Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

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The Element Browser

As you develop an element in your model, you can define a range of added-on properties of that element through the appropriate dialogs, pages and tabs. It is possible to neatly summarize all of these properties for a selected element, using the Element Browser. The properties listed - where they exist in the element - are grouped by type and include:

  • Operations
  • Attributes
  • Linked Features (Linked Operations and Attributes)
  • Tagged Values
  • Constraints
  • Internal Requirements (Responsibilities)
  • Attached Files
  • Relationships
  • Scenarios
  • Maintenance Items (sub-grouped as Defects, Changes, Issues and Tasks)
  • Testing Items (sub-grouped as Unit, Integration, System, Acceptance, Scenario and Inspection tests)
  • Project Management Items (sub-grouped as Resource Allocation, Effort, Risk and Metrics records)

Having listed these properties, you can also perform a number of operations on them, including dragging and dropping many of them onto other elements.

Access

Ribbon

Show > Window > Element Browser

Start > Explore > Element Browser

Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt+9

Options

Option

Action

See also

Display element 'Properties' dialog

Double-click on the element name at the top of the dialog (the root node).

Properties Dialog

Add items of a specific type

Right-click on the property type name and select the 'Add New <object>' option. (This option is not applicable to Relationships or Linked Features, which cannot be created without using information external to the selected element.)

The appropriate window or dialog displays, or the element 'Properties' dialog displays on the appropriate page. Add new or edit existing items as necessary.

For example, if you right-click on the Attributes folder and select the 'Add New Attributes' option, the '<element name> Features' dialog displays at the 'Attributes' tab, and you can add to or edit the attributes in the element.

Edit specific items

Expand the appropriate folder and double-click on the required item.

The 'Properties' dialog, docked window or view displays with the focus on the selected item. You can also go on to select and edit other items within the window or dialog.

Drag a relationship onto a diagram

Click on the relationship in the Element Browser and drag it onto the diagram.

If the element at one or both ends of the relationship is not already on the diagram, those elements are also added to the diagram.

If the relationship is already on the diagram, but hidden, it becomes visible again.

Alternatively:

  • Right-click on the Relationships folder name and select the 'Place All Related Elements in Diagram' option, or
  • Right-click on the relationship and select the 'Place Related Elements in Diagram' option

Hide/Show a Relationship in the current diagram

Right-click on the relationship in the Element Browser and select the 'Hide Relationship' or 'Show Relationship' option, as appropriate.

Display the 'Properties' dialog of the other element in the relationship

Right-click on the relationship in the Element Browser and select the 'View Related Element Properties' option.

Locate the related element in the Project Browser

Right-click on the relationship in the Element Browser and select the 'Locate Related Element' option.

Locate the related element in other diagrams

Right-click on the relationship in the Element Browser and select the 'Find in all Diagrams' option.

Open an associated file

Double-click on the required file path within the Files folder.

If the file can:

  • Be opened within Enterprise Architect, the file opens on a separate tab in the Diagram View workspace
  • Not be opened within Enterprise Architect, the file opens in the default Windows viewer/editor for the file type
Associated Files

Display the source code for a feature

Right-click on an attribute or operation in the Attributes or Operations folder or in the Linked Features folder, then click on the 'View Source Code' option.

Alternatively:

  • Click on the attribute or operation and press Ctrl+E, or
  • In the Linked Features folder, double-click on the attribute or operation

If no code has been generated for the selected feature, nothing happens.

If code has been generated for the feature, the code is displayed. The source code viewer in which the source code displays depends on which editor you select as the default, either for the project as a whole or for a specific programming language; if you select the Enterprise Architect internal editor, the code displays in the Source Code Viewer with the cursor positioned on the selected feature.

Options - Code Editors Editing Source Code

Add a property to another element

Click on the property in the Element Browser and drag it onto the other element in a diagram. The properties you can do this for are:

  • Attributes
  • Operations
  • Constraints
  • Requirements
  • Tagged Values
  • Maintenance Items
  • Test Items

Attach a Recording Marker to an Operation

Right-click on the operation and select the 'Visual Analyzer | Set Breakpoint' option, and the option to set the required type of recording marker.

Place Recording Markers

Learn more