Sparx Systems Forum
Enterprise Architect => Suggestions and Requests => Topic started by: MWHBS on February 13, 2023, 07:25:53 pm
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Hi everyone
I have a seconed suggestion, but this is more a question if such a function already exists. In some diagrams I add elements and everything looks fine. But then I gather more and more information and suddenly I need more space between the elements. In a way I would like to just stretch a canvas at a certain point and add more space vertically or horizontally. This is different from selecting each and every single item and move them to another place. And it would be great to have the opposite function as well to remove unnecessary space.
Does something like this already exist in EA? I know it from other tools and used it there a lot.
Best regards
Martin
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Not really. There is a sweep function which I have ever used only when it was introduced. It sort of moves everything LRT or B depending on the main direction you move the mouse. I even dont rememeber how to start it. Ctrl-Move or Shift-Move or so...
q.
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Thanks for your suggestion. I tried both combinations, but it seems that it just grabs something like a boundary with all items in it and let me move them around (shift + move). Ctrl + seems to do a paste action. But it does not just add space between the items. Still, I will see if this helps me. And if at any time a space adding/removing tool would be implemented, it could be a great enhancement.
Thank you!
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Ah, it was Alt-Move...
q.
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Hi qwerty.
Thank you very much! This is exactly what I needed and I was looking for that for quite a while. I am very new to this forum. Can I somehow mark this as solved and is there someting like an endorsement function?
Best regards
Martin
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PS: Can I somehow make a visual shortcut (like a button in the UI) to use this function?
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This forum is not state of the art. It's here and that's fine. But that is what can be said positively. Threads stay open and searching is more or less a PITA. Sometimes you're lucky, more often not. Google is better in finding results. No problem if you come with some issue well known. Happens everyone with EA to hit his head when entering the door. Headaches usually go away after some times.
q.
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Hello Martin,
Just for your information, you can use this feature with only left-dragging by checking the 'Sweeper' checkbox in the Layout ribbon, Helpers panel.
HTH,
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Thank you very much. Now I have even two ways to accomplish this :)
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I don't know if your are talking about the same feature, but I use it in the following way: first, select the elements you want to move; then go to menu: "Layout | Tools | Diagram Layout | Converge/Diverge" and that's it
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It shows some similarities, but it is not the same.
Besides I can also add something to the sweeper function. It works good in a diagram with many elements arranged somewhere, but it has its shortcomings when trying in a diagram with pools. Then it does not work in the way I want, but instead it always grabs the entire pool and everything in it. But I can live with it and I am already very happy with the sweeper function.
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A useful trick when working with diagrams that contain pools and lanes, is to set them to non-selectable (see context menu)
That way you can move around the contents all you want, without interfering with those pools and lanes
Geert
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Cool, thanks for the advice. I will use that.
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A useful trick when working with diagrams that contain pools and lanes, is to set them to non-selectable (see context menu)
That way you can move around the contents all you want, without interfering with those pools and lanes
Geert
Dear Geert
I have to ask, if there is anything else I must do. I have made the pool not selectable and still they are moved around.
Best regards
Martin
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If you set the pool non-selectable, you cannot by accident move the pool when selecting multiple elemnets to move.
Not sure if there are other ways it can be moved, but not anymore by selecting it.
Geert
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Dear Geert
Thanks, but perhaps I was inprecise in my explaination. I am not selecting individual elements and try to move them, but I have a diagram with pools in it. And in these pools I have several items like tasks and and notes and so on. And when I then go to the context menu of each pool, mark it as non-selectable and then activate the sweeper tool, everything is moved including the non-selectable pools. This is confusing for me. Do you have a solution suggestion?
Best regards
Martin
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You can multiple select element by dragging the mouse starting at an empty space on your diagram.
Using Alt-Drag sortof does the same thing as the sweeper tool, but it leaves the non-selectable elements alone.
I've never actually used the sweeper tool; somehow I never really needed to I guess ???
Geert
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Dear Geert
I must be doing something wrong. I wish I could send you a demo picture here. Therefore I can only tell you that I set the pool to non-selectable and even with alt-drag it is moved for unknown reasons.
Best regards
Martin
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Trying a different angle: Is it possible to somehow unlink elements from the pool they are in? Because I guess that the moved items within the pool are dragging the pool with them.
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Sweeper actually moves the pool and lanes as well regardless if it is selectable or not
Easy to reproduce:
1) Make a new diagram with a pool and one or two lanes
2) Add elements to the lanes
3) Set pools and lanes as not selectable
4) Sweep
5) Sigh at the result
Knowing Sparx
If you would file a bug my guess they will say working as intended but you can always try
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Trying a different angle: Is it possible to somehow unlink elements from the pool they are in? Because I guess that the moved items within the pool are dragging the pool with them.
True, alt-dragging indeed moves the pool as well, I tried it and it seemed to work, but I must have done something wrong when testing before.
It does work with multi-selecting elements though, so that might be a workaround
Geert
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Thanks! That is unfortunate, but at least I know that it's not me, but a lack in functionality. And do you know if an element can be unlinked from a pool?
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And do you know if an element can be unlinked from a pool?
You can just drag it out of the pool/lane/parent element in the browser window