ER/Studio - Embarcadero Technologies Product Documentation

USING ER/STUDIO > COMMON TASKS
Changing the Relationship Notation for a Selected Model
1 Right-click the target model and then select Model Options.
2 In the Notation area, choose the desired notation and then click OK.
Manipulating Relationship Lines
Relationship lines represent relationships between entities or between attributes. You can customize the appearance
of any relationship line in any model, even when using auto layout. For example, if you use an Orthogonal layout,
where all relationships bend at a 90 degree angle, you can change any individual bend to an N bend or straighten the
relationship line.
You can also set the bend attributes of any relationship in a model. There are two kinds of bends in ER/Studio, N
bends and Orthogonal bends. N Bends are relationship lines that bend at any angle while Orthogonal bends only bend
at a 90 degree angle. Both Hierarchical and Orthogonal auto layouts use only Orthogonal relationship lines. All other
auto layouts use straight relationship lines. You can also create straight relationship lines that are vertical or horizontal.
When you use the auto layouts, ER/Studio organizes the data model objects according to the specifications of that
particular layout. Each layout has different specifications for the way relationships bend and how relationships dock or
intersect with entities and attributes. You can move the docking positions of relationship lines on parent or child
entities.
You can also change the color of all or individual relationships in the data model. You can specify a default relationship
color on the Options Editor - Application tab. Use the Colors and Fonts Editor to change all or an individual
relationship in your model.
NOTE: You can overwrite relationship defaults after applying an automatic layout by changing
relationship lines in a diagram or by changing the line disposition in a diagram.
TIP: You can use the Options Editor, Diagram and Object Display Options Editor, and the Format
Menu to change relationship disposition and colors. Use the Options Editor - Application tab to
make global changes to all your data models. Use the View Menu to make changes to the current
data model and the Format Menu to make changes to the selected objects. Changes made in the
Format Menu will override changes made first in the Options Editor.
This section is comprised of the following topics:
• Changing the Style of Relationship Lines
• Create an N Bend
• Straightening an N Bend
• Change the Disposition of Relationship Lines
Changing the Style of Relationship Lines
To make your diagram easier to read, you may want to change the style of relationship lines from elbowed to straight
or vice-versa.
NOTE: When changing from elbowed to straight relationship lines, ER/Studio repositions the docking
points to as close as possible to their original positions.
• To change the style of relationship lines in all new data models, click Tools > Options > Display and in the
Model Display area, select the Line Drawing Mode you want, either Elbowed Lines or Straight Lines.
Relationships in all new data models you create will now default to the Line Drawing Mode selected.
EMBARCADERO TECHNOLOGIES > ER/STUDIO® 8.0.3 USER GUIDE 98