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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Element Context Menu Operations
You can perform a wide range of operations on element objects on a diagram, such as displaying an element's structural components, displaying or hiding its features on the diagram, and changing the element's appearance. You access these operations through the element context menu. If you are working under a technology such as SysML or BPMN, the menu can also provide options that are specific to that technology.
Access
Context Menu |
Right-click on element on diagram |
Element Context Menu Options
Option |
Action |
See also |
---|---|---|
Extensions |
Select this option to access a submenu of enabled Technologies on the system (for example, ArcGIS or TOGAF), each of which provides options for performing technology-specific operations on the element. This option is available in the Professional, Corporate and all Extended editions of Enterprise Architect. |
Systems Engineering Domain Based Models |
Properties |
Select this option to open the 'Properties' dialog for the selected element. For State Lifeline and Value Lifeline elements, the 'Configure Timeline' dialog displays. For a Required Interface element, the 'Exposed Interface' dialog displays. Shortcut: |
Properties dialog Expose Interface Configure Timeline - States |
Properties Page |
Select this option to display a list of the common pages of the 'Properties' dialog. Click on one of the page names to open the element 'Properties' dialog with that page exposed. |
|
Other Properties |
For State Lifeline, Value Lifeline and Required Interface elements, select this option to display the 'Properties' dialog for the selected element. Shortcut: |
Properties dialog |
Advanced |
Select this option to open the 'Advanced' sub-menu, which provides options for performing more complex or specialized operations on the element. |
Advanced Operations on Elements |
New Child Element |
Select this option to attach:
|
Note Create Notes and Text |
New Child Diagram |
Select this option to display a submenu, listing - in order:
|
Composite Elements Add New Diagrams Classifiers and Instances Show Composite Diagram |
Features and Properties |
Select this option to add attributes and/or operations to the element, through the 'Attributes' ( ) or 'Operations' ( ) pages of the 'Features' dialog, or to override any inherited attribute ( ) values set on the element. For an Object or State element you can add a new instance variable to the element using the 'Define Run State' dialog. For elements that can have interfaces, you can also select to show realized and/or dependent interfaces ( ). You also have the option of opening the 'Feature and Compartment Visibility' dialog to define which features and feature properties to display on the element, and which element compartments. |
Show Realized interfaces of Class Feature Visibility Operations Display Inherited Attributes Attributes |
Structural Elements |
Select this option to display the 'Structural Elements' dialog, for managing the structural elements (such as Provided Interfaces, Ports and Activity Parameters) attached to the selected element. Shortcut: |
Manage Structural Elements |
Insert Related Elements |
Select this option to display the 'Insert Related Elements' dialog, to add elements related to the selected element to the current diagram. |
Insert Related Elements |
Decision Table |
For a selected Activity or Action element, select this option to display, set up and edit the Decision Table for the element. |
Decision Tables |
Draw as Decision Table (Rules as Columns) |
For a selected Activity or Action, replace the element shape on the diagram with its Decision Table, showing the decision rules as columns. The element is automatically sized to display the rule text; you cannot change the element size manually. |
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Draw as Decision Table (Rules as Rows) |
For a selected Activity or Action, replace the element shape on the diagram with its Decision Table, showing the decision rules as rows. The element is automatically sized to display the rule text; you cannot change the element size manually. |
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Draw as Activity
|
Where an element is rendered as a Decision Table on the diagram, replace it with the normal element shape. |
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Rule Composer |
For a Rule Task element, select this option to invoke the Rule Composer in Business Rule Modeling. |
Compose Business Rules |
Create (or Edit) Linked Document |
(Corporate, Business and Software Engineering, Systems Engineering and Ultimate editions) Select this option to create a document linked to the element. Shortcut: |
Create Linked Document on an Element |
Delete Linked Document |
Select this option to delete an existing linked document for the element. |
Replace or Delete Documents |
Generate Documentation |
Select this option to generate a range of reports and other documents on the element. Shortcut: |
Document Reports |
Create Document to Artifact |
(On an Artifact element linked to a Report Package or Model Document element). Select this option to generate a virtual document as the linked document of the Artifact element. |
Generate Report to an Artifact Element |
Clear Checklist |
Select this option to clear any selected checkboxes in the current Checklist Artifact element. |
Using the Checklist and Audited Checklist Artifacts |
Info view |
Select this option to display a short submenu, from which you select to switch the element between Info view display style and 'normal' UML style, and to set the element characteristics that are shown in Info view style. |
Info view Style |
Find |
Select this option to display the 'Find' submenu, which provides options for:
|
Finding Elements |
Appearance |
Select this option to display a short menu of options to change and reproduce the appearance of the element. |
Changing Element Appearance |
Code Engineering |
Select this option to display a submenu showing options to:
You can also synchronize Class elements from the source code via the Project Browser, and reverse engineer or forward engineer model Packages and code to synchronize them and incorporate changes made in one but not in the other.
- Creating workbench variables from the selected Class - Marking up a process for the Class or - Marking up the Class for recording |
Generate DDL for an Object Update Package Contents Execution Analyzer Generate a Single Class Recording Activity For a Class Operation Menu - Project Browser Create Workbench Variables Element Options in the Project Browser Importing Source Code Editing Source Code |
Lock Element |
Select this option to lock the element so it can't be edited; to unlock the element, select 'Lock Element' again. This does not apply in the Corporate, Business and Software Engineering, Systems Engineering and Ultimate editions when security is enabled; in that situation, use the 'Lock' option for model elements. |
Lock model elements |
Printable |
Defaults to selected, so that the element is depicted in any diagrams in reports generated on its parent Package. If you click on the option to deselect it, the element and its connectors will not be visible in any diagrams in reports. You can, however, deselect a report option for an instance of a report to force the display of non-printable elements. Deselecting this option also hides the element and its connectors in the 'Print Diagrams', 'Print to PDF' and 'Save Diagram as Image' operations. |
Document Options Copy Image to Disk Diagram Menu - Project Browser File Management Non-printable Elements |
Selectable |
Select or deselect this option to toggle whether the element is selectable or not:
This option has no effect on double-click operations on the element, such as displaying child diagrams or 'Properties' dialogs. An element on a locked diagram is also unselectable - if you click on it, the element outline displays in red. In a diagram, you can filter the display to show selectable or non-selectable elements only. |
Diagram Filters |
Dockable |
Select this option to align and join two elements either vertically or horizontally, on the current diagram only. Both elements must have the 'Dockable' option selected, and must have the joining edges parallel. As the distance between the elements narrows, the moving element snaps to the edge of the other element. For Activity Partitions, the option is selected by default. Deselecting the 'Dockable' option does not separate the elements; if necessary, you can simply move the elements apart again. |
Partition |
Z-Order |
Select this option to display a short submenu providing options to:
|
Z Order Elements |
UML Help |
Select this option to display the Help topic describing the type of element you have selected. |
|
Delete <element name> |
Select this option to delete the element from the diagram. The element still exists within the model and can be accessed from the Project Browser. Shortcut: |
Delete Elements from Diagram and Model |
Notes
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