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Browser - Resources

The 'Resources' tab of the Browser window is a repository of project-standard and re-usable document publishing templates, MDG Technologies, Relationship Matrix profiles, commonly-used model elements, stylesheets, UML Profiles and Patterns. The tab provides facilities for creating and modifying these structures and facilities and, in many cases, for applying the facility to the current model directly from the window.

Access

Ribbon

Start > All Windows > Design > Explore > Browse > Resources

Explore > Portals > Windows > Explore > Resources

Settings > Reference Data > Resources

Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt+6

Resources available through the Resources tab

Notes

  • In the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate Editions of Enterprise Architect, if security is enabled you must have 'Configure Resources' permission to maintain 'Resources' tab items
  • For a number of folders in the 'Resources' tab, the right-click context menu also offers a 'Help' option that, when you select it, displays a brief description of the folder

Resource

Description

See also

Document Publishing

The Document Publishing folder holds three sub-folders, each of which provides the facilities for generating a particular type of document or report from your model.

  • Report Library - this folder contains the Resource documents (report specifications) you have created in the Document Report Generator, and where appropriate held under document group sub-folders; you can right-click on the document name to generate documents individually or as a batch, open the generated document, or delete the report specification
  • System Templates - this subfolder contains system-defined report templates, Fragments, Cover Pages, Style Sheets and Table of Contents definitions
    You can right-click on these template names and select options to display the template contents or to copy the template as the basis of a custom (user-defined) template that you work on in the Document Template Editor, under a different name; you can also select the 'Override' option to create a copy of the system template as a user template with the same name
  • Custom Templates - this sub-folder also has sub-folders for report templates, Fragments, Cover Pages, Style Sheets and Tables of Contents, but these are the templates that you have created yourself using the Document Template Editor, either as new or by copying and editing another template
    You can right-click on these template names and select options to create, delete, rename, modify, move or copy a user-defined template; you have additional options to mark a report template as a Fragment, or a Fragment as a report template, if they are suitable for this reclassification
    You can also 'drag and drop' user-defined templates between user-defined groups, and between these groups and the appropriate standard 'type' folders; for example, from 'DavidCover' to 'Cover Pages'
All About Document Templates Template Fragments Design Custom Document Templates Save As Document recipe

Linked Documents

This folder holds the Linked Document templates, either system provided, user-defined for the Model, or supplied with each MDG Technology that is enabled on the system. You can edit or delete any of the existing Model or MDG Templates, or create new ones from scratch or by copying an existing template - including copying the system-provided Linked Document templates.

You can also re-assign the templates to different template groups, either another of the existing groups or a new one that you create as part of the assignment.

Linked Documents

Dynamic Documents

The Dynamic Documents folder contains the user-defined style templates for generating dynamic documents on selected elements. The document is automatically generated when you select the element in the 'Dynamic Document' view, having specified the template to apply.

Dynamic Document View

HTML Publishing

This folder contains the HTML style templates that you have created as alternatives to the system-supplied <default> template.

To create a new template, right-click on the folder name and select the 'Create HTML template' option, then provide a template name; this opens the HTML and CSS Style Editor, in which you create the template from HTML fragments.

You can right-click on the template names and select options to delete the template or modify the template contents.

Create HTML Style Templates HTML Template Fragments

MDG Technologies

The MDG Technologies folder lists the MDG Technologies that have been imported directly into the 'Resources' tab. Each technology extends the modeling capabilities and facilities of Enterprise Architect. System Technologies are those provided with Enterprise Architect, and Addin Technologies are those deployed from an installed Add-In.

You can import Technologies into your project by right-clicking on the MDG Technologies folder and selecting the 'Import Technology' menu option. The 'Import MDG Technology' dialog then gives you the option to import the Technology to:

  • 'User' Technologies, for your individual use
  • 'Model' Technologies, for all project users to access (this folder originally contained all Technologies imported into the model)

The User Technologies folder provides a facility for locating the technology files on the system.

If you have any MDG Technologies in a folder, the Technology can be expanded to show its contents, which can include:

  • UML Profiles:
         -  Displays the list of non-abstract stereotypes in each profile from the technology
         -  Each stereotype will be displayed with their icon, if one is specified in the profile
         -  Allows you to create stereotyped elements and connectors on a diagram; drag
            the element stereotype from the folder onto the diagram to create an element, and
            click on the connector stereotype and drag between elements to create the connector
  • Diagram Types:
         -  Displays the list of diagram profiles for the technology
  • Layouts:
         -  Displays the list of workspace layouts defined by the technology
         -  Allows you to select and apply a layout
  • Linked Document Templates:
         -  Displays the list of linked document templates defined by the technology
         -  Allows you to view each template and create a copy of it for customization
  • Model Templates:
         -  Displays the list of model templates defined by the technology
         -  Allows you to open the Start Page 'Create from Pattern' tab (Model Wizard) to a template, if available in the current Perspective
  • Scripts:
         -  Displays the list of scripts defined by the technology
         -  Allows you to select and run any of the scripts in the Scripting window
  • Toolboxes:
         -  Displays the list of toolbox pages defined by the technology
         -  Allows you to open any of the toolbox pages in the Diagram Toolbox, regardless of the current Perspective

You can right-click on these structures and select options to delete the Technology, review the Patterns or Profiles, or invoke the code modules.

