Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Set Element Templates Package
In building up a model, you might want to represent or emphasize certain characteristics of elements in the appearance of those elements, or select particular display options as standard. For example, you could make new Interface elements a different default color to new Class elements, ensure all new Activity Partitions are vertical rather than horizontal, or set a specific group of display options for new diagrams; you could also define a set of characteristics to use for each development stage of a project.
To do this, you create a diagram with all the characteristics you require, and store the diagram in an Element Templates Package; the system then checks this Package:
| · | Whenever you start to create an element in a diagram or |
| · | Whenever you create a new diagram |
If the system finds a template for that diagram type, it applies the settings in that template to the new element or to the display options of the diagram. For example, you could save a diagram under the name Class Template, to apply a set of display characteristics to all new Class elements and Class diagrams.
You can create the Templates Package anywhere in your model; however, it is better to create it in a location that is not likely to be accidentally changed or lost in any project development work.
Set up the Element Templates Package
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Create a new Package. Templates is used as the Package name here, for illustration, but you can give the Package any name you prefer.
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Within the Templates Package create new diagrams, one for each type of diagram to template. Give the diagrams easily recognized names; for example Class Template for the template for Class diagrams.
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Add new elements to the template diagrams from the Toolbox, and configure the size, appearance, notes, version and other properties as you want the elements and/or diagrams to show them. You can also use a stereotyped element as the base for your template definition, if you prefer.
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Select the Project | Settings | Project Template Package menu option to set the templates as the default element templates. The Find Package window displays.
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Locate and click on the Templates Package, and click on the OK button to set the Package as the default element template. Now each new element or diagram you add to your project is created with the settings from the appropriate template diagram.
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Notes
| · | In the Corporate, Business and Software Engineering, System Engineering and Ultimate editions of Enterprise Architect, if security is enabled you must have Manage Reference Data - Update permission to set up or access the Element Templates Package |
| · | The Fill color for a type of element defined in the element template can be overridden by the element fill color defined from the Format Toolbar, a Shape Script applied to the element via a stereotype, or the Default Appearance dialog |
| · | If you decide not to use any default element templates, set the Element Template Package to <none> in the Find Package window; the <none> Package is at the bottom of the hierarchy shown in the window |
| · | An alternative way in which you can modify the immediate appearance of elements as you create them in diagrams is to redefine them, either under the same type name or as new element types, in a UML Profile |
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