Executing Formatting Rules

As mentioned above, Formatting Rules can be executed from the Diagrams Rules toolbar. The important thing to be aware of is that Formatting Rules are applied in sequence and if one of them is specifying the same property, for example, colour than the previous rule, then the previous value will be overwritten. It could be used to define a sequence of rules going from very general criteria to more specified conditions, but it is important to keep an appropriate rules order.

There are also additional options on the toolbar to configure execution of Formatting Rules.

Note:
It is required to enable Apply on Events to be able to do a manual Refresh of Drawing.

To turn on automatic executing, select the Apply on Events button. When this is checked the active rules with the Apply rule automatically on events option set are executed after different kinds of events. The events can be determined in Diagrams Options.

Specifying Events that Trigger Executing Formatting Rules

If the Zoom to option is on, then the zoom of the current page is adjusted to show all changed shapes.

After the rules are executed and the appropriate formats are applied, it is possible to restore the original format from the shapes in the current selection using the Reverse button: . If no shapes are selected on the drawing, then the format is restored for all shapes.

Another option that can be set in Diagrams Options is the Message level. It specifies how detailed messages will appear in the Message Log during applying auto formatting rules. The setting can have the following values:

• Summary message - only messages on starting and finishing applying auto formatting rules are displayed in the Message Log.

• Message per rule - apart from start and finish message, one message per applied rule is added with information of the number of shapes the rule has been applied to.

• Message per shape - apart from start and finish message, one message for each shape with changed format is added to the Message Log.

• Message per applied format - information about each applied format is added to the Message Log as well as start and finish applying rules messages.