Resource centric interface

Visual Paradigm is the first vendor to introduce the resource centric diagramming interface. The resource centric interface greatly improves the efficiency of modeling. It can make sure the modeler is able to create a diagram with correct syntax more quickly. The utmost importance thing is that you don't have to go back and forth between the toolbar and the diagrams for creating diagram elements, making connections and modifying the diagrams.

Resource centric interface on task

Creating shapes through resource centric interface

Instead of clicking shapes one by one from the diagram toolbar, you can create another shape from an existing shape on the diagram.

1. Move the mouse on a shape and select a resource icon when resource centric interface reveals.
   

   Create a task with resource centric interface

2. Drag the resource icon and release it until reaching to your preferred place.
3. As a result, another shape is created and linked with the previous shape.
   

   Release the mouse to create task

Connecting shapes through resource centric interface

For relating two shapes together, you have to link a shape to another. With resource centric interface, you can not only link them up, but also select an appropriate relationship for them.

1. Move the mouse on the source shape and select a resource icon when resource centric interface reveals.

   Select a resource icon

2. Drag the resource icon and release it until reaching to the destination shape.
3. As a result, two shapes are linked together.
   

   Two shapes are connected

Using quick connect

With quick connect, you are able to search the preferred shape and connect to it on the diagram accurately and quickly.

1. Move the mouse on the source shape and click a resource icon when resource centric interface reveals. The Quick Connect dialog box will be shown subsequently.
   

   Quick Connect dialog box

2. You can either create a new shape or select an existing shape by typing its name in the text field of Quick Connect dialog box. To select an existing shape, enter its full name directly or just type the first letter of its name. As a result, a list of shapes which match with the word(s) you typed will display.
3. After you click a shape's name on the drop-down list, the shape will be spotlighted on the diagram immediately.
   

   Task is spotlighted

4. Press Enter to confirm the selection. The two shapes will be linked automatically.
   

   Two shapes are linked

   NOTE:

   You should click the resource icon in accordance with the existing shapes on your diagram. If the shape does not exist on the diagram, the Quick Connect dialog box will not pop out even when you click the resource icon.

Managing transition of shapes

Model transitor enables you to trace between model elements across different phrases of development. Once a transition is created between two shapes, you can navigate between them through the resource centric interface.

Move the mouse on a shape and select Model Transitor> Transit To and then select the shape's name you would like to transit to/from from the pop-up menu. As a result, the vision will be diverted to the selected shape after transition is selected. Thereafter, you can transit to/ from between these two shapes.

Transit from one shape to another

Adding and opening reference

For providing extra information to shapes, you can insert both internal and external resources, such as a shape, a diagram, a file, a URL through the resource centric interface. After editing references, they can be opened throughout the resource centric interface.

1. Move the mouse on a shape that you would like to insert references for, press resource icon Resources at the bottom left corner and select a reference option from the pop-up menu.
   

   Add a file

2. Insert the resource in References tab of your shape's specification dialog box.
   

   Insert a file in Task Specification dialog box

3. After adding reference, you can click resource icon Resources again and the reference you have just created will be shown on the pop-up menu.
   

   The newly created reference

Splitting connection by shape

Resource centric supports some connectors (e.g. Sequence Flow in Business Process Diagram) with splitting the connector by adding another shape.

1. Move the mouse on the connector between two shapes, press Split with Shape icon and select a shape you want to insert between them from the pop-up menu.
   

   Press split resource icon

2. As a result, an extra shape is inserted between two shapes.
   

   Two tasks are split by Gateway

   NOTE:

   The split resource icon is shown with orange asterisk.

Group selection resource

When a great amount of shapes are displayed on the diagram disorderly, resource centric interface can support alignment and grouping after selecting several shapes.

1. Select several shapes on diagram and move the mouse on the final selected shape (i.e. shape with non-filled selector) and group selection resources will be shown instantly.
   

   Group Selection Resources are shown

2. Select an alignment option for those selected shapes.
   

   Select Align Top from the drop-down menu