View Modes
There are two view modes available in yEd. The
Edit Mode
and the Navigation Mode.
Either of these modes can be
activated from the tool bar and the menu bar.
When yEd starts up it is in Edit Mode by default.
Edit Mode
This mode allows for creating and/or to manipulating a graph that is
shown in the view.
The following actions can be performed by using the mouse or the keyboard:
- Create a new Node
- Click with the left
mouse button on an unoccupied location in the view.
A new default node will appear at that spot.
- Selecting and deselecting nodes
- Click on a node to
select it. A selected node will have a different appearance
than an unselected one.
Click on any view location not occupied by a node to deselect
all nodes.
By left dragging the mouse starting from an unoccupied view
location a selection box will open up. By dragging the mouse
around one can change the bounds of the box. Releasing the
mouse button will select all nodes that lie within the
selection box. All objects outside the box will be deselected.
Opening up a selection box with the SHIFT key held down
adds the selection box nodes to the set of
previously selected nodes.
- Create a new Edge
- Start left dragging the mouse
from an unselected start node. Then release the mouse button
over an end node.
If the mouse is not released over a node, a control point
(also called bend) for the new edge will be inserted at that
release location. More bends can be created by clicking
with the left mouse button on an unoccupied location.
By left clicking on an end node the edge with additional
bends will be created.
By clicking the right mouse button the edge
or bend creation will be cancelled. Alternatively, use the ESCAPE
key to cancel edge creation.
- Selecting edges
- Select an edge by left clicking on
it. Selecting more than one edge requires two steps.
First select one edge as described above. Then open up the
selection box with the SHIFT key held down to add more edges
to the selection.
To select all edges first seelct one edge then trigger the select
all action by hittinh Ctrl-A
- Moving nodes
- Select the nodes that you want to move
around. Then press the left mouse button over one of
the selected nodes and start dragging the mouse.
The selected nodes will now move together with the mouse cursor.
The nodes will stop moving when the mouse button is released.
- Creating Bends
- Start left dragging the mouse on an
edge. This will insert a new bend on that edge at the pressed
location and moves the bend along with the mouse cursor.
- Selecting and deselecting bends
- Bends are selected
the same way as nodes. Either click on a bend or select them
by opening up a selection box with or without the SHIFT key
held down.
To deselect all bends click on an unoccupied location in the view.
- Moving Bends
- First select the bends that you want to
move. Then start left dragging the mouse on one of the selected
bends. This will move all selected bends along with the
mouse cursor. Releasing the mouse button again stops moving
bends.
- Context Sensitive Menus
- Click the right mouse
button to bring up a context sensitive menu for elements in
the view. The context is determined by the selection state of
the elements and the location where you click the mouse.
If you right click on a specific object a context menu
for that object pops up. If more than one object is
selected then the context menu refers to the selection
as a whole if you activate it by right clicking on an
unoccupied view location. Otherwise the context menu
will be specific for the element that you have clicked on.
- Deleting Elements
- Select the elements you want to
delete. Then press the DELETE key or open the context sensitive
menu with a right mouse click and then select [Delete].
- Creating Edge Labels
-
Activate the context sensitive menu for the edge that needs
a new label. Select from that menu [Add Label].
This will add the label at a default location with a dummy
text.
- Editing Label Text
-
The label editor can be activated via the context sensitive menu.
To edit a node label right click on the node to bring up the
menu. To edit an edge label right click on that label to
bring up the menu. From the context sensitive menu choose
[Edit Label]. Alternatively, press F2 to edit the label
of a selected item.
An inlined text editor will appear at the label
position that allows you to enter another text.
To close the label editor either click on a view location
outside of the text editor bounds or hit ENTER. To
add a new line to the label text use Ctrl-ENTER.
- Moving labels
-
A label can be moved to another position by pressing
the left mouse button on it and then by dragging the label around.
While dragging so called label candidate boxes will appear. These boxes
mark the positions that are available for the label. The set of
available label positions depends on the label model that is associated
which the label.
When the mouse button gets released,
the label will automatically snap to the closest available
label position.
Note that it is not possible to move internal node labels. If
you want to move them select another model for
that label first.
- Moving Edge Ports
-
An Edge port is the logical end point of a visual edge
path. The ports of an edge are highlighted as little black
squares whenever the edge is selected.
A Port of a selected edge can be moved to another position by pressing
the left mouse button over it and then by dragging the port around.
While dragging ports candidate boxes will appear. These boxes
mark the positions that are available for the port.
The action is terminated when the mouse is released.
The port will then automatically snap to the closest available
port position.
- Working With Grouped Nodes
-
See the Section on Grouping
Navigation Mode
This mode allows for navigating more conveniently through the
diagram being displayed. It does not allow editing of the graph.
- Moving the View Port
-
The current view port (visible diagram area) of the view
can be changed by left dragging the mouse around.
The view port will follow the mouse.
- Context Sensitive Menus
-
Same as in Edit Mode. Activated by
a right mouse click.