Port Layout and Diagram Copy

[David Humphreys]

I am early in the learning curve for EA, so forgive me.

I am currently working on diagrams based on SysML 1.3 and I have been experimenting with nested ports. Thanks to the Sparx support, I have learned how to do this.

My problem is that laying out the ports and port annotations neatly and regularly is very difficult because there is apparently no 'snap to grid' functionality, even though this is enabled and works for placing and sizing blocks.

In an ideal world, I think that I'd like to see a two level grid with the main block placement being on the coarser grid, and ports and annotations being on a finer grid derived by a configurable number of subdivisions. This would enable the optimal compromise between rapidly achieving neat and regular placement with flexibility of annotation placement.

It is quite possible that this, or an equivalent facility is provided, though I haven't found it.

The second thing that I find distressing is that, when I copy diagrams, the placement of everything is lost in the copy. I accept that the placements on the copied diagram and the original must be independent, but I see no reason why the copy shouldn't start off identical to the original. I feel that reorganising a complex mess of randomly placed components is almost as soul destroying as starting the diagram all over again. I feel sure that I have to be missing something - it can't be supposed to be like this?

Can anybody put me straight on either of these frustrations?

[qwerty]

1) Nope. You might as for a new feature....
2) Save the diagram (do you still know how a floppy looks like???) using the Ctrl-S or the floppy icon [highlight]before[/highlight] using Ctrl-C!

q.