Add Arrows to Linking Lines

                             

 

From an open Cmap:

You can change the directional emphasis within propositions by using arrows. To change how arrows are used in propositions, begin by selecting the proposition(s), then select Styles... from the Format menu. (You may also modify the arrow behavior of specific lines by narrowing your selection to only those lines you want to change. The help section Change Colors explains different methods of selecting Cmap items, including linking lines.)


From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

The first concept that a proposition is created from is the root concept. To have the linking phrase(s) from the root concept point at all other connected concepts, click the button illustrated below under the heading Arrowheads.


Now when viewing the Cmap, selected linking lines will point from linking phrases to all other connected concepts except for the root.





From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

When using the top-down approach for building propositions, you may want arrows to point to all other connected concepts only when they are positioned vertically higher than the linking phrases they are connected to. To create these types of arrows, click the button illustrated below under Arrowheads.


Now when viewing the Cmap, selected linking lines will point only to non-root concepts that are vertically higher in relation to their connected linking phrases. Notice that the vertical position of the root concept does not change how arrows are placed using this arrow feature.





From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

You can have arrows pointing from root concepts to linking phrases, and from linking phrases to all other connected concepts. To create these types of arrows, click the button illustrated below under Arrowheads.


Now when viewing the Cmap, selected linking lines will be pointing from root concepts to linking phrases, and from linking phrases to all other connected concepts.





From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

You can assure that no arrowheads appear on your linking lines. To make linking lines with no arrowheads, click the button illustrated below under Arrowheads.


Now when viewing the Cmap, no arrows will appear on the linking lines you selected.





From an open Cmap:

The order in which concepts are created for propositions affects the direction that linking line arrows point. Propositions may not appear logical until the arrow direction is reversed. To reverse the direction that linking line arrows point, begin with a selection of these linking lines, then select Styles... from the Format menu. (You can also select Reverse Connection Direction from the Edit menu.)


The "Styles" window will open to the Line dialog. Click the Reverse button located under the Connection Direction heading to reverse the direction that arrows point.


Now when viewing the Cmap, selected propositions that were previously illogical (due to arrows pointing the wrong way) will now make more sense.





From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

You can modify linking lines to have bi-directional arrows. To make linking lines have bi-directional arrows, click the button illustrated below under Connection Direction.


Now when viewing the Cmap, arrowheads will appear on both ends of selected linking lines. (You can link concepts together without creating a linking phrase. Begin by holding down the shift key, then click and drag the arrows from the top of a concept. While still holding down the mouse button and the shift key, release the mouse first, followed by the shift key, above another concept you want to link to.)





From the "Styles" window, "Line" tab:

You can change selected bi-directional arrows back to pointing in only one direction. To create arrows that point in only one direction, click the button illustrated below under Connection Direction.


Now when viewing the Cmap, the linking lines you selected point in only one direction.