Problems with line formatting

[Documenter]

I am trying to change the format of some Relationship connector lines in an
ERD I've created (Database Model Diagram template). All the connector lines
are solid, but I want some to be dotted or dashed to show that those
relationships are contingent on other variables. I've tried the obvious way
of doing this (right click connector line | Format | Line | change Pattern to
dotted | Apply), but it will not change the line (it remains solid). Does
anyone know why? Thanks!

 

[Dan]

Right click on the relationship line and select Non-Identifying.

 

[Documenter]

Hi Dan,

That option does not appear when I right click the relationship line. It
DOES appear in the Database Properties box that displays at the bottom of the
screen, however. The problem is, all the relationship lines are already
Non-identifying by default.

 

[Dan]

You must be using a different version of Visio. In the EA version I have to
right click the relationship, Format, Style and set the Line Style to None.
Then you can use the Format Line to change the look.

 

[Documenter]

One more question while I've got the attention of an expert: How do I display
the text of the relationships on the ERD itself, so that it shows not only
the relationship line, but also the labels for the fields that are related?

 

[Documenter]

I have 2003 Pro. Your most recent instructions work in my version as well,
but your previous instructions don't. So, that fixes that problem. Thanks! Is
there a way to add the relationship text labels to each relationship line?

 

[Dan]

On the Menu bar - Database, Options, Document - Relationship Tab, Show
physical name.
This will show the relationship name, you can change the name to include the
fields involved in the relationship.
To change the relationship name, click on the relationship, in the database
properties select category Name, Change the physical name. Be sure to use _
instead of a blank space.

 

[Documenter]

Thanks!

On the Menu bar - Database, Options, Document - Relationship Tab, Show
physical name.
This will show the relationship name, you can change the name to include the
fields involved in the relationship.
To change the relationship name, click on the relationship, in the database
properties select category Name, Change the physical name. Be sure to use _
instead of a blank space.

 

[Jeremy]

So you need to change them all one-by-one? Since this is reverse engineering
from a db, the names are already defined. That's a lot of relationship names
to manually change, and it'll have to be done in each diagram since I can't
really change the db's actual fkey names.

Thoughts?