# The Text Block

The purpose of the Text Block is to hold text. The basic activities associated with Text Blocks are creating, moving, resizing, and typing text. Within each Block's dialog you can exercise a variety of controls and options. We'll begin by looking at the activities. We'll end the section by looking at the controls and options in the Text Block dialog.

## Creating, Resizing & Typing Text in Text Blocks

Creating a Text Block: Creating a Text Block is easy, on either level of the software. Simply select the Text Block object from the palette. As you move the cursor onto the diagram, it will change to a Text Block icon. Click once to deposit the Text Block in the desired location. The top-left corner of the Text Block will be in the location of your click. When you release your click, the insertion point cursor will blink at you from the top-left corner of the Block, indicating that the Block is ready for you to begin typing.

Helpful Hint: If Sub-model spaces or Decision Process Diamond spaces are open on the Map/Model layer, you will encounter the Ø cursor after you select the Text Block from the palette. To deposit a Text Block on the main level, depress the control key (Windows) or command key (Macintosh). To deposit a Text Block within the Sub-model space, move the cursor just inside the left edge of the space. When the Text Block cursor appears, click to deposit the Block.

Frame (a) of Figure 6-78 shows a Text Block immediately after it has been deposited. Frame (b) shows a Block in its selected state.

Figure 6-78 Basic Activities with Text Blocks

Moving a Text Block: To move a Text Block to a new location, click-and-hold on the Block's border (the cursor will change from the Hand to an Arrow when you're in the right position). Then, drag the block to its new home.

Resizing a Text Block. To resize a Text Block, first select it by clicking along the border. Then click-and-drag on one of the four resizing handles, to make the Block larger or smaller as required.

Typing Text in Text Blocks: To type text within a text block, move the Hand cursor over the block until it changes to an I-beam. Then, click to deposit the cursor within the Block. Click, drag, and type as you would with a text processor.

## Text Block Dialog Operations

By double-clicking along the Text Block's border or by selecting the text block and choosing Open Selection from the Map/Model menu you'll gain access to the Text Block dialog. As shown in Figure 6-79, this dialog allows you to control the display of the text that appears on the surface of the Block.

Figure 6-79 Text Block Dialog

Export Text Note:
Marked text will also be included in the report generated by a button that has been assigned the Print Exports action.