Custom Stereotypes: their look and deleting; HTML

[bbrown]

Hi Folks,
   I have ventured into the custom stereotypes section of EA in order to model the display of a bit of text on an HTML page.  So, my overall task is to model a web UI.  I want some of the text on the page to be represented as a GUI element since it is displayed by a server-side component.  I want the text element to be a first-class EO object.  Be that as it may.
   I created a new stereotype and made its parent class guielement.  By the by, guielement does not appear in the drop-down on the stereotypes "edit" page, Settings->UML->Stereotypes.  Why, I don't know.
 I changed the background and outline color to match the standard EA background color so the text would blend.  However, in the display, the name of the element is displayed, <<textArea>>, and the element has a drop-shadow.  I want neither of these effects.  How do I get rid of them?    I glanced at the documentation associated with creating a Shape Script, but this seems like overkill for my purposes.
   The button stereotype does not have this problem, no <<button>> and no shadow.  But, if I create a new stereo type with Base Class of button, the new stereotype does not appear anywhere in the set of stereotype drop-downs.  So, I can't pick it.  Can I find whatever config exist for button and simply copy it?
   Also, I have no idea how to delete a stereotype.  I now have stereotypes in the app with names like textIDONTKNOWHOW TODELETETHIS.  This is less than ideal.
   I am running EA 6.5.757 and I will try moving to the latest version of the code a bit later today.  It would be nice to know if this will help at all.
   Thanks for helping a newbie.  Have a great day!

   Bill
   [email protected]

[«Midnight»]

Try sorting the stereotype list by name. I know it sounds trivial, but it can help identify cases where two stereotypes have identical names - remember these are case sensitive - but different base classes.

If that does not work, try using the EA Search View to look in t_stereotype to see what's going on. In build 803 (the current build) you can reach the Search View from the EA main menu via View | Report and Search View, or with the control-alt-R shortcut. This should also work in your build. Remember that must have a project open to reach these views. EA likes to default to Report View, but you can toggle this using the option button at the top left of the main panel - you'll see it when you try this.

[bbrown]

Hi,
 Thanks for your note.
 I tried sorting on the stereotypes and this did not reveal two stereotypes with the same name.  I tried using the "Search View" to search for t_stereotype, but this brought up no results.  I placed t_stereotype in the "Search Term:" box and "Simple" was selected in the "Search:" drop down.
 Thanks again.

      Bill

[«Midnight»]

Use the drop down to select Extended (this might not be necessary). Then click the Advanced button.

On the right side of the resulting Find in Project dialog, near the top, click the New Search button.

Enter your search term (the name of the stereotype, remembering case sensitivity. For now set the radio button to the default, Query Builder. Click OK and you'll be returned to an empty copy of the Find in Project dialog.

Near the bottom of the dialog click Add (to the left of Edit Filter). Now you can search any or all of the available options to your heart's content.

If you don't find what you want, repeat the above procedure, but set the radio button to SQL Editor. Proceed as you see fit from there.

Note that these searches are saved, so you can reuse them.

[bbrown]

Hi,
   It took me some time to understand that you were suggesting that I hack into the database underlying EA.  So, I  just used Access, which provides a much better UI than EA for direct, well, access.  After struggling for longer than I should have with Design Masters vs. replicants, my term, and finally just getting back to the point where I eliminated replication, and after I learned what the EABase actually is, I now have Access access to my .eap file.
   Life is now much better, for I have found the STYLE XML element in the Style column of the t_stereotypes table.  And, by the way, I now understand what you were having me look for in the first place, the t_sterotypes table.
   I copied the STYLE element associated with the button sterotype, (I have removed the XML surrounds in case this email tool doesn't like XML or, likes it too much)

STYLE fill="-1" text="-1" border="-1" groupname="" type="" metafile""

and associate it with my "textArea" stereotype.  And, surprise surprise, I get what I want in terms of a look and feel.
   I would prefer if I had full control over the STYLE element from the UI.  If I do and I simply don't haven't figured out how, please enlighten me.  Otherwise, I would like someone to document the STYLE element so that I know exactly how I can affect the look/feel of my elements.  If worse comes to worse, I will perform experiments. :-)

   Thanks for your help.

   Bill

[«Midnight»]

You should be able to set all of these through the Settings | UML | Stereotypes dialog. Remember that these are specific to each model, so you need to open your model first.

If you later want to move these settings to another model, you can do this via and Export and Import Reference Data cycle. Choose Stereotypes from the list of reference data sets.

[bbrown]

Hi,
   Actually, I was wrong about the STYLE element having the effects I intended.  :-) I have begun writing shape scripts.

    Bill