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Working with Networks
Hover test appears when the cursor is placed over any object or link on the network. The hover text can be set to display
a variety of parameters associated with object or link based on settings defined by the user in hover text properties, see
“Hover Text” on page 3-12.
Note: The Network Diagram window has its own View pull-down menu at the top, which is
not to be confused with the View option at the top of the entire Sinaps workspace. The
workspace View option applies to all of Sinaps, whereas the Network Diagram View option
applies only to the network.
4.1.1 Creating Comments and Drawing Objects
To help organize the network, Sinaps provides a variety of tools such as layers, collections, comments, and drawing
tools. Comments and “drawing objects” are found on the General panel of the Tool Pallet.
Comments may be place on the diagram at the user’s discretion to provide object identification or applicable notes.
Once a comment is placed on the drawing field, clicking on the comment frame will select the comment for moving,
deleting, etc. Clicking in the comment text area will activate the comment text editor.
Drawing objects (arrows, lines, boxes, circles) are visual comments: they are not related to modeling objects since their
presence or absence does not affect model results. They can be used to explain or document a diagram. Drawing objects
can be resized, moved, and deleted.
Drawing objects can be edited through the object properties dialog to change the color and pen width. Line and arrows,
can also be edited for their end point appearance. To edit a drawing object, open the object properties dialog (main
menu View>Properties) and then select the object in the network diagram. The object properties panel will be refreshed
with information on the object to be edited.
Tip: Any time the cursor is clicked in the open space of a network diagram, the last object
selected in the Tool Pallet or a toolbar will be generated. This functionality is intended as
an aid in rapid model building, but it can lead to the generation of unwanted objects and
links. To disable this feature, choose the selection arrow at the top of the General, Node,
or Lump panels of the Tool Pallet.
4.2 Creating and Managing Layers
Layers allow the user to turn on and off the visibility of portions of the network. The network objects may be assigned
to any number of named superimposable layers, and the visibility of each layer may be toggled on and off as needed,
whether on the screen or as printed. When a layer is inactive, not only are its members invisible, but other objects may
occupy that now-empty space when using various automatic layout tools.
Layers may be collected into layer sets for even higher level manipulations.
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Sinaps User’s Manual, C&R Technologies, Inc.