Set padding for elements inside a boundary

[skngetich]

I would like to change the padding of the elements in a boundary. How can I do that?

[Potherca]

Hi! To make it easier to help, could you post a (simplified) diagram, so we have an example to work with?

[Potherca]

In the meantime, I've looked into this some more. Sadly, PlantUML does not offer an easy way to add spacing inside an element.

TL;DR (short version)

Use a dummy container inside the boundary as a workaround.

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> skinparam { rectangle<<DUMMY>> { borderColor transparent stereotypeFontSize 0 fontSize 0 } } Boundary(b, "Boundary") { rectangle padding <<DUMMY>> { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } } @enduml

Full details

I'll use this diagram as the basis for further examples:

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> Boundary(b, "Boundary") { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } @enduml

See full details

No skinparam "margin" or "padding"

Sadly, there is no skinparam for "margin" or "padding":

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> skinparam rectangle<<boundary>> { margin 100 100 100 100 padding 100 100 100 100 } Boundary(b, "Boundary") { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } @enduml

Skinparam nodesep and ranksep

There is skinparam nodesep and ranksep which can be used to increase the space between elements but not around them. That is to say: the space between an element and the boundary does not change.

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> skinparam nodesep 100 /' horizontal margin '/ skinparam ranksep 100 /' vertical margin '/ Boundary(b, "Boundary") { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } @enduml

Padding and Margin (new CSS-like style) not working

There are padding and margin instruction using the new CSS-like style, but they do not seem to be implemented for the elements used by C4. This could be a bug in PlantUML and might be worth reporting there.

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> <style> root { BackgroundColor #FFE Margin 100 Padding 100 } rectangle { Margin 100 Padding 100 } .boundary { Margin 100 Padding 100 } </style> Boundary(b, "Boundary") { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } @enduml

Workaround

What could work is a workaround, putting the elements in an invisible container. This does mean adding a container inside every boundary. Not ideal.

@startuml !include <C4/C4_Container> skinparam { rectangle<<DUMMY>> { borderColor transparent stereotypeFontSize 0 fontSize 0 } } Boundary(b, "Boundary") { rectangle padding <<DUMMY>> { Container(c, "Container") Person(p, "Person") System(s, "System") Boundary(b1, "Boundary") } } @enduml

[skngetich]

Thank you very much for the descriptive description. From your explanations, I have realized that the issue was the margin between the elements and not the padding. I sorted it out using nodesep and ranksep.

[Potherca]

Glad to be of help. Happy diagramming!