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 action

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 out of resource centric interface.
   

   Create a use case 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 use case

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. Select two shapes from the diagram toolbar and drag them on the diagram individually. Move the mouse on one shape and select a resource icon out of resource centric interface.

   Create Use Case with Association

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

   Release the mouse to create Association connecting with the Use Case

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. After creating some shapes on diagram, move the mouse on a shape and click a resource icon out of resource centric interface. 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.
   

   Use Case is spotlighted

4. Confirm the selection, press Enter. The two shapes will be linked automatically.
   

   An actor is linked with a use case

   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 phases 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.
   

   Select Add File... from the pop-up menu

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

   Insert a file in Class Specification dialog box

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

   The newly created reference

Splitting connection by shape

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

1. Move the mouse on the connector between two shapes and select a split resource icon out of resource centric interface.
   

   Select a split resource icon

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

   Control Flow is split by Decision Node

   NOTE:

   There is an orange asterisk on the split resource icon.

Creating structure

Resource centric interface supports some models (e.g. Action in Activity Diagram) with creating a structure of models. Instead of creating shapes one by one, branch resource icon helps speed up the shape creation process; you thereby can create several shapes simultaneously.

1. Move the mouse on a shape and select a branch resource icon out of resource centric interface.
   

   Select Create Branch with Decision Node on resource centric interface

2. Drag the resource icon and release it until reaching to your preferred place.
3. As a result, two shapes and a decision node are created and connected.
   

   Create Decision Node and Actions

   NOTE:

   There is an orange asterisk on the branch resource icon.

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.
2. Move the mouse on the last selected shapes and group selection resources will be shown instantly.
   

   Group Selection Resources are shown

3. Press the reversed triangle of Align Top and select an alignment option from the drop-down menu.
   

   Select Align Top from the drop-down menu