Add Static Content

The main purpose of a Custom Document is to capture up-to-date information from the repository via Dynamic content, but you will also need to incorporate Static content to explain or connect the Dynamic text.  For example, you might write some Static text describing the types of Requirements and how some were derived from the analysis of stakeholder requests, and then drag in a Package of Requirements from the Browser window as Dynamic text and apply a template that puts elements into the document as a table.

You can create Static content by typing or pasting text directly into the document and applying styles and formatting. Enterprise Architect has a fully-featured document editor that helps you to enter and manage Static content in the document. The editor facilities are available through the Document - Edit ribbon, which is automatically enabled when a document is open in the workspace. This image shows some of the formatting options available from the ribbon.

This image shows an example of Static content that has been pasted into the document and is rendered according to the styles defined in the Linked Document template. See the Editing Documents and Templates Help topic.

Inserting and Formatting Tables

Just as if you were using your favorite word processor, you can insert tables and format them to suit the content, including adding rows and columns, and changing border style and cell spacing. These tables could be used in the document preamble for sections such as versions of the document, or audience, or in the body of the document. This image shows some of the options for working with tables.

Inserting Breaks, Headers, Footers and Extras

Amongst the wide range of features for working with Static content in a custom document are options to add page and section breaks, headers and footers, tables of content, footnotes, and paragraph and text formatting. There are also several guides such as horizontal and vertical rulers.

Inserting Static Images and Objects

Whilst many of the images in a Custom Document will be inserted dynamically from the Browser window, there will be occasions where you might want to add an image from a local or network drive; for example, an organization or project logo, or an image from another tool.

It is worth remembering that these too could be added to a repository diagram and inserted as Dynamic content.

Spelling and Thesaurus

When working with both Static and Dynamic content you can configure Enterprise Architect to auto spell-check, and you can also use an inbuilt thesaurus to find alternative words to make your document richer. Spelling can be configured by setting a number of options available from the Document - Edit ribbon, as illustrated by this image.

Using Track Changes

The document edit facilities in Enterprise Architect allow you to work collaboratively with other modelers. One feature that will help you when working with Static text in Custom Documents is Track Changes. This allows you to track the changes as you or others work with the document. This image shows a Static part of the document where Track Changes have been enabled and some text has been changed; the deleted and added text is shown in red.

Baselines and Version Control can be used to 'track changes' in the Dynamic parts of the document.