Slice large diagram into specified number of output images

Visual Paradigm products support exporting diagram to various image file formats. Using or reading a very big image file is troublesome. In Visual Paradigm Suite 3.0, there is a new feature called Diagram Slicer for cutting a big diagram into a number image files in manageable size.

Slicing Strategies

There are three slicing strategies. They are Fixed Slice, Free Slicing and Fixed Ratio.
	Fixed Slice
	Fixed Slice is a simple strategy which slice exported diagram into pieces that have the same size. User specifies the number of columns and rows to slice and then the exported diagram will be sliced into specific pieces.
	Free Slicing
	User can customize how to slice the exported diagram by specifying the position of vertical slices and horizontal slices. It is particularly useful to prevent a shape from being sliced into pieces.
	Fixed Ratio
	Fixed Ratio strategy gain the benefit of Fixed Slice and Free Slicing. The width and height of pieces are the same but last row and column. User can also customize the width and height of sliced pieces. Like Free Slicing, Fixed Ratio is size oriented. User modifies the size of pieces and Diagram Slicer calculates the number of row and column to slice.

Overview

Diagram Slicer is an accessory of the Diagram Exporter. Let's begin by introducing a bit about the Diagram Exporter first. To open Diagram Exporter, select menu File > Export > Diagram as Image...
	Diagram Exporter Dialog
	1. Export details - The destination of output and the image export type (file format). Diagram Slicer is available for export type such as JPG, PNG with Background and PNG without Background. 2. Select diagrams to export 3. Export preview of the highlighted diagram - The Preview also shows slice information. The cyan lines shows how to slice the exported diagram. The slice details shows under the preview include the number of pieces to export and the total size of the exported diagram. 4. Export image options - The options that set to all export diagrams. Invoke Diagram Slicer for the highlighted diagram.
	Slice Diagram Dialog
	1. Control the number of rows and columns. 2. Control the scale of the exported diagram. There are three types of scale - Original, Size and Ratio. 3. Ruler - Shows the size of the diagram. When the slicing strategy Free Slicing is selected, a new row and column can be created by dragging a new one from the ruler. 4. Slice line - Lines that divide the diagram into pieces. The show the vertical and horizontal position that the diagram will be sliced at. When Free Slicing or Fixed Ratio is selected, the lines can be dragged and moved. 5. Index label - Shows the index of the pieces. This index will be printed on the exported file as well. (e.g. ClassDiagram_01_02.jpg) 6. Show the number of total pieces to export. Set to no slicing Set to Fixed Size Set to Free Slicing Set to Free Ratio Add a row Add a column Remove a row. When Free Slice is selected, the selected horizontal line will be removed. Remove a column. When Free Slice is selected, the selected vertical line will be removed. Magnify the preview of diagram. Diminish the preview of diagram. Re-size the preview to fit the visible area. Show actual size of diagram. It will be disabled if the diagram is too large. Control the visibility of index label

Controlling Exported Image size

Diagram Slicer not only slice diagram into pieces but also controls the total size of the exported diagrams. There are scale controls on the right of the toolbar from the Diagram Slicer dialog. By default, the type of scale is Original. And it shows the size of diagram.
	Control by Size
	To control the total size of the exported diagram by specific width and height, select Size from the Scale combo box, and then enter the width and height of the diagram.
	Let's type 1000 to Width, then the Height and the ruler will be updated automatically. The ruler shows the size of the diagram.
	Control by Ratio
	To control the total size of the exported diagram by specific ratio, select Ratio from the Scale combo box and enter the ratio in the field next to the combo box. The total size of the exported diagram shows next to that field.
	Let's input 50 to the percentage field. The total size and ruler will be updated automatically.

Clear Slicing

To clear the slicing of diagram, highlight the diagram on the Diagram Exporter. Next, show Diagram Slicer of the diagram. After that, click on the No Slicing button which is at the top left of the dialog.

Finally, click OK.

Export Image Options

These options will be applied to all export diagrams.
	Max. Size
	Apply the maximum size to all diagrams. After selecting the Max. Size check box. The Diagram Slicer button will be disabled, and the maximum size setting defined in the Diagram Slicer will be ignored.
	Before apply Max. Size The size of the selected diagram is 4349×9271 (50% Scaled)
	After apply Max. Size The size of the selected diagram becomes 235×500
	Slice Diagrams
	Apply slice diagram profile to all export diagrams. No matter the diagram has been set slice individually. After select the Slice Diagrams check box. The invoke Diagram Slicer button will disable.
	Before apply Slice Diagrams There are 20(4x5) pieces of the exported diagram.
	After apply Slice Diagrams There are 9(3x3) pieces of the exported diagram.

Samples

• Sample project
		slicediagramsample.zip (416 KB)
• Fixed Slice sample
		java_awt_fixedslice.zip
• Free Slice sample
		java_awt_freeslice.zip
• Fixed Ratio sample
		java_awt_fixedratio.zip

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