Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Package Browser

The Package Browser is a tabular, editable view of elements in a selected package, which can be displayed in the main workspace.

Access:    Project Browser > package | View | Package Browser ( Ctrl+Alt+R )
                  Project Browser > Right-click package | Package Browser
                  Diagram > Right-click package | Package Browser

Use to:

  • Streamline the process of creating and updating elements in a package selected from the Project Browser; this can be particularly useful for analysts to create and maintain formal requirement definitions within the model
  • Print the list or generate an RTF document directly from the entries on the list

Topics:

Topic

Detail

See also

The Package Browser

The Package Browser is related to the Diagram List, which lists the elements in a selected diagram; however, the Package Browser has a wider range of options

Diagram List

Formats

The Package Browser has two formats:

  • User Defined format, where you can change how the element information is structured on the screen using the value-grouping band below the toolbar
  • Model Hierarchy format, where the package and element hierarchies are represented in the display

Switch between these formats using the Show Hierarchy button (HierarchyIcon) in the toolbar

List Header

Change display

  • Sort the items by any column value in ascending or descending order, by clicking on the column header; initially the elements are listed in numerical order (if level numbering is turned on in the Project Browser) or alphabetical order within type
  • Apply a diagram filter for elements (the Fade, Gray Scale and Hide modes reduce the number of elements listed; Select mode has no effect)
  • Change the sequence of columns, by dragging column headers left or right
  • In Model Hierarchy format, the Name column is always on the left; you cannot move any other column into that position, although you can rearrange the order of the rest of the columns
     
    Because of this, if you group or sort information in User Defined format and switch to Model Hierarchy format your information structure is altered, and it is not restored when you switch back to User Defined format

Diagram filters

Display Element Properties

Double-click on the element entry

 

 

Show Elements in a Child Package

Double-click on the child package in the list

 

Select Items

Select:

  • an element by clicking on it
  • a specific value by clicking twice on it (not double-clicking); either the value becomes directly editable or the Properties dialog displays in which you can edit the value
  • several individual elements by holding ( Ctrl ) as you click on them
  • a range of elements by holding ( Shift )  as you click on the first and last in the range

 

Add new items to the package

Click on a listed element and press ( Ctrl+N )  or ( Insert ) , or right-click and select the Add New context menu option

  • in Model Hierarchy format, new elements are inserted in the order in which they appear in the Project Browser
  • in User Defined format, new items are inserted to comply with any sort order and/or grouping; if the list is not sorted or grouped, the items are added to the end

 

Add a child element to the selected element

(Model Hierarchy format)

Press ( Esc ) and then ( Ctrl+N ), otherwise, elements are added as siblings of the selected element

You can add child elements only when the whole row is selected, with none of the row cells or fields highlighted; press ( Esc ) to remove selection from an individual cell

 

 

Add elements to the Package Browser

Drag them from anywhere in the Project Browser

You can also drag elements from the Package Browser into the Project Browser

 

Delete elements from the list

Select the item and press ( Ctrl+D )

In Model Hierarchy format, you cannot delete a parent element until all its child elements have been removed or deleted

 

Include each element's notes (documentation)

Notes are shown underneath the element

To add or edit notes, click on the item and press ( Ctrl+Space ) to transfer control to the Notes window, in which you create or edit the note text

Package Browser Options

Review the element's custom (advanced) properties

Click on the item and press ( Ctrl+Enter )

The Custom Properties dialog for the element displays

 

Further Work

You can do further work on the Package Browser using the toolbar and context menu options

Package Browser Options