Formatting a Tree

Formatting choices can be applied to either the whole tree, a subtree or in some cases an individual node of a tree. The default format can also be set, which will be applied to all new trees created in the project. The format chosen for a tree will be saved and reapplied when the project is closed and reopened.

The operations to format a tree can be found under the Format menu and include setting the font, setting the tree layout, setting the branch style and highlighting nodes.

Setting the Font

The font that is used for displaying trees can be set by choosing Format|Font. This will open a font dialog where the user can choose the name, size and style of font. The style options available include bold, italic, border, underline, overbar and strikethrough. The font name, size, and the bold, italic and strikethrough options can also be chosen from the toolbar. The font displayed in the dialog and toolbar will be the font applied to the active tree or the selected subtree/node of the active tree.

Font Dialog

Font Tolbar

The font can only be changed if there is an active tree on the desktop. If either the whole tree is selected or no nodes are selected then the font changes will be applied to the whole tree. If a subtree or an individual node is selected then the font changes will be applied to the selected subtree or individual node.

By selecting default, the user can make the chosen font the default for all new trees.

Setting the Tree Layout

The layout of a tree can be adjusted by choosing Format|Layout. This will open the Layout dialog where the user can set various options. The layout will be applied to the whole tree or to a particular subtree if one is selected.

Tree Format

The Terminating Layout option will determine whether the terminating words are all aligned along the bottom of the tree or are located an equal distance from their dominating node.

The Display Terminating Branch options will determine whether a line is drawn between words and phrases and their dominating nodes.

The Branch Style option will determine the location of the daughter nodes in relation to the mother node.

The Branch Span will determine the width of the branches.

The Branch Height will determine the distance between a dominating node and its daughter.

The Gap will determine the space between a branch and the node it connects to.

Antialiasing produces smoother edges in a drawing by partially filling in the edge pixels.

Changes within the dialog are automatically applied to the active tree. Clicking Cancel will revert the tree to the layout in affect before the dialog was opened.

By selecting default, the user can make the chosen layout the default for all new trees.

Setting the Branch Format

The branches and arrows of a tree can be modified by choosing Format|Branch / Arrow. This will open the Branch / Arrow dialog where the user can choose the style, width and color of a branch and/or arrow.

Branch Format

The apply to drop down allows the user to choose which branches and/or arrows to apply the changes to. If no nodes are selected the only available option will be Tree and the changes will be applied to all the branches and arrows in the tree. If a subtree is selected then Subtree will also be an option and, if chosen, the changes will apply to all the dominating branches and movement arrows of that subtree. If an individual node is selected then Dominating Branch will also be an option and, if chosen, the changes will apply to the dominating branch of that node. If the selected subtree or selected node has a movement originating from it, then Movement Arrow will also be an option and, if chosen, the changes will apply to that arrow.

By selecting default, the user can make the chosen branch format the default for all new trees.

Higlighting Nodes

The nodes of a tree can be highlighted by choosing Format|Highlight. This will display a color chooser menu from which the highlighting color can be chosen. The highlighting color will be applied to the selected nodes of the tree by drawing a box around the node in the chosen color. The label of the node will be drawn in the inverse color of the highlight.

Tree Format

Highlighting can be removed by selecting the highlighted node and choosing none from the color chooser menu.

Note: to distinguish highlighted nodes that are selected, selecting a highlighted node will cause the colors of the box and the label to be reversed.