Enterprise Architect Tips & Tricks Compilation - 1 Sparx Systems India In this article we have complied all the tips and tricks which we discovered from our day to day usage of Enterprise Architect. In this article we have used Enterprise Architect 14 for reference and screenshots. This article contains 100 most essential tips and tricks for Enterprise Architect practitioners.
Tip #1: Highlight Connectors To highlight the connectors, select an element in a diagram (workspace) and press "L" (keyboard) to highlight its incoming and outgoing flows. Incoming flows will be highlighted in Red and Outgoing in Green. Tip #2: Insert Existing Element Figure 1 Highlight Connectors Draw connector to an existing model Element. One can insert an existing model element and establish a relationship while drawing a new connector Follow usual steps to draw a connector, but press "Shift" before choosing the type of element to be created, this will invoke the "Select Existing Element" dialog to choose a model element instead of creating a new element. Figure 2 Insert Existing Element Sparx Systems India Page 1
Tip #3: Bend Connectors Press "Shift" introduces a bend point while drawing a connector, enabling to draw a custom style connector. Tip #4: Generate Report from Diagram Figure 3 Bend Connectors Generate a report on elements in a diagram, switch to "List View"(Right-click on Diagram and select open in diagram List View), select the elements and use the "Rich Text Report" button. Figure 4 Generate Report from Diagram Sparx Systems India Page 2
Tip #5: Bookmark Elements Select Element(s) and use Shift + Space to add bookmark. Bookmarked elements can then be retrieved in Model Search (Ctrl + F Diagram Searches Find Bookmarked Elements) and also be generated as RTF report. Tip #6: Set Default Toolbox Figure 5 Bookmark Elements Pin your favorite toolboxes using More Tools -> Set Toolbox Visibility. This enables the desired toolbox visible in all diagram pages. Figure 6 Set Default Toolbox Sparx Systems India Page 3
Tip #7: Bezier Style Connector Create a Bezier Style Connector by adding a tagged value (_Bezier = 1). Figure 7 Bezier Style Connector Tip #8: Document with Pre-defined settings Creating a resource document lets you to Auto Generate documents with pre-defined settings. Figure 8 Document with Pre-defined settings Sparx Systems India Page 4
Tip #9: Update Elements Status Update the status of all elements in a package and its child packages using " Design Edit Advanced Update Status". Figure 9 Update Elements Status Tip #10: Favorites Folder Create a favorites folder in the "Model Views" to quickly access your frequently used items. Figure 10 Favorites Folder Sparx Systems India Page 5
Tip #11: Diagrams Slideshow Create a Slideshow folder in the "Model Views" to run screen-based presentations of a set of diagrams. Figure 11 Diagrams Slideshow Sparx Systems India Page 6
Tip #12: Move elements along its axis Select element and press "Shift" to move the element along its axis. Tip #13: Create Realization Relationship Figure 12 Move elements along its axis Move an internal requirement (Element Properties Window Requirements Tab) over any diagram element to implicitly create a realization relationship. Figure 13 Create Realization Relationship Sparx Systems India Page 7
Tip #14: Change Element Type Change type of an element. Select an element Design Element Change Type. Figure 14 Change Element Type Sparx Systems India Page 8
Tip #15: Project Template Package Add elements to a Package and configure it as Template package (Configure Project Template Package Select the Template Package) to create new elements based on a template package. Figure 15 Project Template Package Sparx Systems India Page 9
Tip #16: Project Publish Use Publish Technologies Publish to export a model in various XML formats. Tip #17: Filter Element Type on Diagram Figure 16 Project Publish Use Layout Edit Select Elements by Type to filter element by type and stereotype on a diagram. Figure 17 Filter Element Type on Diagram Sparx Systems India Page 10
Tip #18: Auto Names and Counters Use "Auto Names and Counters" from Settings menu, to configure naming and numbering convention for elements. Tip #19: Show / Hide connectors Figure 18 Auto Names and Counters "Links" tab in Element Properties window can be used to Show / Hide a relationship in the diagrams. Figure 19 Show / Hide connectors Sparx Systems India Page 11
