Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
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Modeling
Modeling is the practice of constructing a graphical representation of something real for the purpose of studying, documenting, reasoning, testing or communicating it to others. The resulting models are like machines that do work and often provide powerful insights into the way things in the real world are structured or behave. Enterprise Architect is typically used to model complex enterprise, business, engineering, real-time and software systems, and is a multi-disciplinary platform that facilitates teams of people working together to describe, visualize, construct and test complex systems through the use of modeling. Enterprise Architect's modeling platform is based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), a standard that defines rules and notation for software-centric systems but that can be extended to allow any type of system to be modeled.
Modeling Features
Structural Components
Using Enterprise Architect, you can quickly build a model using a hierarchy of Packages to represent the structure and organization of the model.
Component |
Description |
See also |
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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. |
Modeling Models Model Wizard |
Views |
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. |
Add Views Views |
Packages |
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 Packages |
Diagrams |
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. |
Diagram Facilities The Quick Linker Layout Diagrams Diagrams Diagram Toolbox Diagram Tabs Diagram Context Menu |
Elements |
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. |
Visual Representation Element Context Menu Operations Elements |
Connectors |
Connectors represent the various kinds of relationship between elements within a model - including behavioral relationships, associations, taxonomic relations and similar. |
Connector Tasks Connector Management Options Connector Properties Connectors |
Tagged Values |
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 Tagged Values Modify Tagged Values |
Notes |
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. |
Notes Notes Toolbar |
Reference Information |
A variety of basic types and information that is used across a particular model - for example, Stereotypes, Tagged Values and similar. |
Reference Data UML Types |
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