Sparx Systems Forum

Enterprise Architect => Suggestions and Requests => Topic started by: Paolo F Cantoni on June 24, 2005, 12:10:19 am

Title: TIP: Pseudo Feature Drag-and-Drop
Post by: Paolo F Cantoni on June 24, 2005, 12:10:19 am

I have previously suggested to the Sparxians that they implement the ability to Drag-and-Drop Features (Attributes and Operations etc) between Classes.   8) 8) 8)

In that suggestion I noted that something like the pseudo Drag-and-Drop they've implemented with moving connectors (Shift-Left-Click) would be a nice interim... 8)

Today, I got to thinking consistently and orthogonally and it seemed to me I could emulate that last idea with EXISTING EA (inline) functionality...  :o

[size=13]SO... If you've every wanted to easily move/copy  features between classes... Read on![/size]

First of all you need to understand inline feature editing.

Select a Class with a feature (Attribute or Operation).  Select the feature, press F2.  You'll see some aspect of the feature highlighted.  Type away and you are overwriting the aspect (name, stereotype, parameters etc).

Press Home, press Shift-End.  You now have the entire feature selected.  (At least the part that is rendered - Constraints, for example, aren't captured this way).

Press Copy.

Goto another Class.  

To override an existing feature, go through the selection process above and press Paste!

To add the feature to the target Class - press Ctrl+Shift+F9 (for Attribute) or Ctrl+Shift+F10 (for Operation).  Reselect the whole (new) feature, press Paste!

1)  You've just saved yourself a lot of work!
2)  You've been consistent in your replication!

Now, if the Sparxians can just add the real thing... 8)

Enjoy!  ;D
Paolo

BTW: Sorry if you ALL knew how to do this already....

Title: Re: TIP: Pseudo Feature Drag-and-Drop
Post by: mikewhit on June 24, 2005, 12:39:10 am

Hey, easy with those smilies  >:( >:( >:(

Title: Re: TIP: Pseudo Feature Drag-and-Drop
Post by: Dani on June 24, 2005, 01:04:02 am

Alternatively you can drag an attribute or operation from a class in project view onto a class on your diagram, which does a copy. To do a move you can drag the attribute/operation from one class in project view to another class in project view.

Title: Re: TIP: Pseudo Feature Drag-and-Drop
Post by: Paolo F Cantoni on June 24, 2005, 01:32:49 am

Quote

Alternatively you can drag an attribute or operation from a class in project view onto a class on your diagram, which does a copy. To do a move you can drag the attribute/operation from one class in project view to another class in project view.

Thanks Dani,

Your technique is BETTER than mine!

Sheepishly, :-[

Paolo