Show Element Use

An object can be used several times in a model; for example, an image might be used for different elements on different diagrams, or an element might be represented on several diagrams depicting different concepts. You can quickly locate where the object is used in the model, by selecting a 'Find' menu option that displays the 'Element Usage' dialog. This lists the occurrences of the object and, when you select one, the diagram containing that occurrence opens with the object selected.

You can locate occurrences of:

A Package
An element
An image

You can also list the:

Extension Points of the target Use Case in an <<extend>> relationship
Triggers associated with a Transition
Items conveyed on an Information Flow connector
Objects derived from an Operation

If the object:

Occurs once only (such as in one diagram only), the object is immediately highlighted in the diagram or Project Browser
Is not used in any diagram, the 'Element Usage' dialog displays with no entries; click on the Close button to close the dialog
Is used in more than one diagram, the 'Element Usage' dialog lists those diagrams; either:
     - Double-click on a diagram name to open that diagram (the 'Element Usage' dialog remains open), or
     - Click on the diagram name and click on the Open button to open that diagram (the 'Element Usage'
        dialog closes)

The 'Element Usage' dialog defaults to showing, in order, the 'Usage Type' of the object, 'Diagram Type' and 'Diagram' columns. If you float the cursor over the right edge of the 'Diagram' column header, so that it changes to , you can drag the column border right to expose the hidden columns 'Diagram ID', 'Object ID' and 'Kind' (do this in separate passes for each hidden column).

To make the display of information easier to read, you can resize the 'Element Usage' dialog and drag the borders of the column headers to the appropriate width for the listed items. You can also click on a column header and re-sort the items in the forward or reverse alphanumeric order of the selected column content.

Locate Objects

This table provides the instructions for locating occurrences - uses - of different types of object.

Object Type	Action	See also
Element	In the Project Browser, right-click on the element and select the 'Properties \| Find in all Diagrams' option. On a diagram, right-click on the element and select the 'Find \| Find in all Diagrams' option. Alternatively, click on the element and press Ctrl+U.
Package	In the Project Browser, right-click on the Package and select the 'Properties \| Find in all Diagrams' option. On a diagram, right-click on the Package and select the 'Find \| Find in all Diagrams' option. Alternatively, click on the Package and press Ctrl+U.
Image	On a diagram, right-click on the element to which you want to assign an image and select either the 'Appearance \| Select Default Image' option or the 'Appearance \| Select Alternate Image' option. In either case, the Image Manager screen displays. Click on the required image name and on the Usage button. The 'Element Usage' dialog displays showing, in this case: The names of the elements to which the image has already been applied The name of the diagram on which each instance of the image has been used The Image Manager image ID for the image (a hidden column) The Diagram ID (DID) for each diagram (a hidden column) The Object ID for each element on which the image has been used (a hidden column) Click on an element name and on the Open button to display the diagram on which the image has been used, with that instance of the image highlighted.	Using the Image Manager
Use Case Extension Point	On a diagram, right-click on the <<extend>> connector and select the 'Advanced \| Extension Point \| Set Extension Point' option. The 'Element Usage' dialog displays, listing the Extension Points currently assigned to the target Use Case element. Click on the required Extension Point and on the Open button; the dialog closes, and the <<extend>> connector shows a small circle attached to a Note element that identifies which extension point it represents. If the target Use Case has no extension points, you are prompted to create them.	Extend
Objects derived from an operation	In the Project Browser, right-click on the operation and select the 'Properties \| Find in all Diagrams' option. The 'Element Usage' dialog displays, listing the Action elements and/or Sequence Message types derived from the operation in the model. For a Sequence Message, in the 'Kind' column, you can see the value of the 'Kind' property of the message. Double-click on an object to open its parent diagram and show the location of the object in the diagram.	Asynchronous Signal Message Class Operations in Diagrams Message (Sequence Diagram)
Triggers Associated with a Transition	On a StateMachine diagram, right-click on the Transition connector between two States and select the 'Find Triggers Associated' option. The 'Element Usage' dialog displays, listing the Triggers assigned to the Transition. The 'hidden' column in this instance is 'GUID', showing the GUID of each Trigger element. If you double-click on a Trigger name, the system locates and highlights the Trigger element in the Project Browser.	Transition
(Information) Items Conveyed	You can also use the 'Element Usage' dialog to identify and select items conveyed and/or realized on an Information Flow connector. On the diagram, right-click on the connector and select the 'Find Items Conveyed' menu option. The 'Element Usage' dialog displays, listing the items conveyed on the connector. The 'hidden' column in this instance is 'GUID', showing the GUID of each conveyed element. If you double-click on an element name, the system locates and highlights the element in the Project Browser.	Information Item Information Flow