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Image Assets
Image Assets are model elements that are used to store images in the model.
To create an Image Asset element, simply drag an 'Image Asset' icon onto a diagram from the 'Artifact' page of the Diagram Toolbox. A prompt displays to choose an image file.
Alternatively, you can drag an image file from your file system straight onto a diagram. Enterprise Architect creates a new Image Asset Artifact, then stores the image from the file in the Artifact, as the 'owned image'.
The Image Asset images can then be used as alternative images in place of the standard UML notation for elements on diagrams. They can also be used in documentation by inserting hyperlinks to the Image Asset element. When a report is generated, the hyperlinked Image Asset element is rendered using its 'owned image'.
Access
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Diagram Toolbox |
Select the 'Common Elements' page | select 'Image Asset' | click on the diagram, or Drag an 'Image Asset' Artifact from the Toolbox onto a diagram. |
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Other |
Select an image file in your file system (say, on the desktop) then drag and drop it onto a diagram in Enterprise Architect. A context menu will display; select the option 'Image Asset'. |
Using Image Assets in Documentation
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While editing the Notes of an element, or editing a Linked Document, and if you have located the Image Asset in the Browser window, you can drag the Image Asset element into the document. The 'Add Content to Document' dialog displays with the 'Insert As' field set to 'Insert as Hyperlink(s)'. Click on the to insert the element as a hyperlink that will be rendered as the image. If you need to search for the Image Asset, go to step 2. |
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2 |
Right-click in the document and choose 'Create | Hyperlink'. The 'Hyperlink Details' dialog displays. Select 'Element Image' from the drop down list. The 'Select Element' dialog displays, showing only Image Assets. |
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Browse through the model and select the required Image Asset. |
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4 |
Click on the , and on the second OK button. |
Select an Image Asset as an Element's Alternative Image
You can use one of two methods for adding an Image Asset to an element as an alternative image.
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Viewing the Image
When initially placed on the diagram the Image Asset can be rendered either as a simple Artifact element, or as the owned image. The display can be toggled from one to the other, by right-clicking the element and selecting 'Show Owned Image' from the context menu.
When the Image Asset is displayed on a diagram as a UML Artifact element, either:
- Click on the
icon off the right side of the element; the linked image is shown in a floating Diagram Pop-up window - you can pan across large images in the pop-up window by 'click + dragging' the mouse and you can close the window by clicking off the diagram image, or
- Double-click on the Image Asset to launch the default external viewer for images and load the Artifact's owned image
You can also press on a hyperlink to an Image Asset to display the image in the default external viewer.
When hovering over the hyperlink, the standard hyperlink element buttons will also be displayed, allowing you to display the 'Properties' dialog, find the element in diagrams, find the element in the Browser window, or open the Linked Document attached to the element.
Properties
To display the Properties window for the Image Asset:
- Select the element and press , or
- If the Image Asset is displayed on a diagram as the image, double-click on it, or
- If the Image Asset is referenced by a hyperlink, hover the mouse over the hyperlink to display a floating toolbar and click on the