Other functions: Configuring pgDesigner

The settings general pgDesigner are enclosed in a separate window, accessible via the main menu. Through this window, you can change both the look and feel of open and projects, both default parameters for new projects.

The window consists of a series of folders containing the general settings and current pgDesigner, observed by the general configuration file, which will be discussed in later chapters.

As you can see in the figure below, in the Miscellaneous folder, there are a variety of settings, defining both the overall look and feel of pgDesigner, the conditioning of some features of the background, or to configure the default values for new projects.

- Check the "Toolbar" lets you hide the panel under the menu;
- Check "Status Panel" allows you to hide the lower panel in the main window;
- Check the "Panel tools" lets you hide the panel of instruments on the left side of the main window;
- Check "Tooltip" enables the display of descriptions that appear when you mouse over an object (eg a button);
- The combo "Panel projects" determines the position of tabs panel projects;
- "AutoSave" is used to be a procedure in the background, which performs automatic saving projects changed. The value contained in this field determines the period of time between a rescue and the next, the value is configurable with steps of 5 minutes, a value of zero disables functionality;
- The value contained in the "elements in the list" determines the maximum number of historical items stored in the configuration file, and used to populate the menu Recent under the main menu, which is used to direct the opening of a project on this disc;
- Check the "Limits page" feature enables the design of dividing lines, or limits, page within the diagram, in order to see how the graph could be divided into being printed. These limits are designed in the form of dotted lines of light gray, in order not to interfere with visual objects contained in the diagram; coordinates and size of the resulting areas are determined based on the current print settings, and the corresponding size and the orientation of the paper print.
- The "file extension project" defines the default extension for the rescue of new projects; this value is purely indicative and subject to constant change, being influenced by loading procedures and rescue projects;
- The combo "PostgreSQL" determines the default database driver, the setting is used as a default for new projects, but has to bear in mind that could affect the loading of projects from sql files, which do not provide precise identity database destination;
- Check the "Panel list items" affects visibility panel located to the right of the diagram of a project, the condition is not essential, since the size of this panel to complete discretion, even when using the application.

In the next folder, the second from the left, contains some settings that affect the visibility of objects inside of the projects. Specifically:

- For tables you can hide the details, or the list of fields contained in the same table, or decide whether or not to display the only key primary, or even simply view the type of each field; Not all combinations are possible, in fact if you choose not generally see the details of the fields in your table, you can not select the check only key fields. Check also affects the display of other items, for example for the relations we can see whether or not the names of objects (in the form of labels placed at the center of each line), or for procedures display or hide parameters entry and exit;
- Check the contents in the "Objects" allow you to hide certain types of object, with the exception of tables and relations in the absence of which the plot would be meaningless;
- In "Relations" there are some settings to the type of display you want to configure only for relations; check "Labels" lets you hide the labels with the names of relations on the diagram, while "Type line" and " Type hook "you can determine how they are drawn lines relation. If the "Type line" is set to "direct", the line follows a direct line from the table of origin to the destination table, but if it is set to "Segment" line is presented as a series of horizontal and vertical segments perpendicular . If "type hook" to be imposed on "Table", the line will start from the bottom of the table of origin and ending on top of the table location, but if it is set to "Field", the line starts from the right side at the first field used in the report in the establishment of origin and ending on the left side at the first field used in the report of the destination table.

In the third folder, the file "Colors", there are three other folders in which you can define the colors of individual types of objects designed in the diagram. It should be borne in mind, and will be described later in later chapters, which pgDesigner inside defines three classes of objects, according to the approach and graphics from which it is put into the project generally objects (tables , etc..), relations, and texts; for the zones (an object purely chart), the color settings are included in the same customized and individually.

Each color folder contains within it a list of descriptions, references to many aspects graphics for the type of object that is gearing treating every reference to the right on a button, the color of which reflects the current setting of the property described. On the right of the window is a panel which, according to the type of object that is gearing setting, graphically shows an example of how this will be displayed in the diagram. To change a color simply press the button corresponding to the property to be amended, so as to open a dialog box, where you can define the new color, including through the establishment of RGB values. The amendment, once confirmed, will be shown in the example. At the end of configuration, and save the new settings will be presented with a confirmation message, which will be possible to determine whether the new approach will be applied to all projects open on only active project, or simply stored for the next new projects. It is considered that if the changes are confirmed and applied to the projects, they write above all customizations made on individual items, and will be saved with the project, otherwise any customization performed on individual objects, loading a project, they take precedence over the default settings.

In Folder "Objects" are the settings of color for all items, except relations, areas, and text. Apart from these particular groups of objects, everything else is graphically as a window: a title (the name of the object) in a rectangle similar to the title of a window on the desktop, and a light gray, contains details of the object (in the case of a table, the list of fields ...).

In the second folder "Colors", there are the color settings for the objects of type relation. Objects of type relation occur in the form of lines, whose continuity is conditioned by the type of relationship (mandatory, not mandatory, etc.) Between tables. The point of attack with the source table (Table father) is defined with a small square of full color, while the point of attack on the destination table (Table daughter) is designed as a bit of arrow always full of color; in exactly half this line is also a small rectangle full color, and if I check "Label" is enabled, next to it the name of the report. The color settings for both the points attache that the same line.

The last folder "Texts" can define colors of the objects of type text. As you can see from the figure, these objects are simple text charts contained in a small area of size-dependent text. In subsequent chapters this type of object will be described in more detail.