If you remove the Technology, it is removed from the 'Resources' tab of the Browser window, the 'MDG Technologies' dialog, and the model.

Consider the fact that some MDG Technologies can be large and might impose some delays on the workstation as they load each time a user connects to the model.

MDG Technologies Import MDG Technologies to Model Manage MDG Technologies

Model Patterns

The Model Patterns folder holds Model Patterns that have been imported into the model from external sources, including those developed within your own organization. Each Pattern XML file will have a matching .rtf file to explain the Pattern to users. Model Patterns generate modeling structures (Packages, diagrams and elements) within your model.

Import a Model Pattern Create a Data Model from a Model Pattern

Matrix Profiles

The Matrix Profiles folder contains a list of Relationship Matrix Profiles that you or your team members have created using the Relationship Matrix or Specification Manager. You simply double-click on a Matrix Profile name to quickly open the Relationship Matrix under the settings defined in the Profile.

Matrix Profiles Create Matrix Profile

Favorites

Deprecated, from Release 15.2.

This feature originally provided a shortcut to each commonly-used element that you added to the folder, so that you could quickly and easily locate those elements in the Browser window. There are now other features that enable you to identify specific elements in a similar or even better way, such as:

  • Focus Window, 'Model Views' tab, Favorites View folder
  • Focus window, 'Working Sets' tab
  • The Browser window 'Add as Favorite to' context menu option

If you have previously stored Favorites in the Resources window Favorites folder, you can locate them again by creating and running a search using this SQL text:

SELECT t_object.ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, t_object.Object_Type AS CLASSTYPE, t_object.Name AS Element, t_object.Object_Type AS [Type],t_object.Stereotype, t_object.Author, t_object.Scope, t_object.Status, t_object.Phase, t_object.CreatedDate, t_object.ModifiedDate

FROM

t_object, t_xref

WHERE t_xref.[Type]= 'favorite' and t_object.ea_guid = t_xref.Supplier

Order By t_object.Object_Type, t_object.Name

Working Sets Model Views Refine Browser Content Create Search Definitions

XSL Stylesheets

The XSL Stylesheets folder contains XSL stylesheets that you or your team members have imported into the model. These XSL stylesheets support the optional step of converting XMI files exported from the model into alternative formats such as HTML, XSL or source code. Stylesheets imported here are then available in the drop-down lists on the 'Publish Model Package' dialog and the 'Generate GML Application Schema' dialog.

Combined with UML Profiles, this is an effective means of extending Enterprise Architect to generate almost any content required.

To import a stylesheet:

  1. Right-click on the folder name and select the 'Import Stylesheet' option.
  2. Locate and select the stylesheet file in the browser, and click on the Open button.
  3. Provide a reference name for the file, and click on the OK button.

Once the stylesheet is in the folder, you can select context menu options to reload it (if it has been changed at the source) or delete it.

Publish Model Package Generate GML Application Schema

UML Profiles

A Profile is a source of modified or extended element and connector types that you have developed from the UML base types. You can import each new Profile into this folder, and then create elements and connectors of the new types by dragging the icons from the Profile onto a diagram.

Once you have Profiles in the folder, you can select options for arranging them in order of name or type, viewing a Profile description, or deleting a Profile.

It is possible to synchronize the Tagged Values and constraints for any elements created from a Profile element in the 'Resources' tab.

Importing and applying Profiles through the 'Resources' tab is not recommended; it is recommended that you load and apply Profiles as components of MDG Technologies.

UML Profiles in the Resources Window Import UML Profiles Into the Resources Window Synchronize Tagged Values and Constraints Developing Profiles

Patterns

The Patterns folder is a folder of Design Patterns that you or your team members have imported into the model. A Pattern captures complex new elements and features that you can drag into a diagram without having to retype or reconfigure each element.

Within the folder, the Patterns are grouped by type. Once you have Patterns within a group, you can select options to delete a selected Pattern or all Patterns in the group, view a Pattern's details, or apply a Pattern to an empty diagram.

Design Patterns Publish a Pattern Import a Model Pattern Use a Pattern

Learn more