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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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Box Layout

The Box layout arranges the set of selected elements into a square grid.

Showing a UML Class diagram where the classes are automatically arranged in a box layout.

The dimensions of the box are determined by the number of columns that either:

  • You set manually or
  • The system automatically sets to a value that results in the same number of columns and rows (for example, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 elements would all be arranged in a three-column rectangle).

Invoke the Box layout

Step

Action

See also

1

Follow the general Layout Diagrams procedure, and at step 2 select 'Box'.

 Layout Diagrams

2

Click on the drop-down arrow in the 'Sort By' field and select the required sort parameter:

  • None - elements are passed to the specified layout in the order in which they appear on the original diagram (left to right, top to bottom)
  • Area (Ascending) - elements are passed to the specified layout in order of the screen space they occupy, smallest to largest
  • Area (Descending) - elements are passed to the specified layout in order of the screen space they occupy, largest to smallest
  • Name (Ascending) - elements are passed to the specified layout in alphanumeric order, based on the element name
  • Name (Descending) - elements are passed to the specified layout in reverse alphanumeric order, based on the element name
  • Element Type - elements are grouped by type (for example, Class, Use Case) and in alphanumeric order within the group by name

3

In the 'Padding (px)' field, type the vertical and horizontal distance between elements, in pixels.

4

Select the appropriate element distribution option:

  • Automatically distribute: Automatically calculate the dimensions of the box (the square root of the number of selected elements; for example, 16 elements create a 4x4 box)
  • Specify distribution: Manually define the width of the box, in columns

5

If you selected 'Specify Distribution', in the 'Columns' field type the required number of columns.
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