Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Diagram Filters
Using Diagram Filters (Dynamic Visual filters), you can modify the display of diagram components so that the relevant items are immediately identified, without damaging the structure and integrity of the model. The filters operate on elements and connectors, according to properties such as Author, Status, Date Created or Stereotype and, for connectors, whether the connector is hidden or visible. Filters are stored against the model, so a filter you create is available to other users of the model; however, use of a filter is specific to the user, so your use of a filter does not affect another user's view of the diagram.
You can use Diagram Filters singly, in sequence, or in combination to tailor the display of diagrams to show:
| · | Information for different users, so that - for example - technical staff and stakeholders each can apply filters that highlight the information pertinent to them |
| · | What elements have been recently developed or changed |
| · | Which part of a model was developed by a particular person |
| · | Which parts of a diagram are at a particular phase, status or version |
Examples of ways in which you might apply filtering include:
| · | Setting up a filter for immediate use on a diagram, and modifying that filter as you review the diagram so that you highlight elements with different values for the same properties - perhaps, by filtering on Phase, to compare 'as-is' and 'to-be' elements |
| · | Setting up a filter and leaving it active so that all diagrams you display are automatically filtered the same way |
| · | Setting up a series of filters to use: |
| · | in one or more sequences to progressively highlight a diminishing set of items, or |
| · | alternately to highlight contrasting views of the diagram |
Filters for elements can also be applied to the Package Browser and Diagram List.
The Diagram Filters context menu (right-click on the body of the window) provides an option for toggling between the filters and simple context filtering of diagrams; if you select the Context Filtering option, the Diagram Filters are disabled and the contents of the diagram are grayed-out except for a selected element and those elements directly related to it.
Access Diagram | Diagram Filters
Facilities
Facility |
Detail |
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Developing Filters |
You create and define as many filters as you require, setting up each filter by defining which element or connector properties to specifically check for and (depending on how you set up the filter parameters, below) whether to include or exclude elements or connectors having particular property values. You cannot combine element and connector properties in one filter, but you can apply an element filter and a connector filter to a diagram at the same time. You can select to:
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Filter Effect - Gray Scale, Fade or Hide |
If you select Gray Scale, Fade or Hide, the action of the filters is to exclude items that do not match the parameters rather than include items that do. If, for example, you selected to filter on element name, looking for elements with the word Class in the name, the filter would apply the following logic: Does Name contain string Class? If No, apply effect; if Yes, take no action. The elements you want are therefore what is left on the diagram, rather than what was operated on. The filter effect remains in force while you do other work on the diagram, until such time as you disable the filter.
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Filter Effect - Highlight |
If you click on Select, the logic is reversed: Does Name contain string Class? If No, take no action. If Yes, apply effect. In this case, the filter effect is not permanent, and clicking off the items deselects them. This effect is excellent for selecting items having the same characteristics across a large diagram, to be processed in a single task; instead of having to locate the items and select them with Shift+click individually, you can apply the filter. If you inadvertently lose the selection by clicking off the items, you can get it back again almost immediately by re-applying the filter.
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