Tip #20: Export Diagrams to RTF Document Generate a Diagrams Only report from Model using the "Export Diagrams to RTF Document" dialog (Ctrl + Shift + F8). Figure 20 Export Diagrams to RTF Document Tip #21: Stereotyped Nodes with Icons Adorn your deployment diagrams with pre-defined stereotypes for Nodes. Use pc, pc client, pc server, server, storage, etc. to add custom icons Figure 21 Stereotyped Nodes with Icons Sparx Systems India Page 12
Tip #22: UML Profiles Enterprise Architect Tips & Tricks Compilation - 1 Save custom stereotypes with tagged values as profile items and import into Resources->UML Profiles to simplify modeling. Tip #23: Synchronize tagged values Figure 22 UML Profiles Synchronize your tagged values associated with stereotypes using the "Synch Tagged Values and Constraints" option by right clicking the intended element in the toolbox. Tip #24: Convert Linked Element Figure 23 Synchronize tagged values Create a local copy of a referenced element in a diagram by using Convert Linked Element to Local Copy option in diagram context menu (Advanced). This will not maintain any relationship with existing elements. Figure 24 Convert Linked Element Sparx Systems India Page 13
Tip #25: Find in Diagrams Use Find in Diagrams (Ctrl + U) from project browser to find the Link and classifier instances of an element in all diagrams. Tip #26: Shortcuts for Tasks Figure 25 Find in Diagrams Use "Shortcuts" menu item from "Learning Center" to begin Enterprise Architect tasks appropriate to the topic. Tip #27: Incorporate Model Templates Incorporate Model Templates in MDG Technology by following the guidelines http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/modeling_tools/model_templates2.html https://www.sparxsystems.in/blogs/import-model-patterns-into-enterprise-architect-through-add-in/ Sparx Systems India Page 14
Tip #28: Project Calendar Use Start Collaborate Calender to Add Events, Meetings and Milestones. Tip #29: Linked Note Figure 26 Project Calendar Create individual "Linked Note" for an attribute and for an operation of a class element. Select attribute/operation and right-click from context menu choose Create Linked Note. Accounts - billingaddress: string - closed: bool - deliveryaddress: string - emailaddress: string - name: string + createnewaccount(): void + loadaccountdetails(): void + markaccountclosed(): void + retrieveaccountdetails(): void + submitnewaccountdetails(): void + validateuser(string, string) «property» + basket(): ShoppingBasket + billingaddress(): string + closed(): bool + deliveryaddress(): string + emailaddress(): string + name(): string + Order(): Order emailaddress Figure 27 Linked Note Sparx Systems India Page 15
Tip #30: Set Visible Relationships To Show/Hide the connectors in a diagram use Layout Diagram Appearance Set Visible Relationships or Ctrl + Shift + I Figure 28 Set Visible Relationships Tip #31: Exclude images from RTF document Use Diagram Properties "Exclude image from RTF documents" to exclude the diagram images from any RTF document generated on the parent package or element. Figure 29 Exclude Image for RTF Document Sparx Systems India Page 16
Tip #32: Context Filter Use Context Filter (Layout Filter Relationships) to play up the elements on the diagram that are directly related to the selected element. This one is very useful in complex diagrams. Tip #33: Set Direction for Association Figure 30 Context Filter Use "Association default = source --> target" (Tools Options Links) to automatically set the direction of new Associations, flowing from source to target element. Figure 31 Set Direction for Association Sparx Systems India Page 17
Tip #34: Change Element Default Color Use Element Appearance Default Appearance (F4), to change an element color on all diagrams except diagrams that override the appearance or use the format painter in the diagram toolbar to apply only on the current diagram. Tip #35: Export Tagged Values Figure 32 Change Element Default Color Use Configure Model Transfer Export Reference Data and select Tag Value Types from UML Types to export all the custom Tagged Values in the model. Figure 33 Export Tagged Values Sparx Systems India Page 18
