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Using the Image Manager
When you add an element to a diagram, it is rendered according to the standard UML notation. However, you can replace that representation with an image. For example, you could add a custom background image to a diagram, or display an image of a Router or PC on a UML element. You import, store and select these alternative images using the Image Manager. You can apply the image either as a:
- Default image, which displays on all instances of the element in diagrams across the model, or
- An alternative image, which displays only for the specific instance of the element to which it is applied, and which overrides the default image for that instance
To locate and display images within the Image Manager, click on individual image filenames, or press the Up arrow and keys to scroll through the list of images. As you highlight each image filename, the 'Preview' panel changes to reflect the image. Double-click on the required image filename to display the image in full size.
Access
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Ribbon |
Configure > Reference Data > Images |
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Context Menu |
Right-click on an element within a diagram | Appearance | Select Alternate Image or Right-click on an element within a diagram | Appearance | Select Default Image |
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Keyboard Shortcuts |
Click on an element within a diagram : |
Image Manager Options
On the Image Manager, these buttons are available:
Button |
Action |
See also |
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View |
Click on this button to display the selected image in full size. Shortcut: |
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Usage |
Click on this button to display the 'Element Usage' dialog, which lists the diagrams in which the selected image is used. |
Show Element Use |
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Rename |
Click on this button to change the filename of the selected image. The option first warns you that the change would impact the other elements that use this image, and prompts you to confirm that you want to go ahead with the name change. If you continue, a prompt displays for you to enter the new filename. |
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Add New |
Click on this button to display options for importing images from a file system or from the clipboard.
Internally, the images are stored in .png or metafile format to conserve space. You can also add images by:
If necessary, you can change the file name using the 'Rename' option. Shortcut: |
Import Image Library Export Reference Data Import Reference Data Changing Element Appearance |
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Update Selected |
Click on this button to refresh the selected image; for example, after it has been modified. A browser screen displays for you to select the updated image file from its parent directory. Shortcut: |
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Add Description |
Displays the 'Image Description' dialog, in which you enter a title for the image and a brief description to identify any significant facts about the image, such as its purpose, of the version it represents. |
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Convert to Image Asset |
Displays a message warning that the image will be converted to an Image Asset Artifact in the currently-selected Package. The image will be removed from the Image Manager and can no longer be applied to another element, but the Image Asset element itself can be added to diagrams and called into documentation via a hyperlink. |
Artifact Image Assets |
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Delete |
(Not available for an image from a deployed MDG Technology.) Click on this button to delete the selected image. A message displays to indicate how many elements use the image. Click on the to delete information about the image from those elements, which then revert to their previous appearance. Shortcut: |
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Cancel |
Click on this button to close the Image Manager. |
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OK |
Click on this button to confirm selection of the alternative image for the element selected in the diagram. Shortcut: |
Notes
- If you do not want an element to continue to have a default image or an alternative image, assign it the '--NONE--' option in the image list
- In the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate editions of Enterprise Architect, if security is enabled you must have 'Configure Images' permission to configure alternative element images
- If you are connected to a SQL Server repository, you require ALTER permission on the t_image table in Enterprise Architect, to be able to import model images
- For elements with Lifelines, such as those used on Sequence diagrams, the Lifeline must remain intact so that messages can be created between the elements; therefore such elements cannot have alternative images
- There are two categories of image available through the Image Manager:
- Images that have been imported into the model and are stored in the model
- Images that are incorporated into a deployed MDG Technology, which are not copied into the
current model but are held in memory; the technology images can be identified by the Technology
name followed by the image file name, such as 'MDGFrame::ovalshape.emf', but can also be
accessed by their short form (the name minus the technology name) - If you are creating many elements of the same type that have a particular image, you should use a custom stereotype with an associated metafile
- If an element has an image, the element name is likely to be hidden; you can display the name underneath the image by right-clicking on the element and selecting 'Appearance | Show Name Under Image', and hide it again by selecting 'Appearance | Hide Name Under Image'
- You can transport image files between models, using the 'Configure > Model > Transfer > Export Reference Data' and 'Import Reference Data' ribbon options