When you start Astah SysML for the first time, you may get this blank screen.
Astah SysML Blank Screen

But once you create a project or a diagram, the left pane will open:
Structure Tree in Astah SysML

When you create a new file, it always includes pre-installed models in a package as shown below.
Pre-installed SysML models

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Astah User Interface

Astah SysML consists of five sections:

  1. Main Menu: Lists of the basic menu
  2. Project View: This pane consists of three views: Structure Tree, Diagram List and Search.
  3. Property View: Where you can edit detailed information of the selected model
  4. Diagram Editor: A canvas where you draw diagrams
  5. Extra View: This pane opens only if you have enabled plug-ins that require this extra pane.
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Project View

Project View provides an overview of the whole project. Tabs at the top can be used to switch the view between “Structure Tree”, “Diagram” and “Search”.

[Structure Tree] Pane

The Structure Tree is the default view in this Project View where you can see the structure of the whole model in your project in a hierarchy view. You can organize diagrams and models using packages.

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Jump to related diagrams

When a model is used in more than one place, you can find where they are and jump to it.

  1. Open a structure tree (the left-top pane).
  2. Right-click on a model and select [All Related Diagrams].
  3. A list of diagrams where the model is used will appear. Choose one.
    Choosing a model in the tree to jump to diagram

  4. The diagram will open with a focus on the model you selected.
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Diagram List

[Diagram] view shows a list of all the diagrams in the project file. You can sort this list by its name, diagram type, the model type and also packages where the diagrams belong to.
Astah SysML Diagram List

You can open the diagram or jump to where the diagram is in the structure tree from the context menu of the diagram in this list.

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Search

In this Search view, you can search models and diagrams within a project.
You can use search options to access the specific models or replace strings, and clean up the project by finding unused models or broken hyperlinks…etc.
Astah SysML Search Pane

Search Options

You can filter out models that are not on any of the diagrams or referenced by any other models and also find broken hyperlinks.
Astah SysML Search Options

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Light Theme and Dark Theme

Dark theme is available since version 8.0. To change the theme, go to [View] – [Look & Feel].
After changing the theme, you will need to restart Astah SysML.
TIPS: 8 Best Light/Dark Themes

Change Look and Feel in Astah System Safety

Astah System Safety sample in light theme
Astah System Safety sample in dark theme
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Map View

Map View is a controller of the diagram view. Since version 8.0, this appears at the corner of Diagram editor.
Map View in Astah System Safety

The blue rectangle indicates the area that is currently shown in the Diagram Editor.

Move

You can drag the blue rectangle to change the area you want to see on the diagram editor.

Zoom in/out

You can resize the blue rectangle by a right-drag to pinpoint where you want to see of the diagram.Using Map View for Astah System Safety

Change the location of Map View

You can place this Map View at any corner of the diagram editor from [Tools] – [System Properties] – [Basic] – [Diagram Editor] – [Location of Map View in the Diagram Editor].
Astah SysML Map View Location Change

(e.g. Move Map View up to the right-corner of the diagram editor)
Change location of Map View in Astah System Safety