Author Topic: Can we sort the element view in ToolBox Gallery (Read 4704 times)

joebob · « **on:** May 30, 2006, 02:36:37 pm »

Hi: I found using EA not very intutitve. Can some tell me is it possible to sort the EA tool box by name in ascending or descending order. Can some one please also shed some light how to get hold of system boundary elelment. I checked there documentation but never found how to get hold of that element (that tells me there documentation is also not very intutitve)

«Midnight» · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2006, 02:50:51 pm »

JoeBob,

I do believe you ~~can~~ can not sort the toolbox entries. [Anyone out there is welcome (very welcome) to prove me wrong on this.]

The system boundary object you need is the same 'Boundary' element that appears on the Use Case toolbox. Note that this is completely different from (and not even distantly related to) the boundary element in the Analysis toolbox.

You can also obtain a system boundary element from the element toolbar (usually under the main menu). It is the empty square - which is a bit different from the icon in the toolbar - and by default appears to the right of the "Link" dropdown. Its tooltip reads New Boundary. Note that you have to click on this element, then click on your diagram to create a new boundary; I only mention this because I keep trying to drag and drop, then wonder why nothing happens.

In order to change the shape of the boundary (to a rounded rectangle of an ellipse) you need to select the boundary, then right-click, then choose Advanced Settings / Shape and select the one you want. Some other important properties can be set from context menu's Properties dialog. The usual appearance settings are available from the Appearance (F4) dialog, as with other elements.

HTH,
David

thomaskilian · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2006, 03:19:09 pm »

Quote

JoeBob,

I do believe you can sort the toolbox entries. [Anyone out there is welcome (very welcome) to prove me wrong on this.]

It sounds like you meant "can't" in which case I'd join you

joebob · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2006, 03:19:42 pm »

Thanks for the respose Midnight. I think the confussion is becuase of the way your document reference "System Boundary" element; now I know it is just "Boundary". BTW I still can't be able to sort the elements in the list.

«Midnight» · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2006, 03:44:28 pm »

Sorry JoeBob,

See Thomas' post above, and my correction. I did forget to include the word "not" as he pointed out.

Sorry about sending you on a goose chase.

David

«Midnight» · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2006, 03:45:05 pm »

BTW: Be careful about (system) boundaries if you use the diagram layout function. It does not respect boundaries, or at least not the way you'll expect.

thomaskilian · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2006, 11:18:54 pm »

We should bring this to Sparx attention via Bug report, shouldn't we?

«Midnight» · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2006, 03:35:42 am »

I've brought it to their attention through the forum, as one of two issues with boundaries. They responded to confirm my assumption (including that the boundaries did not retain their 'children' on layout) was correct. They did not appear to see this as a problem.

I suspect without proof that this is part of the whole 'layout is primarily for class diagrams' thing.

I'm inclined to wait for EA 6.5 to appear, since they will definitely have to revisit the layout code during this upgrade. I don't want to delay its release, and think this is the kind of thing that can be attacked once 6.5 is in the can.

thomaskilian · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2006, 04:58:37 am »

I can not completely agree with you, David. If there are known bugs, there should be also a way to get rid of them. I would like to have any next release with a statement "all know bugs resolved", except maybe those where you do not have a handy solution. So I better like to wait a bit more if I could get it right then. Unfortunately EA has also the featuremania disease. I know this from a very recent product I've been working with and it caused major illness. The patient was nearly dead and still is suffering. And also we should not forget about Paolo's law (CCC).

«Midnight» · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2006, 05:22:01 am »

Agreed.

In this case there are a few things that will be in 6.5 that I have been hoping and waiting for. I also suspect, without proof, that some (note that word please, my anticipation is less than giddy) of the documentation will catch up in a couple of areas - shape scripts for one.

While I'd like to imagine a feature complete, all known issues resolved version, I'll settle for stepwise improvement. I think we (collectively) are having an effect in driving development in the correct direction, with CCC being one of the principles. To that end I've agreed - under separate cover - that the "influencers" idea needs to be revived.

More on this later, I'm sure.

David

joebob · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:33:14 pm »

Thanks David and Thomas, you guys have been great help. Sorry if I sounded like winnie; EA is a great tool, consider this feature when ever you have time to squeeze this one.

Best Regards

«Midnight» · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:38:39 pm »

I'm glad you're up and running.

As to the rest, EA is feature-rich, nobody can be expected to know everything. This is the place to go when you have questions.

I sometimes just read through what's being posted in the forum. I've learned a lot about EA, quite a bit about UML, and seen some very interesting ideas here.

All the best,
David

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