Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Using the Image Manager
When you add an element to a diagram, it is rendered according to the standard UML notation. However, you can replace that representation with an image. For example, you could add a custom background image to a diagram, or display an image of a Router or PC on a UML element. You import, store and select these alternative images using the Image Manager.
Access Right-click on an element within a diagram | Appearance | Select Alternate Image (Ctrl+Shift+W) or
Click on element | Element | Appearance | Select Alternate Image
To locate and display an image, click on individual image filenames, or press ( # ) and ( $ ) to scroll through the list of images. As you highlight each image filename, the Preview panel changes to reflect the image. Double-click on the required image filename to display the image in full size.
Image Manager Options
On the Image Manager dialog, the following buttons are available:
Button |
Action |
Shortcut |
See also |
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View |
Click on this button to display the selected image in full size.
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Alt+V |
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Usage |
Click on this button to display the Element Usage dialog, which lists the diagrams in which the selected image is used.
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Rename |
Click on this button to change the filename of the selected image. The option first warns you that the change would impact the other elements that use this image, and prompts you to confirm that you want to go ahead with the name change. If you continue, a prompt displays for you to enter the new filename.
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Add New |
Click on this button to browse appropriate directories to search for and import new images. You can import images in .BMP, .PNG, .EMF, .WMF, .TGA, .PCX or .JPG format. Internally, the images are stored in .PNG or metafile format to conserve space. You can also add images by:
If necessary, you can change the file name using the Rename option (above).
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Alt+A |
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Update Selected |
Click on this button to refresh the selected image; for example, after it has been modified. A browser screen displays for you to select the updated image file from its parent directory.
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Alt+U |
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Delete |
(Not available for an image from a deployed MDG technology.) Click on this button to delete the selected image. A message displays to indicate how many elements use the image. Click on the Yes button to delete information about the image from those elements, which then revert to their previous appearance.
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Alt+D |
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Cancel |
Click on this button to close the Image Manager dialog.
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OK |
Click on this button to confirm selection of the alternative image for the element selected in the diagram.
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Alt+O |
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Notes
| · | In the Corporate, Business and Software Engineering, Systems Engineering and Ultimate editions of Enterprise Architect, if security is enabled you must have Configure Images permission to configure alternative element images |
| · | For elements with Lifelines, such as those used on Sequence diagrams, the Lifeline must remain intact so that messages can be created between the elements; therefore such elements cannot have alternative images |
| · | There are two categories of image available through the Image Manager: |
| · | Images that have been imported into the model and are stored in the model |
| · | Images that are incorporated into a deployed MDG Technology, which are not copied into the current model but are held in memory; the technology images can be identified by the Technology name followed by the image file name, such as MDGFrame::ovalshape.emf, but can also be accessed by their short form (the name minus the technology name) |
| · | If you are creating many elements of the same type that have a particular image, you should use a custom stereotype with an associated metafile |
| · | If an element has an image, the element name is likely to be hidden; you can display the name underneath the image by right-clicking on the element and selecting Appearance | Show Name Under Image, and hide it again by selecting Appearance | Hide Name Under Image |
| · | You can transport image files between models, using the Export Reference Data and Import Reference Data options |
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