You can enable the automatic geometry mode to facilitate predefined placement of operational activity and ICOM arrow symbols.
1 With an OV-5 diagram open and in focus, right-click the diagram workspace; then click Diagram Properties.
2 In the Diagram definition window, click the Drawing Control tab.
3 To enable automatic geometry, select Automatic Geometry.
4 You can adjust the positioning controls for Operational Activity symbols (or nodes) and ICOM arrow placement.
All values entered in the property boxes described below are in hundredths of an inch (so for example, 300 = 3 inches).
5 If you are turning on Automatic Geometry, note that you can adjust the positioning controls for Operational Activity symbols (or nodes) and ICOM arrow placement. All values entered in the property boxes described below are in hundredths of an inch (so for example, 300 = 3 inches).
Function Box Control
Vertical Node Spacing
Specifies the vertical distance between Operational Activity symbols, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 100.
Horizontal Node Spacing
Specifies the horizontal distance between Operational Activity symbols, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 200.
First Node Vertical Location
Specifies the distance between the first Operational Activity symbol on the diagram (upper left-hand corner) and the top of the drawing workspace, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 400.
First Node Horizontal Location
Specifies the distance between the first Operational Activity symbol on the diagram (upper left-hand corner) and the left margin of the drawing workspace, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 400.
ICOM Control
Vertical ICOM Spacing
Specifies the distance between ICOM arrows drawn into the left or right side of a Operational Activity, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 20.
Horizontal ICOM Spacing
Specifies the distance between ICOM arrows drawn into the top or bottom side of a Operational Activity, in hundredths of an inch. The default setting is 30.
Left Minimum Boundary
This setting enables you to set an invisible boundary that all ICOM arrows drawn into the left of a Operational Activity emanate from. The minimum boundary is the distance from the left-hand most Operational Activity symbol on the diagram, to the right-hand edge of names ICOM arrows drawn into Operational Activity symbols on the diagram (see example below). The default setting is 100.
In the example picture below, the ICOM arrows drawn into the left of the Operational Activity are unevenly lined up horizontally at first.
Applying a Left Minimum Boundary will lineup the flow lines.
Top Minimum Boundary
This setting enables you to set an invisible boundary that all ICOM arrows drawn into the top of a Operational Activity emanate from. The minimum boundary is the distance from the topmost Operational Activity symbol on the diagram, to the bottom of the lowest-placed name of ICOM arrows drawn into the tops of Operational Activity symbols (see example below). The default setting is 100.
In the example pictured below, ICOM arrows are drawn unevenly into the tops of three Operational Activities.
Note that ICOM arrows drawn into the top of Operational Activities are lined up, and at the same time staggered slightly, as shown below. This is normal and desired IDEF drawing behavior for lines drawn into the top of a Operational Activity.
Note that in the example above, the ICOM arrow names are drawn in staggered fashion (ICOM_Arrow_1 is slightly higher on the diagram than ICOM_Arrow_2, and so on) because these three Operational Activities are relatively close to one another. System Architect automatically staggers ICOM names as such when the Operational Activity symbols are within a certain distance of one another. If the Operational Activity symbols above were farther apart, the ICOM names would be positioned at the same height.
Right Minimum Boundary
This setting enables you to set an invisible boundary that all ICOM arrows drawn out of the right of a Operational Activity end at. The minimum boundary is the distance from the right side of the right-most Operational Activity symbol on the diagram, to the left edge of the name of ICOM arrows drawn out of Operational Activity symbols on the diagram. The default setting is 100.
Bottom Minimum Boundary
This setting enables you to set an invisible boundary that all ICOM arrows drawn into the bottom of a Operational Activity emanate from. The minimum boundary is the distance from the bottommost Operational Activity symbol on the diagram, to the top of the highest-placed name of ICOM arrows drawn into the bottoms of Operational Activity symbols on the diagram. The default setting is 100.
