Using Rendering Properties on Objects

Developing with the SDK > Using and Adding Renderers > Using Renderers in the Style Sheet > Using Rendering Properties on Objects

Using Rendering Properties on Objects

INDEX

PREVIOUS NEXT

In addition to the general rules for renderers, you can write specific rules to customize the behavior of a renderer on a per-object basis through rendering properties. Rendering properties can be seen as additional properties of the graphic objects which you can set to tell a renderer how it should handle a particular object.

For example, the GraphLayout renderer defines a rendering property called Fixed. When this property is set to true, the GraphLayout renderer will keep the position of the object unchanged. Code Sample 4.5 shows a style rule that sets the Fixed property.

node.participant {
   shapeType   : "Ellipse";
   Fixed : "true";	
}

Code Sample 4.5 Customizing the Layout of a Type of Node

This rule says that the nodes of type participant must not be moved when a graph layout is applied. As you can see, you can mix "real" properties of graphic objects (such as shapeType) with rendering properties (such as Fixed).

Important

By convention, most rendering properties start with an uppercase letter, whereas the properties of graphic objects start with a lowercase letter.

The following predefined renderers do not have rendering properties:

Coloring
Decoration
LabelLayout
Legend

If a rendering property conflicts with a graphic object property (which should generally not happen), you can use the pseudo-class construct to restrict a rule to a specified renderer. As an example, suppose you have written a custom graphic object which also has a property called Fixed. Code Sample 4.6 shows a style rule which specifies that the property is to be set only in the renderer (not in the custom graphic object).

node.participant:renderer {
   Fixed : "true";	
}

Code Sample 4.6 Setting a Renderer Property for a Graphic Object

The pseudo-class renderer is interpreted as the renderer which has the property called Fixed.

The pseudo-class specification can also be the name of the renderer with an initial lowercase letter, for example, graphLayoutRenderer.

PREVIOUS NEXT