Formatting Lines

You can format any line whether it is an auxiliary line, a free-floating object, or a connecting line between boxes in a chart.

An auxiliary line is a line that you can draw between any two boxes in your chart to indicate a reporting relationship between them.

You can also add a label to any line. See Adding Labels, below, for information.

To format connecting lines:

1        With your chart open, select one or more lines.

2        Click the Format tab and use the tools in the Line Properties section to format the selected lines:

·       Style specifies the line type (solid, dashed, or dotted).

·       Color specifies the line color.

·       Weight specifies the line thickness.

· Arrow specifies the arrow style. This option is only available if you have selected one or more arrows.

Adding Shadows to Lines

You can add drop shadows to any line.

1        With your chart open, select one or more lines.

2        Right-click any line and select Line Properties to open the Line Properties dialog box.

3        Click the Shadow tab.

4        Define the following:

·       Shadow Style: Select a shadow style.

·       Direction: Select a shadow direction (enabled only when a shadow is selected).

·       Shadow Color: Select a shadow color (enabled only when a shadow is selected).

·       Highlight Color: Select the shadow highlight color (enabled only for certain shadow styles).

·       Horizontal Offset and Vertical Offset: Select the horizontal and vertical depth of the shadow.

5        Click OK to update the selected boxes.

Formatting Auxiliary Lines

Auxiliary lines are formatted in the same way as regular connecting lines, as described above. However, you may want to determine whether the auxiliary lines are placed around or under existing boxes.

To determine auxiliary line placement:

1        Select one or more auxiliary lines.

2        Right-click one of the lines and select Line Properties.

3        Click the Options tab. This tab only appears when you have selected an auxiliary line.

4        Pick a line format, to determine whether auxiliary lines are placed around or under existing boxes. The custom option allows you to drag the auxiliary line to the desired position.

Adding Labels

You can add labels to lines of all types (auxiliary, reporting or free floating lines), to clarify relationships between employees.

To add a label to a line:

1        Select the line to which you want to add a label.

2        Click the Insert tab and select Label from the Illustrations & Text section. A small, empty label is added to the line.

3        Click to select the label , and type the information you want to appear in it.

4        Click outside the label to save.

To format a label:

1        Click to select the label you want to format. To select multiple labels on a chart, use ctrl-click, or click the Home tab and select Select | All Labels from the Editing section.

2        Click the Format tab and use the tools in the Box Properties section to format the label.

3       If you have chosen a label shape with a bounding shape, and want your text to be placed in the bounding box disregarding the interior box, right-click a label and select Properties to open the Free Floating Object Properties dialog box.

4       Click the Advanced tab and select Overlap Interior Lines.

5       Click OK to update the selected boxes.