Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.
Custom Stereotypes
UML supports a large number of stereotypes, which are an inbuilt mechanism for logically extending or altering the meaning, physical appearance and syntax of a model element. Different model elements have different stereotypes associated with them.
In Enterprise Architect you can create new stereotypes with their own custom appearance. The stereotypes can be altered to make use of metafiles (image files) and customized colors, or you can make use of an Enterprise Architect Shape Script to make new element shapes to determine the shape and dimensions of the element.
Access: Settings | UML Types > Stereotypes
How to:
To add your own custom stereotypes, follow the steps below:
Step |
Action |
|---|---|
1 |
On the Stereotypes tab, type or select a Stereotype name |
2 |
Select a Base Class from the drop-down list |
3 |
Associate a Metafile with this stereotype - click on the Metafile radio button and the Assign button, and locate the required .emf or .wmf file |
4 |
Enter optional Notes and select Default Colors for this stereotype |
5 |
Click on the Save button to save the stereotype |
The table below describes the functions of the Stereotypes tab.
Field |
Usage |
See also |
|---|---|---|
Stereotype |
Specify the name of the stereotype |
|
Group name |
Enable grouping of stereotype features by a plural name, for attributes and operations, which is shown on diagrams in the attribute and operations compartments |
|
Base Class |
Enable the stereotyped element to inherit the base characteristics from a pre-existing element type |
|
Notes |
Type any notes concerning the stereotype (not the elements to which the stereotype is to be applied) |
|
Override Appearance |
|
|
None |
Switch to the default element appearance |
|
Metafile |
Enable an image file to be used for the appearance of the stereotype |
|
Shape Script |
Specify custom shapes for the stereotype using the Enterprise Architect Shape Scripting language |
|
Assign |
Add the associated metafile or Shape Script from the stereotyped element |
|
Remove |
Remove the associated metafile or Shape Script from the stereotyped element |
|
Default Colors |
|
|
Fill |
Set the default background color of the element |
|
Border |
Control the border color |
|
Font |
Control the color of the stereotype font |
|
Reset |
Reset the appearance of the element to the default element appearance |
|
Notes:
- You can transport custom stereotype definitions between models, using the Export Reference Data and Import Reference Data options
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