Creating Objects

Before you start, learn basic operations to create objects and lines. There are 5 ways to create model elements.

1. Using a tool palette

Choose an icon you want to create from the tool palette then click on a diagram.

2. Drag from tree

Drag a model from the tree and drop it on a diagram.

3. Using a Suggest Feature

Click a mini icon that appears when you have a mouse over an object.
If you want to hide these mini icons, click an object or hold [Shift] key down.

4. Double-clicking on the diagram

Directly double-clicking on the diagram creates the following model elements.

5. Pasting texts from Clipboard

You can create models by simply pasting texts on a diagram.
Since version 8.5, you are able to add Attributes and Operations to a Class by pasting texts and also add ER Attributes to ER Entity.

Create objects in a row

There are two ways to create the same model element continuously.

1. Hold [Shift Key] down
   Keep clicking on a diagram with holding the [Shift] key down.
2. Turn on the [Continuous] mode
   Click the [Continuous] mode on the tool palette.
   

Wrap text

You can wrap text with [SHIFT+ENTER], [ALT+ENTER] or [CTRL+ ENTER].
However, you cannot wrap the text for some models.

Specify color

You can specify colors for diagram elements including line elements. There are two ways to do so:

From Toolbar

Before you create diagram elements, choose a color you want to use then create diagram elements.
(You can also change colors for existing diagram elements.)

By selecting [Set Color] option, you can call detailed color choosers/palettes.

There are two palettes you can switch between [Custom] and [Swatches].

Also, enabling [Apply to Created Elements] option maintains the color selection, so that the diagram elements you will create stay in the selected color until you turn it off.

From [System Properties]

You can configure default color for each diagram element type. To do so, go to [Tools] – [System Properties] – [Default Item Color]. Then select color and click [Apply] – [OK].

NOTE:

• Enabling [Apply to Created Elements] on takes precedence over the default color specified in the [Tools] – [System Properties] – [Default Item Color].
  

TIPS: Set default size of model elements

 

You can set default size for all the model elements in the [Tool] – [System Properties] – [Default Item Size].

Expand and reduce space

When you want to expand the space before you insert objects or reduce space to make a better diagram appearance, use this [Gap expander/remove] tool.

Expand the space

Reduce the space