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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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Toolbox Shortcut Menu

When you add elements and connectors to a diagram, you can do so using the 'Toolbox Shortcut' menu as an alternative to employing the full graphical Toolbox.

The menu resembles this example:

Using the Toolbox Shortcut menu as an alternative to the full graphical toolbox in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect.

It provides options to add to the diagram:

  • Multiple elements at once, of types appropriate to the diagram or selected Toolbox page
  • Elements and connectors from Toolbox pages assigned to other diagram types (the 'Other' option)
  • Elements and relationships specific to the current diagram type (in the example, the Database elements)
  • Elements and relationships from any pages pinned in the Toolbox (in the example, the 'Use Case' and 'Class' options)
  • Common elements and relationships
  • Artifacts of any type

The advantage of using the shortcut menu is that it provides an increased amount of the workspace to be used for diagramming rather than displaying fixed (instead of pop-up) menus.

Use the Toolbox Shortcut Menu

Step

Action

See also

1

Open a diagram.

2

Click on the diagram background and press the Insert key or Spacebar

The 'Toolbox Shortcut' menu displays.

3

If you want to:

  • Create a group of elements in one go, select the 'Create Multiple Elements' option to display the 'Create Multiple Elements' dialog, or
  • List elements and connectors for a different diagram type, either:
         -  Select a pinned Toolbox page option, or
         -  Select the 'Other' option to display the 'Find Toolbox Item' dialog and search for the appropriate element or toolbox page
  • Add a common element or an Artifact element, expand the appropriate option
Diagram Toolbox Add Multiple Elements

4

Click on the element or connector to include in the diagram; the element is added to the diagram, or you can drag from one element to another to create the connector.

If you select the 'Other' context menu option, the 'Find Toolbox Item' dialog offers the 'Activate <Type> Toolbox' option; this opens and activates the corresponding page in the Toolbox.

Notes

  • As with the Toolbox itself, if an MDG Technology:
         -  Is active
         -  Automatically pins Toolbox pages, and
         -  Duplicates UML or Extended pages
    then the pinned Technology pages override and replace the pinned UML or Extended pages in the 'Toolbox Shortcut' menu