Working with Diagrams

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Go Up to Using Diagrams

You can create two different types of diagrams: Business Process Diagrams and Conceptual Diagrams. In the Business Process Diagram, you can create graphic business process models based on the Business Process Modeling Notation. When you create a business process diagram, a pool and a lane with an invisible boundary are automatically created. In the Business Process Modeling Notation Specification, all business process diagrams must contain at least one pool and each pool is a container for one process.

In the Conceptual Diagram, you model information about a business as it relates to data, data flow, process, or information assets.

When you create a diagram, the application opens a new diagram view, which you can use to arrange the elements and links of your diagram.

You have the following actions available with diagrams: create, open and close, export, delete Business Process diagrams, delete Conceptual Model diagrams, rename, and print. You can also have a Diagram Usage dialog that helps you locate an element on multiple diagrams.

Right-click the newly created diagram to gain access to additional functions:

Command Description

Grid Editor

This is a table-like editor which is an alternative to the Model View. Content in the Grid Editor can be printed or exported as a report.

Refresh

Updates the currently displayed information with new data or changes.

Properties

Opens the Property View for the selected element.

Creating a Diagram

You can create a new diagram at the time you create a workspace or by using the menu command.

1 On the File menu, select New > Diagram. The pull-right menu displays the type of diagram to be created. For example if you are creating a new diagram in a Conceptual Model, only Conceptual is available from the pull-right menu.
OR
  • Right-click the model name in the Model View tree and select New > Diagram.
2 In the New Diagram dialog, enter the diagram name in the Diagram name text box.
3 You can enter a description of the new diagram in the Description text box. Press Enter to add a CRLF in the text box.
Note: If you press Ctrl+Enter the New Diagram dialog closes and the new diagram name appears in the Model View tree.
4 You can then select which model to place the diagram in from the models appearing in the list box.
Note: If you are creating a Business Process diagram, when you entered the diagram name in the Diagram Name text box, the Pool Name and Lane Name text boxes were populated with the same name. You can rename both the pool and the lane.

If you are creating a Conceptual model, this option is not available.
5 Press OK to close the dialog. The new diagram appears in the Model View tree and a tabbed view opens in the Diagram View.

Opening and Closing Diagrams

You can open and close diagrams to better manage system resources. When you open a project, all its diagrams remain closed. You can only work with a diagram and its elements when it is open.

Opening Diagrams

Do one of the following options to open a diagram:

In the Model View tree, right-click the diagram node and click Open.
OR
In the Model View tree, double-click the diagram.
OR
In the Model View tree, select the diagram you want to open and press Enter.

Closing Diagrams

The following describe the various ways used to close diagrams.

Closing a Single Diagram

To close any single diagram, do one of the following:

In the Model View tree, right-click the diagram node, and then click Close. The diagram is closed and automatically saved.
OR
On the Diagram window, right-click the Diagram View tab, and then click Close. A Save Resources dialog opens asking you if you want to save the changes. Click Yes and the diagram closes.
OR
Click the ICON X.PNG in the Diagram View tab for the opened diagram. A Save Resources dialog opens asking you if you want to save the changes. Click Yes and the diagram closes.

Closing Other Diagrams

You can close all the opened diagrams except the active one.

1 Right-click the Diagram View tab of the active diagram.
2 Click Close Others from the menu. If the other diagrams you are closing have been modified a Save Resources dialog opens asking you if you want to save the changes. Click Yes and all the ‘diagrams close with the modifications saved.

Closing All Diagrams

1 To close all open diagrams, right-click any Diagram View tab, and then click Close All.
2 If any of the diagrams you are closing have been modified a Save Resources dialog opens asking you if you want to save the changes. Click Yes and all the other diagrams close with the modifications saved.

Exporting Diagrams

You can export both Business Process and Conceptual diagrams in three different formats: rtf, pdf, and jpg. You can also export a Conceptual diagram to ER/Studio. Take the following steps to export a diagram:

1 Open the diagram you want to export in the Model View tree.
2 Once the diagram is opened, right-click the diagram node in the Model View tree and select Export....
OR
From the main menu, select File > Export > Diagram....
3 In the Export dialog, select the directory where you want to save the exported diagram, enter the file name, and select the type of file (jpg, rtf, or pdf).
4 Click Save and the exported file is saved in the selected file format. You can then open the exported file it in the appropriate application.

