This lesson uses the chart you created in Part 1. To load that chart, go to File tab and click on Open, choose the file named OrgChart Tutorial 1 and click Open. The chart will appear in the Main Work area.
In the previous lesson, you learned how to make a 3D chart with components that were unique on the outside. Now it is time to learn how to make components that are unique on the inside.
The different areas inside a component are known as data fields. Data fields can hold many types of information including text, attachments and even images. In this exercise, we are going to customize the Name and Title data fields of our components.
Although there are many ways to do this, we will concentrate solely on using the Box Item menu (located by default on the lower left side of the screen, directly below the Chart Design Palette) to make our changes.
Quick Start: Box items
Important: the Box Item menu only becomes active when a component is selected. If no component is selected then it will appear empty with no data fields present.
Now that you are familiar with the basic principles of data fields, let’s move on to the step– by– step process of using the Box Item menu to customize the names and titles of each component.
Let’s start by naming the top box. To do this, click on the top component (the top one).
Notice that the Box Itemmenu is now active and is displaying the component’s data fields.
Quick Start: Data fields
To alter a data field, simply double click the field inside the Box Item menu (to make it editable) and type the new information into the (highlighted) area.
With the parent still selected, double click inside the Name field in the Box Item menu, type in the word “Parent” and hit the ENTER key.
Hitting ENTER applies the change to the on– screen component. It also highlights the next lower data field in the Box Itemmenu and makes it editable (in this example, the Title field).
- In the Title field, type in the word “OrgChart” (see above) and hit ENTER. The title will appear on– screen.
- Repeat Steps 2 & 3 for each subordinate component.
To do this, select the subordinate component on the left side and type “Child 1” into the Name field and “Subordinate”into the Title field.
Do the same with the other components, typing “Child 2” and “Child 3” into each respective Name field and “Subordinate” into the Title fields of both. Type in both the Name and Title fields for each subordinate component BEFORE moving on to the next.
Notice that OrgChart remembers the last entry entered into a field (regardless of component) and displays it, making re– typing the same information unnecessary.
When you are done, the chart should look like this:
To save this chart, go to the File tab and click on Save As, type in the name “OrgChart Tutorial 2” and click Save (also see Part 1, Steps 15 & 16).
Congratulations! You have now learned the basics of data fields and how to customize the names and titles for each component. The final tutorial in this section will show you how to add colors, titles, designs and more to give your chart a polished, professional look.