Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Modeling Basics
Models |
Elements
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Diagrams |
Packages |
Views |
Models are the top level of an Enterprise Architect Project. A Project can have one or many models contained within it.
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Elements are the building blocks of your model, create and reuse elements to build up your systems. |
Diagrams are used to define specific relationships between a select number elements in a visual manner. |
Packages are the containers for your elements and your diagrams. Their contents can be viewed in many different ways dependant on your needs. |
Views provide unique windows and dialog to explore the relationships of your elements in your model. |
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Templates and Wizards |
Connectors |
Tagged Values |
Notes |
Reference Data
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Utilize patterns, templates and wizards to rapidly build your models. Use pre existing ones, or create your own! |
Connectors define the relationships between your elements. |
Extend the default properties of your elements with custom Tagged Values. |
Provide a textual based description of a specific elements. Notes can be shown on the diagram, in the element or from the Notes View. |
Extend the power of Enterprise Architect to create your own domain specific add-ins, scripts and functionality. |
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Modeling can be described as graphically representing a business process or software system. The resulting model can be used to emphasize a certain aspect of the system being represented, and to record, document and communicate its detail. A study of such a model can enable insight or understanding of the system. Enterprise Architect's modeling platform is based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), a standard that defines rules and notations for specifying business and software systems.
Using Enterprise Architect, you can quickly build a model using a hierarchy of Packages to represent the structure and organization of the model.
Structural Components
Component |
Link |
Models - a model is the highest conceptual level, representing a distinct and complete representation of all or some part of a modeled system. A Project can contain multiple models.
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Views are the second level within a model and define a specific viewpoint of the system being modeled - for example a Use Case view, a Requirements View or a Dynamic (behavioral) View. Views are simply Packages that have an additional conceptual meaning.
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Packages are the basic containers that create the overall model structure. Packages hold other Packages, elements, diagrams and similar model constructs. |
Open Package in the Project Browser
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Diagrams are visual representations of how model elements are connected or behaviorally related. They can also display the characteristics of an element, such as attributes, methods, notes and Tagged Values in a convenient visual style. |
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Elements are the basic building blocks of models. They represent both structural constructs such as Classes and Interfaces, as well as behavioral constructs such as Activities, Actions and States. |
Element Context Menu Operations
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Connectors are the various kinds of relationships between elements within a model - including behavioral relationships, associations, taxonomic relations and similar. |
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Tagged Values are customizable, profile- or user-defined properties which are generally related to a Stereotype and define additional attributes and characteristics of an element. They are one of the fundamental means of extending UML into more domain-specific areas. |
Quick Start - Add Tagged Value To Elements
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Notes are the standard common language based descriptions of what an element, diagram, feature or relationship is for and how it is used within the model. Notes are often used as a first step to eliciting the meaning and use of an element - which is later refined into something more concrete and precisely specified.
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Reference Information - a variety of basic types and information that is used across a particular model - for example, Stereotypes, Tagged Values and similar. |
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Learn more
· | For information on UML, see the Standard UML Models topic |
· | The Quick Start Tutorial topic briefly shows you how to create a diagram within a Package, containing elements and connectors |
· | Sparx Systems also provide a Demonstration of quickly developing a Use Case model (Online Resource) |