Chart Components: Introduction

Components are the building blocks of a chart. Movable, scalable, linkable and able to contain vast amounts of information, they are the most basic and important element of any project. Components are found in the Components area of the Chart Design Palette.

People (components) can only be applied through the graphics interface. You cannot add people through the Data Outline view.

Components: Opening

1. Make certain the Chart Design Palette is visible (see Chapter 1: How to hide and reveal toolbars).
2. Place the mouse cursor over the Components bar and Left click the button.

Components: 10 Types

• Single element components (only one element appears when the component is dragged on the screen):
• Position – the third largest default sized component. This size is the default scale for most of the other components.
• Assistant – a unique component designed to be attached and arranged to a Parent. It creates its own space on the main connector and acts inde­pendently of any other subordinate components which may be attached.
• Multiple element components (several components appear as a group when the component is dragged on the screen):
• Multiple – launches the Multiple Shapes menu. From there, the number of components and their styles are chosen before being placed on the chart.
• 3 Positions – places three standard  sized components on the chart. If this is attached as a subordinate, then the three components will be linked when they appear.
• Team Frame – a scalable area with an editable title that can “frame” other components
• Staff – a component with an invisible border so only its text informa­tion appears on screen. To make a staff visible either: 1) go to the Chart Design Palette, grab a Shape and drop it on the staff, or 2) Right-click the staff and on the pop– up menu go to Format > Shape Style.
• Text Block – a component designed for text entry.
• Dynamic Connector – a configurable connector used to join other com­ponents together.
• Image – a combined image browser and image editor perfect for finding, modifying and placing graphics onto a chart. It is also perfect for posi­tioning logos (and the like) on multiple chart pages simultaneously by placing them on a chart in Master Page View.