Model explorer

It would be much more efficient to make use of model explorer for your middle to large scale project which has considerable numbers of diagrams and model elements, rather than using diagram navigator.

The Model Explorer

The toolbar

Name Icon Description New Model Element To create a new model element. Collapse To collapse the selected model element. Expand   To expand the selected model element. No Sorting To arrange model elements without grouping. Sort By Name To sort model elements by their names in alphabetical order. Sort By Type To sort model elements by their types. Move Selected Model Element To move the selected model elements down or up. This option only works within the same model element type when there are multiple model elements. Refresh To update the content of model explorer

The description of icons on Model Explorer

Pop-up menu

Pop-up menu of model explorer

The model explorer lists all the model elements in the project.

The pop-up menu of model explorer

Menu Title Description Model Create a new model. New Model Element... Create a new model element in model explorer without the need of creating through diagramming. Filter Model Element... Open the Model Element Filtering Dialog to filter the diagram elements to appear in diagram navigator. Show Relationships Show relationship model elements in model explorer (default hidden). Show Sub Diagrams Show sub-diagrams in model explorer so that user can browse and open sub-diagrams in model explorer. Show Data Types Show data types in model explorer (default hidden). Show Carriage Return Character Display line breaks of multi-lined diagram name as carriage return character. Sorting Select the way to sort model elements in model explorer. Teamwork Perform teamwork activities. Manage Dependent Project... Add or remove dependent project. Refresh Refresh model explorer content. Collapse All Collapse all tree nodes. Expand All Expand all tree nodes.

The description of icons on model explorer

Pop-up menu of project node

The pop-up menu of project node

Menu Title Description No View Model Elements... Select the model element(s) that you don't want it/ them to be shown on diagram navigator. Rename... Rename the project. Nicknames Configure or switch to another nickname. Create Profile Create a package-like profile which can create profile diagram for modeling the stereotypes used in this project. Model Create a new model. New Model Element... Create a new model element in model explorer without creating through diagramming. Sorting Select the way to sort model elements in model explorer. Show Relationships Show relationship model elements in model explorer (default hidden). Show Sub Diagrams Show sub-diagrams in model explorer so that user can browse and open sub-diagrams in model explorer. Show Data Types Show data types in model explorer (default hidden). Teamwork Perform teamwork activities. Manage Dependent Project... Add or remove dependent project. Refresh Refresh model explorer. Collapse All Collapse the project node. Expand All Expand the project node.

The description of pop-up menu of project node

Closing and opening the model explorer

Model Explorer is opened by default. To close it, press the X button at the top right corner. On the other hand, it can be opened by selecting View > Panes > Model Explorer from the main menu.

Creating a model

A model is a package that can store model elements and diagrams. Users are recommended to structure project by using model in order to maintain a clear structure for accessing project data and improve the application performance.

Right click on the project node in Model Explorer and select Model from the pop-up menu. You can either create a custom model by selecting New Model..., or create a pre-defined model by selecting it in the list.

Select New Model in pop-up menu

Creating a model element

A model element is created when you create a shape on a diagram. If you want to create a model element without visualizing it, you can create it through the Model Explorer.

To create a model element, right click on the root node, select New Model Element... from the pop-up menu. You can select the model element type and enter its name simultaneously in the New Model Element dialog box.

Select New Model Element in pop-up menu

Sorting model elements

In model explorer, model elements are listed under project node(s). You can sort model elements by their names, by their types (e.g. use case, package, etc.) or without sorting.

To sort by name, click Sort by Name button. The elements will be listed by name, in alphabetical order.

Sort model elements by name

To sort by type, click Sort by Type button. As a result, the elements will be listed by type. To arrange model elements without sorting, click No sorting.

Reordering model elements

Select the model element(s) you want to reorder. If there are multiple model elements you want to select, just click one while pressing Ctrl button and make the other selections.

Click Move Selected Model Element Up button to move the selection upwards, or Move Selected Model Element Down button to move the selection downwards.

Filtering model elements

You can choose which model elements you want to be displayed or not on the model explorer.

Right click on the model explorer's background and select Filter Model Element. In Model Element Filtering Dialog, check the types of model element(s) you want to be displayed. Otherwise, uncheck the one you don't want to be displayed.

Model Element Filtering Dialog

Showing/hiding carriage return character

If it is the case that the name of model elements is in multi-line, the character ¶ will be revealed.

When Show Carriage Return Character is selected, line break will be shown.

Show Carriage Return Character is selected

When deselected, the character ¶ is hidden.

If you want to hide it, right click on the model explorer's background and uncheck Show Carriage Return Character from the pop-up menu. As a result, the character will automatically be unshown.

Connecting to server for team collaboration

BP-VA's team collaboration support enables your team members work together on project(s).

To connect to server and perform related activities, right click on the model explorer's background, select Teamwork and an option for performing from the pop-up menu.

Perform teamwork