We are running beta tests of FlowChart.NET 4.1. The new version adds the following features:
*** Export diagrams to DXF format ***
(a feature of FlowChart.NET Pro edition)
The DxfExporter component lets you export diagrams to the AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Exchange Format). This format was developed by Autodesk to enable interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs - most CAD and graphics applications can open and edit DXF files.
*** Path finding improvements ***
- Now the PathFinder class can ignore the direction of arrows when looking for paths. i.e. it can treat the FlowChart.NET diagram as undirected graph.
- The PathFinder methods, which were static members in previous versions, are now instance members; that lets the path-finder cache graph information between method calls and achieve better performance when path and cycle -finding methods are called on the same diagram more than once. However, if the diagram structure changes, you must create a new PathFinder instance in order to use the new structure of the diagram graph.
*** Enhanced arrow interactivity ***
- Now users may change the orientation of cascading arrows whose CascadeOrientation is set to Auto. That can be done by dragging the control point next to the first or last one to its opposite corner in the rectangle defined by its two adjacent segments. Depending on the value of AllowSplitArrows, the arrow orientation is changed by either inserting a new segment and changing only the orientation of the first or last segment (AllowSplitArrows is true), or by changing the orientation of all segments of the arrow (AllowSplitArrows is false).
- New arrows are routed while users draw them if the WhileCreating flag is set in the TriggerRerouting property of RoutingOptions.
- The MergeThreshold property specifies how closely one to another users should move two control points of an arrow in order to merge segments of that arrow.
*** Shape definition improvements ***
The Image property of the ShapeTemplate class lets you associate an image with a shape definition. That image is displayed in all instances of that shape, unless the Image property of a box is explicitly set. Shape definitions also provide an ImageRectangle attribute which specifies where an image is displayed relatively to the bounding rectangle of a box.
*** Miscellaneous ***
- New initialization events have been added. They are raised when a user starts drawing an item; by handling them you can set up the appearance of the item before the user sees it on the screen. The new events are InitializeBox, InitializeTable, InitializeControlHost and InitializeArrow.
- Use RoundRectFactor to specify the size of the arcs displayed as corners of boxes or tables whose Style is set to RoundedRectangle.
- A new text style implemented for arrows; set the TextStyle of an arrow to Follow to make its text follow the path of the arrow segments.
- Use TextRendering to enable or disable smoothing of text rendered in the flowchart.
- TemplatePath property added to the VisioExporter component to let you specify the path to the template .vxt file.
- The HitTestHandle method lets you test whether there is an item’s selection handle lying at a specified location.
- The Anchoring property added to RoutingOptions lets you specify how the routing algorithm should handle nodes’ anchor points.
- The DrawStyledText method lets you draw formatted text inside custom-drawn items.
- A new PrintPreviewEx overload lets you use your own print preview form.
*** API changes ***
- PrpStartOrientation renamed to CascadeOrientation.
- PrpArrowStartOrnt renamed to ArrowCascadeOrientation.
- ArrowsSplittable renamed to AllowSplitArrows.
- Picture renamed to Image.
- PicturePos renamed to ImageAlign.
- CreateBmpFromChart renamed to CreateImage.
- FitSizeToPicture renamed to FitSizeToImage.
Download your copy here:
https://mindfusion.org/_beta/FCNetDemo.zip