Tip #36: Diagram Legend Use Diagram Legend to assist in distinguishing different elements, connectors or systems in a diagram. Tip #37: EA Command Figure 34 Diagram Legend Use Hyperlink of type "EA Command" to select and perform list of Enterprise Architect commands. Figure 35 Hyperlink "EA Command" Tip #38: Execute a script To execute a script, press Ctrl while you double-click on the script name. Sparx Systems India Page 19
Tip #39: Copy Script Enterprise Architect Tips & Tricks Compilation - 1 To copy Script, select Script and drag and drop pressing Ctrl to create a copy of the script into the new user scripts folder. Figure 36 Copy Script Tip #40: Add Stereotypes Configure UML Types Stereotype, to Add, Modify or Delete stereotypes. Figure 37 Add Stereotypes Sparx Systems India Page 20
Tip #41: Level Numbering Use Design Package Edit Advanced Toggle Level Numbering to display level numbering of elements of selected package in the project browser/list view. Tip #42: Code Samples Figure 38 Level Numbering Refer Code Samples to handle enterprise architect repository using external projects from "C:\Program Files (x86)\sparx Systems\EA\Code Samples". Tip #43: Code Gen default Language Set default Language for Code Generation using "Configure Options ". Figure 39 Code Gen default Language Sparx Systems India Page 21
Tip #44: Exact Placement Use Exact Placement option from Tools->Options->Links to set the orientation of the new connectors to the exact point in the target element. Tip #45: Duplicate Element Properties Figure 40 Exact Placement Use the Element Browser to copy element features from one element to another. Figure 41 Duplicate Elements Properties Sparx Systems India Page 22
Tip #46: Model Default Diagram Open a diagram choose "Layout Diagram Manage Set as Model Default" to display it when you open the model. Tip #47: User Default Diagram Figure 42 Model Default Diagram Set a diagram as the User default from "Layout Diagram Manage Set as User Default" to display the diagram, when the user opens the model. Tip #48: Add Tagged Value to Elements Figure 43 User Default Diagram Add the same tagged value to multiple elements. Select Multiple Element Right Click Add Tag Values. Figure 44 Add Tagged Value to Elements Sparx Systems India Page 23
Tip #49: Extend Data Types Extend the set of inbuilt data types for a standard programming language from Code Options Configure Code Engineering Datatypes. Tip #50: Display Diagram Property Figure 45 Extend Data Types Add Diagram Details in the Diagram. Open Diagram Properties window(double click on Diagram workspace) Diagram Tab click on checkbox Show Diagram Details Figure 46 Display Diagram Property Sparx Systems India Page 24
Tip #51: Add Macro Definition Add New Macro definition to a language. Setting Preprocessor Macros. Tip #52: QA Reports & Metrics Figure 47 Add Macro Definition Use "QA Reports & Metrics" to monitor and report, on the outstanding details on a package. Tip #53: Locate Element Figure 48 QA Reports & Metrics Locate the diagram object in the Project Browser using "ALT+G". Figure 49 Locate Element Sparx Systems India Page 25
Tip #54: Element Usage Find the element usage by selecting an element in "Project Browser" then press "CTRL + U". Tip #55: Find Orphan Elements Figure 50 Element Usage Find elements that are not used in any diagrams. Press Ctrl + F Diagram Searches Find Orphans. Figure 51 Find Orphan Elements Sparx Systems India Page 26
Tip #56: Audit History Use Configure Auditing to audit all the modifications in entire project. Audit view could be sort by Type & User. Tip #57: Place Related Elements Figure 52 Audit History Place the related elements of an element in the diagram using Traceability (Start Trace) window Right Click on an element. Place element on the Diagram. Tip #58: Validate Project Figure 53 Placed Related Elements Use "Design Package Edit Validation Validate Current Package " to validate model against known UML rules. Figure 54 Validate Project Sparx Systems India Page 27
Tip #59: Create Shape Scripts Use "Configure Reference Data UML Types" to apply Shape scripts to custom stereotypes. Tip #60: Instant Toolbox Figure 55 Create Shape Scripts Use Shift and Right-Click or space bar on diagram workspace to get the toolbox instantly. Figure 56 Instant Toolbox Sparx Systems India Page 28
