Author Topic: Copied a Diagram (Shallow Type) now to unlink? (Read 6411 times)

Marcus Camby · « **on:** July 30, 2012, 12:14:32 pm »

Hi all,

I have made a copy of a diagram in EA, just a simple Swim Lane process flow.

However I chose the 'shallow' type of copy method which links objects from the source to the target diagram and vice versa.

Unfortunately this means changing one affects the other.

I have tried to look in properties at the object and diagram level and cannot seem to find an intuitive option that performs the unlink.

How can I change it so that they are no longer linked?

Help appreciated.

I am running Sparx EA 9.0.907.

RoyC · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:37:37 pm »

Could you delete the shallow copy and then make a deep copy?

Marcus Camby · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:53:39 pm »

Quote

Could you delete the shallow copy and then make a deep copy?

Yes this would be the ultimate fall back option.

There has been significant work on the new flow chart and I'd like to avoid re-doing it if there are no other options.

I am hoping there is a facility to de-couple the source and target charts.

Eve · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:16:29 pm »

On an individual element you can copy and paste as new.

But I would recommend a slight adjustment to Roy's suggestion. Copy the shallow copied diagram, paste a deep copy of that then delete the shallow copy.

You don't lose the work you've done and it achieves the same goal.

Geert Bellekens · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:16:55 pm »

Marcus,

You're thinking too much Visio, and not enough UML model.

The main thing you are working on in EA is the UML model. That is the tree you see in the project browser with elements of all kinds, attributes, operations and diagrams.
Between those elements there are relations (which are sadly not visible in the project browser, but that's another topic).
Now your diagrams just show some of these elements and their relations in some user friendly way.
Now if you make a shallow copy of a diagram then only the diagram is being copied, not the elements it shows.

So there's no "link" between one diagram and the other (and so obviously no option to "unlink"), you just have two diagrams showing the same set of elements.

The only option I see at the moment is to make a deep copy of the first diagram, and replace each and every element in your "shallow copy diagram" by the equivalent element on your "deep copy diagram".

Geert

RoyC · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:44:17 pm »

Maybe you are thinking too much, period. As Geert explains, your two diagrams initially showed two identical arrangements of the one set of elements, and you have now edited the 'shallow' diagram into a different arrangement of those same elements; from the sounds of it, you have also added more elements and connectors to the 'shallow' diagram - correct?

Surely all you need to do is make a 'deep' copy of your amended diagram, which makes a new set of elements that you can now edit in isolation from the source elements, as Simon suggests.

What else are you trying to achieve?

Sunshine · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2012, 01:25:24 pm »

The deep copy is probably the best option however just a thought for you is that you could convert each object to an instance as an alternative. Select the object and right click and you should find that option under the the advance menu. This way you get a link to the original object too. You might do this for instances of nodes for environments like, dev, test, prod, DR etc.

Marcus Camby · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2012, 02:52:00 pm »

Just like to that you all for your help (Geert and co).

I was thinking too much and it was resolved soon after.

Cheers.

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