Getting Started

7 • ARENA VISUAL DESIGNER
When an object is selected that does not have associated properties, the properties
window displays the message: “No properties associated with this object.”
Individual dashboard windows, controls (e.g., plots, levels), and the project itself are
examples of objects that have properties associated with them that can be customized.
An undefined container is an example of an object that does not have any properties
associated with it.
SCENE PROPERTIES
Select Scene Layout in the Editor Explorer or Scene in the Project Explorer for their
properties to become visible in the Properties window. Use the Scene Properties to
adjust the background color or add a user-defined texture such as clouds in the sky or
a sunset view. These properties also allow such changes as grid sizing, display
measurement and lighting.
Characteristics of the objects in the scene (e.g. resources, queues, etc.) can be
customized by altering the properties that are associated with the selected objects.
Toolbox
The Toolbox is a context-sensitive tool window that provides a listing of objects and
controls used for inserting objects into the current active editor window (either a
Dashboard, the Scene, the Views Config, or a Style Class).
If there is no editor window open and active for a project, this window displays the
message “There are no suitable items available.”
DASHBOARD CONTROLS
When a dashboard is the active editor, two categories of tools are shown: Dashboard
and Containers, each with a sub-list of available controls.
An existing control may be redefined as another control type. After a control has been
placed in a container and its properties defined, the control type can be changed by
dragging and dropping a new control over the existing one. Visual Designer will then
attempt to inherit all properties from the old control type into the new control type. To
place a new control without inheriting any of the defined properties, press the Shift
key while dragging and dropping the new control on top of the existing one. This
action is equivalent to deleting the old control and placing a new one. Refer to
“Dashboard Controls” in the online help for examples.
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