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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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Properties Window for Diagrams

The docked Properties window provides a convenient and immediate way to view and edit properties of modeling objects, including diagrams. When the Properties window is open and you click on an open diagram, the window becomes the Diagram Properties window, displaying the common properties and providing an associated 'Compartments' tab and 'Swimlanes and Matrix' tab. As you review the properties for the diagram, you can edit the values by overtyping them, or by clicking on the drop-down arrow or browse button to select alternative values.

If you click on a diagram name in the Project Browser, you can edit some of the common properties in the Diagram Properties window; however, most of the options are not available for editing unless the diagram is open and selected.

Access

Ribbon

After selecting the Properties window using one of these methods, click on the first required diagram.

Start > Explore > Properties > Properties   or

Show > Portals > Window > Properties > Properties

Keyboard

Alt+1

Properties Window Tabs

Tab

Description

See also

Diagram Tab

The 'Diagram' tab provides a number of checkbox fields that make it simple to define what the diagram shows and how the objects are presented. You can also tailor certain fields that were assigned default values when the diagram was created. For further details, see the Diagram Tab Help topic.

You can also define additional properties on the 'Diagram Properties' dialog.

Set Diagram Properties Diagram Tab

Compartments Tab

This tab provides a list of the simple compartments that you can display in elements included in the current diagram. Some types of element are automatically displayed in rectangular notation, whilst others might have to be set manually in rectangular notation to show the compartments.

Click the check box against each compartment to show in the elements on the diagram:

  • Attributes
  • Operations
  • Tags
  • Requirements
  • Constraints
  • Testing
  • Maintenance
  • Package Contents
  • Notes
  • Receptions

For further information on these compartments and others you might set on the diagram, see the Compartments and Define Element Characterists Help topics.

Compartments Rectangle Notation Define Element Characteristics

Swimlanes and Matrix Tab

On any type of Enterprise Architect diagram, you can access this tab of the Diagram Properties window to develop:

  • Swimlanes, as vertical or horizontal bands that divide the diagram into logical areas or partitions
  • A Swimlanes Matrix, to divide your diagram into cells at the intersections of columns and rows
Swimlanes Matrix Swimlanes

Learn more