.. index:: Collapse Instance Node

.. _Collapse_Instance_Node:

Collapse Instance Node
======================

The *Collapse Instance Node* function can be activated by clicking the left mouse button just outside an expanded :ref:`instance node<instance_node>`.  The active region surrounding an expanded instance node is indicated by the special cursor image shown in Figure 1.

.. figure:: images/CollapseInstanceNode.png

	Figure 1: The Collapse Instance Node Cursor that appears when the mouse cursor is located right outside an expanded instance node.

The Collapse Instance Node function collapses an instance node so that the :ref:`interface nodes<interface_node>` of the network instance that the instance node represents become hidden and the size of the instance node is reduced.  This is useful for making the display of a network less cluttered.  You can also :ref:`collapse all instance nodes<collapse_all_instance_nodes>` in one operation.

Please note that links to and from an instance node can only be selected when the node is expanded.

See also :ref:`Expand Instance Node<expand_instance_node>`.