When you start Astah SysML for the first time, you see a blank screen.
Astah SysML blank start screen

Once you create a project or a diagram, the left pane opens.
Structure Tree in Astah SysML

A new file always includes pre-installed models in a package, as shown below.
Pre-installed SysML models in a new project

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Astah User Interface

The Astah SysML window has five sections:

Astah SysML user interface: Main Menu, Project View, Property View, Diagram Editor and Extra View
  1. Main Menu: the basic menus.
  2. Project View: three views, the Structure Tree, the Diagram List and Search.
  3. Property View: where you edit the details of the selected model.
  4. Diagram Editor: the canvas where you draw diagrams.
  5. Extra View: opens only if you have enabled plug-ins that use it.
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Project View

The Project View gives an overview of the whole project. Use the tabs at the top to switch between [Structure Tree], [Diagram] and [Search].

[Structure Tree] Pane

The Structure Tree is the default view of the Project View. It shows the structure of the whole model in your project as a hierarchy, and you can organize diagrams and models with packages.

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Jump to related diagrams

When a model is used in more than one diagram, you can find where it is used and jump there.

  1. Open the Structure Tree (the top-left pane).
  2. Right-click a model and select [All Related Diagrams].
  3. A list of the diagrams where the model is used appears. Choose one.
    All Related Diagrams list for a model in the Structure Tree
  4. The diagram opens with the model you selected in focus.
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Diagram List

The [Diagram] view lists all the diagrams in the project file. You can sort the list by name, diagram type, model type or the package the diagram belongs to.
Diagram List in Astah SysML

From the context menu of a diagram in this list, you can open the diagram or jump to its location in the Structure Tree.

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Search

In the Search view, you can search for models and diagrams in the project. With the search options you can find specific models, replace strings, and clean up the project by finding unused models or broken hyperlinks.
Search pane in Astah SysML

Search Options

You can filter for models that are not on any diagram and not referenced by any other model, and find broken hyperlinks.
Search options in Astah SysML

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Light Theme and Dark Theme

A dark theme is available since version 8.0. To change the theme, go to [View] – [Look & Feel], then restart Astah SysML.
Look & Feel menu

Tip: See 8 Best Light/Dark Themes for Astah.

Astah sample in the light theme
Astah sample in the dark theme
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Map View

The Map View controls which part of the diagram is shown. Since version 8.0, it appears in a corner of the Diagram Editor.
Map View in the corner of the Diagram Editor

The blue rectangle shows the area currently displayed in the Diagram Editor.

Move

Drag the blue rectangle to change the area shown in the Diagram Editor.

Zoom in/out

Resize the blue rectangle by right-dragging to zoom in on the part of the diagram you want to see.
Moving and resizing the Map View rectangle

Change the location of Map View

You can place the Map View in any corner of the Diagram Editor from [Tools] – [System Properties] – [Basic] – [Diagram Editor] – [Location of Map View in the Diagram Editor].
Map View location setting in the System Properties

For example, with the Map View moved to the top-right corner of the Diagram Editor:
Map View moved to the top-right corner of the Diagram Editor