color that will be shown as transparent when the image is displayed on the block.

Click the Clear button to remove the loaded image and use no image at all.