Enterprise Architect - User Tips

[Nizam]

EA has never failed to surprise me with hidden gems every now and then. I've also been asked repeatedly to share EA tips and tricks to make things easier.

We've started a post in LinkedIn (EAUG) (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1356/1356-6349523866678816768)  to share these tips. Starting this thread to share these tips here too, as suggested by fellow users.

[Nizam]

Sharing the tips shared thus far (Thanks to Phil Chudley, Daniel Bjarsch for the contribution). Request fellow EA Users in this forum to please contribute too. TIA

• Use 'Ctrl + Click' to quickly create elements. Create one element (say Class) using toolox and then use 'ctrl+click' to repeat the same item
• Use F3 to repeat the last connector. Add a new connector from toolbox or quicklinker, and then use F3 to repeat the last connector.
• Uncheck 'Edit Object on New' in Preferences -> Object Tab to disable properties dialog. This will let you create elements quickly using above techniques.
• use shift +right click to get the toolboz anywhere in the diagram.
• Draw elements without toolbar by simply using 'ctrl +shift +arrow keys
• Ctrl + w to add a new view or package to a currently selected model root view or package
• Autosize (Alt + z) resizes objects to best fit. This can be quite handy when you enable / disable Element's Features (Feature Visibility)
• Pin your favorite toolboxes using 'More Tools -> Set Toolbox Visibility'. This enables the desired toolbox in all diagrams
• Space bar in an open diagram opens Toolbox context menu
• Change line styles for multiple connectors at a time using 'Relationships Window'. Select a few objects in the diagram, see all its connectors in the relationship window -> Right click -> Line Style -> Choose desired line style

[Nizam]

You can select an item in a diagram,  then use 'ctrl +shift + arrow keys' to create an item without using a mouse.

[Nizam]

Use 'alt+g' to find a selected element in Project Browser

[Nizam]

use 'ctrl + U' to find an element usage across other diagrams

[Nizam]

use 'ctrl + Tab' to switch between diagrams. one of the less known, highly useful feature to flip between item diagrams.

[Nizam]

select an object in diagram, hold ctrl and drag to a new position to create object as new ( copy)

[Sunshine]

Whilst I admire your enthusiasm I think there are two problems with your approach.

• Listing the shortcuts in a forum isn't the easiest way to find things and doesn't provide much context.
  
• Hasn't this information already been provided in the user guides?
  For example ;
  Keyboard Shortcuts
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/basics/keyboard-shortcuts.pdf
  Using Sparx EA in general
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/downloads/resources/booklets/using_enterprise_architect.pdf
  and there are other user guides available along with the context for use.
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/

[Nizam]

Whilst I admire your enthusiasm I think there are two problems with your approach.

• Listing the shortcuts in a forum isn't the easiest way to find things and doesn't provide much context.
  
• Hasn't this information already been provided in the user guides?
  For example ;
  Keyboard Shortcuts
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/basics/keyboard-shortcuts.pdf
  Using Sparx EA in general
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/downloads/resources/booklets/using_enterprise_architect.pdf
  and there are other user guides available along with the context for use.
  http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/

Thanks for the note, i wasn't intending only shortcuts, but selective usage tips. This is something I get asked in every training, to have a place where people can share their tips. i was hoping  EA users here would contribute as they find something interesting. Will do for a  sometime, and if  it is not seen highly relevant in the forum, will leave it there.

[Nizam]

Use Traceability window to quickly drag and drop a related item into the diagram. Simple Drag and drop (Classes, Components, etc) or Right click and 'Place element in Diagram' (Activity, events, etc)

[Nizam]

Copy attributes or operations  from one class to another by just dragging and dropping from Element Browser (Select source class, choose the intended attribute and drop it on the target class)

[Graham_Moir]

While I understand what Sunshine is saying, I actually find this quite useful. 

[Nabil]

Posting a tip from my old community article (unpublished now because of broken links)
Differentiate incoming & outgoing connectors of an element. Select an element in a diagram (workspace) and press "L" (keyboard) to highlight. Incoming flows will be highlighted in Red and Outgoing in Green.

Cheers
Nabil

[Nizam]

Use the 'Create multiple Elements' utility (diagram toolbox by pressing space or ctrl right click in a diagram) to quickly create multiple elements at a time.

[Nizam]

While I understand what Sunshine is saying, I actually find this quite useful.

Thanks.  Just thought this could be one thread which we all could share our little tricks that makes a modelers life more interesting.