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Swimlanes Matrix
On any type of Enterprise Architect diagram, you can develop a Swimlanes Matrix to divide your diagram into cells at the intersections of columns and rows. This Matrix is based on the Zachman Framework. The top left cell of the Matrix contains the heading text, the cell at the top of each column contains the column title text and the cell at the left of each row contains the row title text.
You can define only one Matrix Heading cell, but you can create as many row and column headings as you need. You can also leave the column width and row height adjustable on the diagram, or fix the positions so that the cell borders cannot be moved.
The Matrix is defined on the 'Swimlanes and Matrix' dialog.
Access
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Ribbon |
Design > Diagram > Manage > Swimlanes > Matrix Layout > Diagram > Swimlanes > Matrix |
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Context Menu |
Right-click on diagram background | Swimlanes and Matrix > Matrix |
Options
Option |
Action |
See also |
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Active |
Click on this checkbox to set the diagram to use the defined Matrix facilities, as opposed to any Swimlanes that have also been defined. |
Swimlanes Kanban Boards |
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New |
Click on this button to clear the dialog fields so that you can add a new column or row item to the Matrix. |
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Title # |
Type in a title name. You can provide one, two or three title names per heading to, for example, group a set of columns or rows. There is no effective limit on the length of the text string but it does not wrap, so to display the full text you might have to drag the cell borders out to create a wide cell. Alternatively, you can divide the text string between the 'Title' fields to reduce the overall cell width. |
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Color |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select the color in which to display the text in the heading, row or column title. If the color you require is not shown, click on the and either select from a wider range of standard colors or define a custom color. |
Standard Colors Create Custom Colors |
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Font |
Click on this button to display the 'Font' dialog, through which you define the font and style, size and effects of the text in the Matrix header, column and row titles. If you also change the text color here, it overrides the setting of the 'Color' field. |
Set Element Font |
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Hidden |
Select this checkbox to hide the corresponding Matrix header, row or column Title text on the diagram. |
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Type |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select 'Heading', 'Column' or 'Row' to apply your field settings to the Matrix heading cell, a column heading or a row title, respectively. |
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Back Color |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select the color in which to display the heading cell, row or column background. If the color you require is not shown, click on the and either select from a wider range of standard colors or define a custom color. |
Standard Colors Create Custom Colors |
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Hide Item |
Select this checkbox to hide the Matrix heading cell, row or column on the diagram. |
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Model Profiles |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select:
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Model Profiles: Save |
Click on this button to save the current dialog contents as a new Profile. A prompt displays for you to assign a name to the Profile. |
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Model Profiles: Delete |
Click on this button to delete the currently-displayed user-defined Matrix Profile from the drop-down list. |
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Line Widths |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select the line width of all row and column borders - either 1 (thinnest), 2 or 3 (thickest). |
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Line Color |
Click on the drop-down arrow and select the color in which to display all lines in the matrix. |
Standard Colors Create Custom Colors |
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Lock |
Select this checkbox to prevent the Matrix rows and columns in the diagram from being resized. |
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Matrix list |
Lists the components of the current Matrix Profile, starting with the Heading and followed by the columns and then the rows. For each item, the list shows the first title (Title 1) whether it is visible on the diagram, and what type it is. The columns are listed in the order in which they are displayed, left to right, on the diagram. The rows are listed in the order in which they are displayed, top to bottom, on the diagram. |
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Hand (Up) |
Click on this button to move a selected column or row one position up in the Matrix list. You cannot move a Column item above the Heading item, or a Row item above a Column item. When you save the changes, on the diagram the selected column or row is moved left or up one place. |
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Hand (Down) |
Click on this button to move a selected column or row one position down in the Matrix list. You cannot move the Heading item below a Column item, or a Column item below a Row item. When you save the changes, on the diagram the selected column or row is moved right or down one place. |
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Save |
Click on this button to save the contents of the dialog, but not close the dialog, so that you can define or edit columns and rows individually and save them before defining the next item. |
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Copy |
Click on this button to copy a selected item from the list so that you can give it a new Title 1 and edit it as a new item. If you change the item, it is added to the list when you click on the . |
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Delete |
Click on this button to delete a selected item from the list. The column or row is removed from the list and diagram, which both close up. |
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OK |
Click on this button to save and apply your changes, and close the dialog. |
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Cancel |
Click on this button to abort your changes, and close the dialog. |
Notes
- When you define columns and rows, you define the header or title cells; the properties of these cells do not reflect on the matrix cells themselves - for example, the intersection cell of a column and row has a transparent background and therefore takes the color and shading effect of the diagram background
- You can transport the Swimlanes Matrix Profiles between models (as Diagram Matrix Profiles), using the 'Settings > Model > Transfer > Export Reference Data' and 'Import Reference Data' ribbon options
- By applying a Matrix Profile to a diagram, you replace the current profile; save the current profile to avoid losing it
- To size the rows and columns, drag the row and column borders on the diagram - elements placed inside each cell are shifted when sizing; to prevent the elements shifting, press and hold while sizing