The explorer

What is the explorer?

The explorer is one of the main tools used to work with model elements within a project. Starting from a model root, elements are presented in a tree structure, from the highest level right down to the lowest level.

The Objecteering Modeler explorer

Using the explorer, you can:

· browse the model

· create model elements and diagrams

· modify model elements and diagrams

· reference elements

· move elements using the drag and drop facility

· duplicate elements using the copy/paste facility

· destroy elements

· open a sub-explorer on a part of the model

Browsing your model

You can browse the elements in your model using the mouse, simply by clicking on the element in question.

Clicking on the "+" or "-" situated next to each element either expands the element or reduces it.

Double-clicking on the left mouse button over an element opens its associated dialog box, used to modify the element in question (with the exception of the model root).

Clicking on the right mouse button over an element opens a context menu containing specific commands that can be run on the selected element.

Creating elements in your model

The left-hand vertical palette of the explorer presents icons used to create structural model elements and diagrams on the selected element. The icons available in the palette vary according to the element selected in the explorer.

To create an element, simply select the parent element in the explorer and then click on the icon representing the type of element or diagram you want to create. The new element or diagram immediately appears in the explorer tree structure.

Certain icons in the explorer have a small black arrow at the bottom right-hand corner, indicating that they are grouped icons, which present a number of related icons in a sub-palette. To view all the icons in the group, you simply have to click on the grouped icon and then slowly move the cursor to the right while holding down the left mouse button.

As the icons displayed in the explorer change according to the selected element, so do the icons within a grouped icon. For example, the sub-palette available within the "Create a class" grouped icon is different according to whether a class or a package has been selected.

Different grouped icons according to the type of element selected in the explorer

Launching a sub-explorer

The main explorer automatically appears when a project is created. By default, it appears in a predefined location (the top left-hand corner), but since it is a dockable window, you can position it wherever you like.

Sub-explorers, which are explorers opened on specific parts of a model, are launched by right-clicking on the element you want to use as the root in the new sub-explorer, and running the "Open in new explorer" command from the context menu. These sub-explorers appear in the work view window. You can open as many sub-explorers as you like.

Showing or hiding the explorer

To show or hide the explorer, simply run the "Explorer" command in the "View" menu.

Element name size limitation

Please note that element names must not exceed 5744 characters. If this is the case, the element name cannot be displayed and only the associated icon (indicating the element type) is shown.