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

Objects

The Objects page of the Options dialog enables you to configure how elements look and respond in diagrams.

Access:     Tools | Options > Objects

Use to:

  • Change how elements look and respond

Reference:

Field

Usage

See also

Version

Set the default version for new elements

 

Phase

Set the default phase for new elements

 

Highlight References

Highlight parameters in operations that are passed by reference rather than value

 

Reference Char(s)

Specify a character to use for the reference

 

Prefix/Suffix

Indicate whether to use the Reference Char(s) value as a prefix (before) or a suffix (after)

 

Warn about spaces in class names

Enable or hide the warning message that a Class, operation or attribute name has embedded spaces (which can cause coding problems)

 

Classes honor analysis stereotypes

Show Classes as their stereotype; for example, if a Class is stereotyped as a Boundary, it appears as a Boundary rather than a Class

 

Show stereotype icon for requirements

Show or hide a code letter in the top right corner of Requirement (E, for external), Change (C) and Issue (I) elements

 

Support for Composite Objects

Enable you to drag child elements onto parent elements in a diagram, and automatically embed them (and drag embedded child elements out of parent elements, breaking the child-parent relationship)

Move Elements Within Diagrams

Auto-resize marks diagram 'dirty'

Ensure that auto-resizing of elements (such as Classes) marks the current diagram as changed (asterisk on the diagram name tab), so it should be saved

 

Highlight {abstract} elements

Highlight abstract elements with a suitable tag {abstract} in the top right of the Class

 

Allow elongated Use Cases

Stretch Use Cases or Use Case extension points with long names to enable space for the name

If you deselect the checkbox, Use Case re-sizing is proportional and the 'make same' menu options are blocked

Position Submenus

Show status colors on diagrams

Enable color coding for Requirements and similar elements

Status Types

Copy inheritance links on duplicate

Duplicate Inheritance and Realization connectors when an edit/copy is performed

 

Port and Part type visible by default

Enable Port and Part types to be shown by default

 

Show buttons for selected Object on diagram

Display the floating toolbar buttons to the left of the selected object; for example:

FloatingButtons

 

Edit Object on New

Automatically show the element Properties dialog when a new element is added

 

Show �column� stereotype

Hide or show the �column� stereotype used when data modeling

 

Extend Complexity

Extend levels of complexity to five levels in the Complexity option in the Properties window; otherwise only three levels are available

 

UML 1.5 Components

Use UML 1.5 components (Enterprise Architect versions 4.0 and later support UML 2.x)

 

Show State Compartment

Show or hide the State Compartment divider under the state name

 

Show Duplicate Tags

Enable duplicate tags to be shown

 

Group Operations by Stereotype

Group an element's operations by their stereotype on the diagram

 

Group Attributes by Stereotype

Group an element's attributes by their stereotype on the diagram

 

Sort Features Alphabetically

Sort element features alphabetically

Features include Attributes, Operations, Tags, Constraints and Test Cases

 

Disable spelling

Turn off automatic spell checking

Deselect to resume automatic spell checking

Spell Checking

Advanced

Set the visibility of certain elements in reports and in diagram packages

Element Visibility