Create New Elements

Go Up to Using Diagram Elements

ER/Studio BA offers two methods for creating new elements in the Diagram View: from the palette, and from the Model View tree. How you create elements in the Model View tree depend on whether you are working the Business Process Models or Conceptual Models. You can also create multiple existing elements from the Model View.

Creating New Elements from the Palette

To create any type of element in the Diagram View, do the following:

1 On the Palette, click the element icon you want to use.

2 In the Diagram View, click a location in the view to place the element.

Note: The cursor is in the multi-drop mode so you can place as many elements as you need. Press ESC to exit the multi-drop mode. The cursor changes from   to . You can also set a preferences to disable the multi-drop mode globally.

Creating New Elements in the Model View for a Business Process Model

You can create a new element in the Model View tree from the lane node. Once you have created the element, you can drag the element onto an open diagram in the Diagram View.

To create any type of element in the Diagram drawing area, do the following:

1 In the Model View tree, right-click the lane node where you want to place the new element.

Note: You can also create a new lane from the Pool node.

2 Select New and click the element you want created from the pull-right menu. The selected element is placed in the lane node.

You can then drag the elements that are not nested onto an open diagram.

Creating New Elements in the Model View for a Conceptual Model

You can create a new element in the Model View tree from several different nodes. Once you have created the element, you can drag the element onto an open diagram in the Diagram View.

To create any type of element in the Diagram drawing area, do the following:

1 To create a specific element:

• For a Business Entity or Subject Area element for a model, right-click the model node where you want to place the new element.
• For a new Subject Area to be nested in an existing Subject Area, right-click the Subject Area node where you want to nest the new element.
• For a Business Attribute, right-click the Business Entity where you want the new attribute to reside.
• For a new Business Entity to be nested in an existing Business Entity, right-click the Business Entity node where you want to nest the new element.

2 Select New and click the element you want created from the pull-right menu. The selected element is placed in the lane node.

3 You can then drag the elements that are not nested onto an open diagram.

Creating Multiple Existing Elements from the Model View

To place multiple diagram elements listed in the Model View tree on the Diagram View, do the following:

1 On the Model View, click the first element.

2 Press CTRL and click all remaining elements.

3 Drag the elements on the Diagram View and the elements are placed in the Diagram window. The application displays any links shared between elements.