Adding to diagram from Toolbox v Project Browser

[Matt H]

Apologies for this elementary question, but please can somebody clarify the difference between adding an element to a diagram from the Project Browser versus adding from the Toolbox?

For example, I have created an MDG technology that includes a stereotype called m_entity (extends Object).  If I add an instance of m_entity to a diagram from the Toolbox, called O1, it is displayed as <<m_entity>>O1.  However if I add an instance by dragging from the Project Browser (chosing to paste as an instance), called O2, it is displayed as O2:m_entity.

Many thanks.

[qwerty]

Paste as instance will actually create an instance of an element. That is a new object classified with the base class. You could alternatively create an object and manually classify that the drag-n-drop is more convenient. Else there is no difference between creating an element from the toolbox, via diagram context menu or via the project browser icon.

q.

[Matt H]

Thanks for the reply.  Do you know why the instances are displayed differently ( <<m_entity>>O1 versus O2:m_entity)?

[Nizam Mohamed]

Matt the former is an actual element O1 (Stereotype m_element), the latter is an instance of type m_entity. (display Syntax Name:Type)
Try pressing Ctrl when dragging and dropping from the project browser and choose the "link" option, this will paste the element as is (instead as an instance)

[Matt H]

Understood.  Thank you Nizam and qwerty.