Editing Visualizations

Visualizations define how elements that instantiate types are to be depicted in the system view. Many attributes of a visualization can be set. Each visualization has a set of standard depictions, which include options about the shape and color, the labels associated with the figure, in addition to variations of the style. In addition, each visualization has a set of type-specific options that allow visualization options to be set depending on whether the type is a component, connector, port, or role type. Visualizations can be defined or edited by double-clicking on the row in the style editor.


 

Shape Options.

The shape option of allows the definition of properties to do with the drawing of the type. There are numerous stock shapes that can be chosen. Furthermore, the rotation of the shape can be chosen, as well as whether the shape should be replicated. Replicating a shape provides a good way of depicting whether an element is meant to depict multiple elements in the architecture.

The properties of the shape, including the colors to be used, the style of the outline of the shape, its width and gradients can also be chosen.

The default size of the shape can also be set, as well as whether the user is allowed to resize the width and height of the shape in a diagram.

Furthermore, an image can be chosen to be drawn for the figure. This image will be centered in the figure. Furthermore, images will be saved along with the visualization, which allows easy saving and exporting of visualizations.

Decorations can be chosen to decorate the figure. The grid in this dialog depicts a grid showing nine possible decoration sites for a figure. Decorations may be either images or text.

 

Label Options.

The label options define the content, location, and style of labels appearing on figures. The font, color, and alignment in the figure of the label can be selected.

The source of the label can be chosen from the list on the right. No label indicates that nothing should be displayed; Static label indicates a label that will always appear with the figure; Acme identifier means that the Acme name will appear as the label; Acme type indicates that the type name only will appear; Acme identifier and type means that the label will contain both the Acme identifier and Acme type name; Acme property value means that the value of the chosen property will be use as the source for the label.

Defining variants.

 

Variants are alterations to the visualization that occur when a condition is met. All aspects of the visualization can be modified. The variant must be given a name and condition under which it applies. When defining or changing a variant, a new visualization dialog will appear. It will have an extra tab for defining the name and condition of the variant.

 

Component options.

When a visualization is being defined for a component type, the layout of the ports that it contains can be defined, in addition to which ports can be added to the type. A port can be aligned to either side of the component, either centering, right-, or left-aligning the ports of particular types along the sides.

Defining allowable ports also generates an Armani constraint for the type which checks that each port is one of the port types chosen.

Connector options.

The options for the layout of roles in connectors can also be defined for connector type visualizations. In addition to defining the role types that are allowed, the depiction of the role can also be defined. In AcmeStudio the role is depicted as a line with a shape on the end. The shape of the role is defined in the role type visualization, whereas the route of the line is defined in the connector type visualization. A line can either be straight, a vertical or horizontal bus, or an elbow connector. A vertical bus means that lines will be orthogonal to a line that runs vertically through the connector; a horizontal bus is similar. An elbow connector means that AcmeStudio will choose the orthogonality of the role based on its position from the connector.

 

Port options.

The options for ports define how the shape for the port is affected by its position in a parent component and its attachment. A port may be rotated around the component center, either rotated to point in to or out of the component. Furthermore, when a port is attached, it can be rotated to align with the role to which it is attached. This alignment overrides other alignments.

Role options.

A role can be aligned to point away from in toward its parent connector.