Multiple deficiencies for Multiple Selections

[adama]

1. When selecting multiple elements or connectors, it would be great if one could apply the same change to all the elements selected.  Reference how Visio handles shape data. Only the common attributes are mutable when multiple shapes are selected.

2. It is currently impossible to select multiple connectors, which is very inconvenient.

3. When selecting multiple elements, one cannot select a second element that is within a BOUNDARY. So, if the first element selected is within a boundary, you can select it. But, any other element that is within a boundary is not selectable. Rather, you will select the boundary box, unintentionally, and in error.  WORKAROUND: select all the shapes you want with a stretchy selection, and then CTRL+Click on the boundary shape.

[qwerty]

Welcome. This has been requested since ages and Sparx has moved only a little bit (no, hare and tortoise will not apply here) towards what most people know as object-oriented. If I had not been dreaming, I remember Geert said something about an upcoming improvement with multiple connectors. I need to see that.

q.

[Geert Bellekens]

1. When selecting multiple elements or connectors, it would be great if one could apply the same change to all the elements selected.  Reference how Visio handles shape data. Only the common attributes are mutable when multiple shapes are selected.

2. It is currently impossible to select multiple connectors, which is very inconvenient.

3. When selecting multiple elements, one cannot select a second element that is within a BOUNDARY. So, if the first element selected is within a boundary, you can select it. But, any other element that is within a boundary is not selectable. Rather, you will select the boundary box, unintentionally, and in error.  WORKAROUND: select all the shapes you want with a stretchy selection, and then CTRL+Click on the boundary shape.

2) There is a workaround for selecting multiple connectors using the relationships window. That window will also allow to do bulk line style changes to all selected connectors.
3) The trick is to make the boundary "non selectable" (there is a checkbox in the context menu that will allow you to do so). If the boundary is non-selectable then it i completely ignored by the selection mechanism.

Geert

[Paolo F Cantoni]

3) if the boundary is transparent, the z-order may be incorrect.  Select it and "send to bottom".  That should allow you to select the contents as required.

HTH,
Paolo

[adama]

Thanks to the usual suspects!
Geert's suggestions have very limited applicability. Relationship window only applies to elements selected. So, the useful workaround is to select all the elements that interest (or All), and then work in the window. Only allow line style and appearance.

Making boundaries non-selectable works, but is not worth the time, in most cases. One still has to move it around later.

Paolo, I tried Z-order first, and the really doesn't seem to solve the problem.

Thanks guys! You are so responsive. I really appreciate it.

[Eve]

3) The problem is that Shift+Click is also used to select from the bottom of the z-order. However, adding additional elements to a selection can also be done with Ctrl+Click.

[Geert Bellekens]

Geert's suggestions have very limited applicability. Relationship window only applies to elements selected. So, the useful workaround is to select all the elements that interest (or All), and then work in the window. Only allow line style and appearance.

For line styles I have another solution as well, see this topic: http://sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php/topic,38136.0.html

(I just saw that that was started by the OP, so only in case someone else stumbles onto this post.)

Geert