Modify minimal height of UML model elements?

[rty]

Hi all,

The visualization of UML model elements respects minimal width and height of the displayed element's bounding box.

However, the minimal height of a component is imho too high which wastes a lot of space in diagrams. The height of the component box twice the height of the component icon. Looks inappropriate.

How can I modify the element's minimal height or switch off the min width/height check in general?

[qwerty]

For stereotyped elements of your MDG you can use shape script. For anything else you need a Template Package.

q.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

For stereotyped elements of your MDG, you can use shape script. For anything else, you need a Template Package.

q.

You can also use the cx and cy value of the stereotype in the MDG.

Paolo

[rty]

I had a look at the shape script guide ^{(https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/14.0/modeling_tools/usingtheshapescript.html)} but was not able to find a shape attribute which defines the minimal height/width. Could you help me out?

Guessing

Code: [Select]

shape main {
cy = "120";
}
didn't work out as hoped:
Error parsing ShapeScript: There was an error parsing  on line 2. Unexpected symbol: cy

[Geert Bellekens]

In the shapescripts you can set the defsize like this

Code: [Select]

defsize(50,50);
cy and cx are properties of the actual stereotype. Right click on the stereotype element and edit with profile helper.

Geert

[rty]

Terribly sorry to bother, but that didn't help.

Feeling like a bloody noob, I was desperatedly searching for a HOWTO, even for setting up a Template Package so that also non-stereotyped elements wouldn't waste the height, but did not find any.

Here's what I did:

• Open UML Types dialogue (Ribbon Configure → Reference Date → UML Types).
• Select steretyped element from list.
• Select 'Shape Script' in 'Override Appearance' frame, select 'Edit'.
• Tried various script fragments (e.g. shape main { defsize(50,50); }).
  

But this is apparently not what I was suggested to do since it generates either errors or prevents my component from being rendered at all.

[Geert Bellekens]

The thing with shapescripts is that they completely take over the rendering.

So if you put

Code: [Select]

shape main { defsize(50,50); } you are not drawing anything at all, you are only saying what the default size it.

What you could try is to add

Code: [Select]

drawnativeshape(); or

Code: [Select]

drawparentshape();
See https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.2/modeling/drawing_methods.html for more info

Geert

[rty]

Thanks, that's it.