Prev Next

Insert Related Elements

Elements can be used more than once in a model, either individually or as a group. If you want to reproduce an existing set of elements that have one element as the focus, without copying and linking the elements individually in the new diagram, you can use the Insert Related Elements facility. With this facility, you drag the context element from the Project Browser onto your diagram, right-click on it and select to add related elements. The 'Insert Related Elements' dialog displays, on which you can specify:

  • Which types of relationship to filter on, and what direction these relationships have
  • Which types of element to filter on
  • Which Package the related elements exist in
  • How many levels of relationship to bring in; that is, just the elements immediately related to the focus element, or also elements related through those elements
  • Whether to add all elements that satisfy the criteria you have specified, or just those you select
  • Whether or not to automatically re-organize the diagram when the related elements have been added

Related Elements

This image shows a number of Related Elements on a diagram; which is the result of using the option 'Insert Related Elements'.

Access

First, select an element on the diagram, then:

Ribbon

Design > Element > Insert > Insert Related Elements

Context Menu

Right-click on element | Insert Related Elements

Define selection criteria to insert related elements

Field/Button

Action

See also

Connector types

Displays the types of relationship in which the selected element and, if more than one level of relationship is selected, its related elements are currently involved.

To limit the inserted elements to those connected by specific relationship types, select the checkbox against each of those types of connector.

To deselect a selected checkbox, click on it again.

Element types

Display the types of element to which the selected element and, if more than one level of relationship is selected, its related elements are connected.

To limit the inserted elements to those of specific types, select the checkbox against each of  those types.

To deselect a selected checkbox, click on it again.

Link Direction

Limit the inserted elements to those in incoming or outgoing relationships with the selected element; click on the drop-down arrow and select the appropriate direction, or <All> for either direction.

Limit to Namespace

Restrict the inserted elements to those from a specific Package; select the  namespace from which the elements are to come. Select <None> for elements in any namespace.

Find relationships to: levels

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the level down to which to insert connected elements, between levels 1 (immediately related elements) and 5 (elements 5th in a chain from the focus element).

You can select levels 4 or 5 to see how far the element/relationship hierarchy extends, but as this can produce a complicated and tangled diagram, it is better to use level 1 or 2 on selected elements in turn.

Refresh

Click on this button to locate and list all elements that satisfy the criteria you have specified.

Each list item shows the depth at which the related element exists in relation to the focus element, the name of the element, its parent Package, and whether it is currently in the diagram.

If there are many entries, you can re-organize them for clarity using the 'Drag a column header...' panel.

If you want to add an element to your diagram, select the checkbox against that element. Alternatively, to select all elements, click on the All button.

To deselect all selected checkboxes, click on the small Clear button.

To empty the list panel altogether, click on the large Clear button.

 Customizing the Search View

Layout Diagram when complete

Select the checkbox if you want the system to layout the diagram after the elements have been inserted; the layout applied is the Digraph layout.

If no elements have been added, this option has no effect; elements have to be added for the system to adjust the layout.

 Digraph Layout

OK

Click on this button to add the selected elements to the diagram and close the dialog.

Notes

  • If the selected element has a relationship to an edge-mounted structural element such as a Port or Exposed Interface, adding the Port or Interface to the diagram using the 'Insert Related Elements' dialog will also add the associated parent elements onto the diagram, if they are not already shown

Learn more