Tip #61: Create Multiple Elements Hold Ctrl and Right-Click on the diagram workspace then select Create Multiple Elements to add multiple elements. Change the type of element from type drop-down. Tip #62: Import Elements from Clipboard Figure 57 Create Multiple Elements Import names from clipboard by hold Ctrl and Right-Click on diagram workspace then select Create Multiple Elements. Right click on the blank space. Then click Import Names from Clipboard. Figure 58 Import Elements from Clipboard Sparx Systems India Page 29
Tip #63: Repeat Element To repeat the last created element type use Ctrl + Click. Tip #64: Repeat Connecter Figure 59 Repeat Element Use F3 to repeat the last created connector type. Figure 60 Repeat Connecter Sparx Systems India Page 30
Tip #65: Draw Elements without Toolbar Draw elements without toolbar by simply using ctrl +shift +arrow keys. Tip #66: Add New View/Package Figure 61 Draw Elements without Toolbar Use Ctrl + w to add a new view or package to a currently selected model root view or package. Tip #67: Auto Size Elements Figure 62 Add New View/Package Auto size (Alt + z) resizes objects to best fit. This can be quite handy when you enable / disable Element's Features (Feature Visibility). Figure 63 Auto Size Elements Sparx Systems India Page 31
Tip #68: Attributes Window Use Features & Properties window to Add/Edit/Delete Attribute. Select the element and Press F9 to open up attributes tab in features window. Tip #69: Operations Window Figure 64 Attributes Window Use Features & Properties window to Add/Edit/Delete Operation. Select the element and Press F10 to open up operations tab in features window. Figure 65 Operations Window Sparx Systems India Page 32
Tip #70: Generate Excel Report from Query Generate CSV report with from query results. Use Ctrl+F Run a Search. Export results using CSV Import/Export Option Tip #71: Change Line Style Figure 66 Generating Excel Report from Query Change line styles for multiple connectors at a time using Relationships Window. Select a few objects in the diagram, see all its connectors in the relationship window -> Right click -> Lines Style -> Choose desired line style. Figure 67 Change Line Style Sparx Systems India Page 33
Tip #72: Apply Line Style Use Apply Line Style to -> All connectors of same type / stereotype to quickly apply line styles to multiple connectors in a diagram. Tip #73: Switch Between Windows Figure 68 Apply Line Style Use Ctrl + Tab to switch between open windows within Enterprise Architect. One of the less known, highly useful feature to flip between item diagrams. Figure 69 Switch Between Windows Sparx Systems India Page 34
Tip #74: Instant Copy Enterprise Architect Tips & Tricks Compilation - 1 Select an object in diagram, hold ctrl and drag to a new position to create object as new (copy) Tip #75: Add Attributes Inline Figure 70 Instant Copy Add attributes in line with Ctrl + Shift + F9 - one of the most commonly used trick in Class models. Figure 71 Add Attributes Inline Sparx Systems India Page 35
Tip #76: Add Operations Inline Add operations in line with Ctrl + Shift + F10 - one of the most commonly used trick in Class models. Tip #77: Use Diagram Compare Figure 72 Add Operations Inline Use Diagram Compare (Layout Diagram Manage Compare to baseline) option to compare your diagrams to previous state. Handy feature to keep track of diagram changes. Figure 73 Use Diagram Compare Sparx Systems India Page 36
Tip #78: Diagram Frame Configure Diagram Frame (Start Preferences Diagram Tab) to copy images with/without diagram frames. Figure 74 Diagram Frame Sparx Systems India Page 37
Tip #79: Image Memory Limit Property Increase the Image Memory Limit (Start Preferences Diagram Tab) property to get better quality images in HTML / Clipboard Tip #80: Hide Page Border Figure 75 Image Memory Limit Use Start Preferences Diagram Tab to Show/Hide page border of the diagrams. Figure 76 Hide Page Border Sparx Systems India Page 38
Tip #81: Auto Group Elements Use Start Preferences Diagram Behavior Auto Group Elements to set grouping elements as default behavior in all the diagrams. Tip #82: Presentation Mode Figure 77 Auto Group Elements Enable Presentation Mode to hide popups / on-hover messages, etc. (Start Preferences Diagram Behavior) Figure 78 Presentation Mode Sparx Systems India Page 39