Deleting Business Process Diagrams

You can permanently delete any Business Process diagram listed in the Model View tree. To delete a diagram, do the following:

In the Model View tree, right-click the diagram, and then click Delete. If it is a Business Process diagram, it is associated with a pool having an invisible boundary which can also be deleted. So, in the Delete Diagram with Associated Pool dialog you are given two options:.

Do you want to delete the associated pool, along with the elements it contains?

Click Yes the diagram, and all associated pools and lanes are deleted.

Do you want to delete only the diagram?

Click No. When this option is selected the invisible pool, its associated lane, and all elements in the lane are still in the Model View tree.

Note: You can undo the deletion by clicking Undo Delete Elements from the Edit menu. The diagram and all associated elements are restored in the Model View tree.

Deleting Conceptual Model Diagrams

You can permanently delete any Conceptual Model diagram listed in the Model View tree. To delete a diagram, do the following:

1 Right-click the diagram node in the Model View tree and select Delete.
OR
Select the diagram node you want to delete in the Model View tree and click ICON TASK DELETE.PNG on the toolbar.
OR
Select the diagram node you want to delete in the Model View tree and click the Delete key.
2 The Delete Items dialog box opens. Clicking Yes completely removes the selected diagram from the workspace.
Note: You can undo the deletion by clicking Undo Delete Elements from the Edit menu. The diagram and all associated elements are restored in the Model View tree.

Renaming Diagrams

You can rename a diagram in the Model View tree.

1 In the Model View tree, right-click the diagram node you want to rename and select Rename Diagram. If your diagram is unsaved, a warning dialog opens asking if you want to continue with the renaming process.
2 Click Yes and the Rename Diagram dialog opens.
3 Enter the new name in the text box and click OK. The diagram is renamed in the Model View tree.

Printing Diagrams

You can print the diagram you have created using ER/Studio BA. You can also save the print settings for the opened diagram. To open the Print dialog:

1 Open the diagram you want to print in the Diagram View.
Click ICON PRINTER.PNG on the main menu.
OR
On the main menu, click File > Print.
OR
Press Ctrl+P. The Print dialog opens.

The following settings are available:

Setting Description

Printer...

When you click the Printer button the Print dialog opens where you can select the Printer you want to use.

Preferences

In this dialog, you can select the printer, set a page range, and set the number of copies you want to print.   Note: : Once you set your print options in this dialog, click Print to close this dialog. However, the diagram does not print until you click the OK button in the first Print dialog.

Scale

Actual Size

The page is printed as is with no zoom.

Fit Page

All element in the diagram are reduced to fit on one page.

Custom

You can set the percentage of the page you want printed. As you change the percentage in the combo box, notice that the information in the preview pane changes. As you increase the percentage a grid appears in the preview pane indicating where the page divisions appear.

Margins

Inches

Sets the margins for the page. As you increase the size of the margin, notice that the preview pane shows where the page divisions appear based on the margin size. Note: : The value you enter for the margin must contain the decimal separator. For example if you want one inch margins, you must enter 1.0, not 1. VIEW PRINT MARGIN SETTING.PNG

Copies

Number of Copies

Select the number of copies you want printed of the selected diagram.

Collate

Multiple copies are printed in order.

Options

Center to Page

Centers the diagram in the center of the printed page.

Print Page Numbers

A page number is placed on each page as it is printed.

Print Border

When you select this option a border is placed around the printed diagram. You can set the width of this border.

Width

When you select the Print Border option, you can then set the width of the border.

2 After you make any changes to the print options, click OK. The diagram is printed and any changes you made to the print options are saved with the diagram.
Note: Click Save Settings if you make print option changes and want to save these options without printing the diagram.

Using the Diagram Usage Dialog

The Diagram Usage dialog helps you quickly locate elements on one or more diagrams. There are two different ways of using this dialog:

  • When you right-click on an element in the Model View, a pull-right menu lists the diagram(s). This allows you to quickly locate and open the diagram where the element appears. If the element appears on more then ten diagrams the More... option appears, opening a dialog listing all the diagrams.
  • Right-click on an element in the Search Results View and select Find In > All Diagrams. The Diagram Usage dialog opens where you can select and open a diagram from those listed. You can also click ICON FIND IN ALL DIAGRAMS.PNG on the Search Results toolbar.