Disable 'Common' toolbox and quicklinker menu?

[Paulus]

Hi,

I'm want to create a very strict MDG that allows users to create only those elements & relations that are valid in my technology (it's meant for users that currently use visio, i want them to feel as comfortable as possible using this new tool so as to not scare them away ).

So far i've been able to create a MDG profile with custom stereotypes, diagrams, toolboxes and quicklinker configuration and that's working as expected, but there doesn't seem to be a way to suppress:

1) the 'Common' toolbox (i can define a toolbox that's used for all diagrams but it doesn't replace 'common'...)

2) the quicklinker also displays a 'common' submenu I can't get rid of, and even (for Object-Action links) additional Dependency, Trace and Information Flow items

Am i missing something or is there really no way to do this in EA?

Also, does anybody know of a way (short of perhaps writing an addin) to suppress creation of an element on a diagram? I thought of achieving this using the workflow script OnPreNewElement and OnPreNewConnector but it does not seem to be working.

regards

[g.makulik]

Hi,

AFAIK you can't suppress the 'Common' toolbox or quicklinker menu section. I also remember having seen that stated in the documentation somewhere (just can't find it for now).

Regarding suppression of Elements creation handling the EA_OnPreNewxxx events from an AddIn seems to be the right approach. just return false from the AddIn event handler method.
From help (http://www.sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/9.3/automation/broadcastprenewelement.html):

Return Value:

Return True to enable addition of the new element to the model. Return False to disable addition of the new element.

HTH,
Günther

[qwerty]

That's unfortunately true. You can't suppress the common toolbox. I also would like to do that, but... Maybe you will come across the point where you want to restrict your model to just your own MDG? I guess so. But here's another limitation that EA can NOT limit this. Users can still turn on any MDG they like thus clobbering your hard work and creating elements you don't like to be in the model. Time for a feature request?

q.

[Paulus]

Hi Günther and qwerty,

I was afraid of that... i'll post an RFC.

Limiting EA to only my MDG is not removing the common toolbox & QL menu's but at least it prevents additional clutter from other toolboxes (why didn't i think of that  ). Actually for the less informed user (my target) this would be enough since I'm going to remove a lot of menu items as well and don't expect them to go experimenting with putting those back (i'll try to keep them as uneducated as possible ).

Btw I suppose I could always create model validation scripts to report on deviations. Not ideal but maybe the only option left.

Thx for the help,

Paulus