Tip #83: Show Direction Use Show Direction (Layout Helpers Show Direction) to highlight incoming and outgoing relationships of selected element Tip #84: Rectangle Notation Figure 79 Show Direction Change Element Appearance using "Use Rectangle Notation" icon below quick linker Figure 80 Rectangle Notation Sparx Systems India Page 40
Tip #85: Show Status Colors Display element status on diagrams using Show Status Colors (Start Preferences Diagram Objects). Figure 81 Show Status Colors Sparx Systems India Page 41
Tip #86: Set Line Style/Width Use Pen Width, Routing options (Start Preferences Links) to set line style / line width across all diagrams Tip #87: Compact EAP Figure 82 Set Line Style/Width In EAP projects, doing a Compact.EAP File (Configure Integrity Check Manage.EAPX/.EAP File Compact.EAPX/.EAP File) on a regular basis helps to reduce the size of file in large models. Figure 83 Compact EAP Sparx Systems India Page 42
Tip #88: Diagram Filters Use Diagram Filters, and set mode to Hide this will allow normal Context Filtering to hide non-context items (Default behavior is greying out) Figure 84 Diagram Filters Sparx Systems India Page 43
Tip #89: Reorder Messages Hold Alt and move messages to reorder messages in Sequence Diagrams. Tip #90: Recently Modified Elements Figure 85 Reorder Messages Set Auto notifications on new items in the model by using Recently Modified Elements Search in Model Views and setting auto-refresh. To identify the recently modified elements, create a New Search folder under View Folder in Model Views. To check the Recently modified elements (Start Explore Browse Model Views). Figure 86 Recently Modified Elements Sparx Systems India Page 44
Tip #91: Create Element from Text Select a piece of text in an application (e.g. web browser, word document, notepad++). Then drag and drop the selection to the diagram view in EA, to create an element with Name. Figure 87 Create Element from Text Tip #92: Enable Tool Tips Enable tool tips in Enterprise Architect 14 using Show Tips in Status Bar (restart) option (Start Visual Style). Figure 88 Enable Tool Tips Sparx Systems India Page 45
Tip #93: Kanban Charts Use Kanban charts (driven by Default properties / Tagged Values) to categorize elements. To Create Kanban Charts, Right-click on diagram workspace select Kanban from context menu. Configure properties to categorize. Drag and drop the element in the Kanban workspace. Figure 89 Kanban Charts Tip #94: Save Server Connection Save your server connection as an EAP file. EA icon Drop Down (Left Top) Save as Shortcut Figure 90 Save Server Connection Sparx Systems India Page 46
Tip #95: Inline Reader Inline Reader (Simplified version of Specification window) option represents artifact name and notes along with diagram. To access the Inline Reader, open diagram and select (Design Diagram View as Toggle Inline Specification View). Tip #96: Clone Element Figure 91 Inline Reader To clone the element, open the cloned diagram. Select a element Right Click on the Element Clone Element as New Version. Enter value for version and click OK. Figure 92 Clone Element Sparx Systems India Page 47
Tip #97: Create Charts Charts in Enterprise Architect can help you manage projects, communicate strategy, identify trends and track KPI's. Drag and drop the standard chart artifact from the tool box, double click on the artifact to open the properties. Configure Properties, type of chart. Data represented in chart can be defined from current model/external model/query/csv. Figure 93 Create Charts Sparx Systems India Page 48
Tip #98: Save Relationship Profiles Configure Relationship Matrix (Design Matrix) using source/target package, element type, connector type and direction and save it as profiles (Options Profiles Save as New Profile) to publish in report. Figure 94 Save Relationship Profiles Tip #99: Add Elements from Project Browser In the project browser, click on drop-down New Element. Use Save option to create multiple elements. Figure 95 Add Elements from Project Browser Sparx Systems India Page 49
Tip #100: Sequence Numbering Enable Show Sequence Numbering checkbox (Start Preferences Diagram Sequence) to display interaction sequence between lifelines. Figure 96 Sequence Numbering Sparx Systems India Page 50