Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Create Hidden Sub-Menus using the Profile Helpers

When you create Toolbox items, some of them may be very similar in that they are based on the same type of Metaclass. For example, there are many different types of Action element. Rather than populate a Toolbox Page with every variation, you can create a 'base' Toolbox item and offer a choice of variant from a Sub-Menu, which is displayed when the base item is dragged onto the diagram.

Define a hidden sub-menu

Step

Action

See also

1

If you have not already done so, create and display the diagram you will be using to define your Toolbox, as described in steps 1 to 6 of Create Toolbox Profiles using the Profile Helpers.

Create Toolbox Profiles using the Profile Helpers

 

2

Drag the Add a Toolbox Page item from the Profile Helpers Toolbox Page onto the diagram.

The Add Toolbox Page dialog displays.

 

 

3

In the Name field, type the name for the sub-menu Toolbox item.

 

 

4

The Tool Tip field can be left blank in this case.

 

 

5

Select the Is Hidden checkbox.

The Images Only, Is Common and Is Collapsed checkboxes should be left unselected.

 

 

6

After selecting the Is Hidden checkbox, the Icon field should become active. You can optionally add a custom icon image for the sub-menu Toolbox item.

The icon image must be a 16x16 pixel bitmap file; for a transparent background use light grey - RGB(192,192,192).

To set the icon for the sub-menu Toolbox item, click on the folder icon to the right of the Icon field.  Select the image file and click the Open button.

 

 

7

You can now add items such as elements and connectors to the sub-menu.

Click on the down arrow on the right of the Add button, and select one of the following options:
 

•Add Stereotype: adds a Toolbox item for a Stereotype that is defined in a UML Profile in the current model; this Profile must be included with the Toolbox Profile in the MDG Technology
 
After you select this option, the Select a Profile Element dialog displays; use this to select the Stereotype you want to add
 
•Add Built in Type:
•Element: adds a Toolbox item for a UML element type
 
After you select this option the Create new Toolbox Item dialog displays; in the Alias field, type the label to appear on the Toolbox item, and click on the OK button
 
The Select Metaclass dialog then displays; select the UML element type to add to your Toolbox, and click on the OK button
 
•Connector: adds a Toolbox item for a UML connector type
 
After you select this option the Create new Toolbox Item dialog displays; in the Alias field, type the label to appear on the Toolbox item, and click on the OK button
 
The Select Metaclass dialog then displays; select the UML connector type to add to your Toolbox, and click on the OK button
 
•Add Hidden Toolbox: adds a hidden Toolbox sub-menu item; do not use this option when creating the Hidden Toolbox sub-menu itself
 
•Add New Item: adds a Toolbox item with an Alias only
 
This option alone will not create a functional Toolbox item; a Toolbox item added in this way must be later modified via the Toolbox Items list
 

Clicking on the Add button, and not on the drop-down arrow, is the same as selecting the Add Stereotype option.

 

 

8

(Optional) After adding the Toolbox item it will appear in the Toolbox Items list, and you can add a custom icon image for the item.

The icon image must be a 16x16 pixel bitmap file; for a transparent background use light grey - RGB(192,192,192).

To set the icon for a Toolbox item, locate the item in the Toolbox Items list and click within the Toolbox Icon column. Click on the ellipsis (…) within this column.  The Select a Toolbox Icon dialog displays. Locate the image file and click the Open button.

 

 

9

Repeat steps 7 and 8 for each item to add to the sub-menu.

To remove a Toolbox item, select it from the Toolbox Items list and click on the Delete button.

Once all the appropriate sub-menu items have been added, click on the OK button.  A Stereotype element will be added to your Toolbox Profile diagram.

 

 

10

Repeat steps 2 to 9 for each Toolbox sub-menu to create.

 

 

11

The sub-menu(s) created above can now be included as an item in a Toolbox Page.

Create Toolbox Profiles using the Profile Helpers

 

Notes

•A sub-menu can be modified by right-clicking the appropriate Stereotype element on the Toolbox Profile diagram and selecting the Edit with Profile Helper option
 

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