Specifying predefined attributes to manage root and end schematic feature nodes

Some of the predefined schematic layout algorithms provided with Schematics work from root and end nodes when such schematic nodes are specified. For example, the Hierarchical - Main Line Tree layout algorithm is able to work with those nodes so the resulting hierarchical layout starts from a specified root node and ends on a specified end node. To specify those particular nodes, you can start an edit session on your schematic diagram and use the Set Schematic Root and Set Schematic End tools. There are also two predefined attributes that can be configured on node schematic feature classes to automatically specify such nodes—RootFlag and EndFlag.

• The RootFlag predefined attribute is expected to return -1 or any other value different from NULL, EMPTY, or 0 for each schematic node you want to be considered as a root.
• The EndFlag predefined attribute is the one to use to specify end nodes. When it returns NULL, EMPTY, or 0, the related schematic node will be not considered as an end node. For -1 or any other value, the node will be considered as an end schematic feature node.

These predefined attributes can be configured instead of manually specifying these root and end schematic feature nodes, but nothing prevents you from configuring such attributes and also specifying other root and end nodes using the Set Schematic Root and Set Schematic End tools after starting an edit session on diagrams. All the end and root nodes—those configured through the predefined attributes and those specified manually—will be taken into account. These node particulars are saved in the schematic dataset when saving the diagrams' edits.