9.4. The Edit Menu

This menu provides support for selecting artifacts on the editing pane; cut, copy and paste functions; removal of artifacts from diagrams and the model; and control of user settings.

9.4.1. Select

This sub-menu provides for selection of items on the editing menu. It has the following entries.

  • Select All (shortcut Ctrl-A). Selects all artifacts on the current pane or in the current field. The exact behaviour depends on the current pane: explorer pane, editing pane, to-do pane, details pane. One rule applies in all cases though: the selection on the diagram (editing pane) and in the explorer are always synchronised.

    If the editing pane is the current pane: First everything in the explorer and on the current diagram is deselected, and then everything that is on the current diagram is selected (on both panes, because they are always synchronised).

    If the explorer pane is the current pane: All visible items in the explorer pane are selected, and non-visible items are deselected.

    If the to-do pane is the current pane: All visible items in the to-do pane are selected, and non-visible items are deselected. in fact, this works the same as for the explorer pane, because both are tree structures.

    If the details pane is the current pane: The function only works in certain fields, where selecting is possible, e.g. a Name field. In such a case, the Select All function extends the current selection to the whole field contents.

  • Navigate Back. ArgoUML keeps a record of the artifacts that you have been selecting while navigating the model. This button moves you back to the previous one selected. If there are no more previous artifacts, the button is grayed out.

  • Navigate Forward. ArgoUML keeps a record of the artifacts that you have been selecting while navigating the model. This button moves you forward to the next one selected (after you have used the Navigate Back button to move back). If there are no more next artifacts, the button is grayed out.

  • Select Previous. ArgoUML has a concept of the ordering of artifacts on a diagram. . This selects the item prior to the currently selected item in that ordering.

  • Select Next. Similarly this selects the item following the currently selected item in that ordering.

  • Invert Selection. This inverts the current selection. More exact: everything that was selected is de-selected and everything that was not selected within the current diagram is selected.

[Warning]Warning

The behavior of the Select Next and Select Previous menu functions can be very strange, selecting items that do not appear to be on any diagram. It is probably best avoided.

9.4.2.  Cut

Shortcut Ctrl-X.

This takes the currently selected items, remove them from the diagram, and place them on the clipboard for subsequent pasting.

[Warning]Warning

In the V0.14 implementation of ArgoUML there are some difficulties with clipboard based functions. This menu option is best avoided.

9.4.3.  Copy

Shortcut Ctrl-C.

This takes the currently selected items and make a copy of them on the clipboard for subsequent pasting.

[Warning]Warning

In the V0.14 implementation of ArgoUML there are some difficulties with clipboard based functions. This menu option is best avoided.

9.4.4.  Paste

Shortcut Ctrl-V.

This pastes the item(s) last cut or copied to the clipboard on to the current diagram in the drawing pane.

[Warning]Warning

In the V0.14 implementation of ArgoUML there are some difficulties with clipboard based functions. This menu option is best avoided.

9.4.5. Remove From Diagram

Shortcut Delete.

This removes the currently selected item(s) from the diagram, but not from the model.

The modelelement can be re-added to the diagram by button 2 click on the modelelement in the explorer.

9.4.6. Delete From Model

Shortcut Ctrl-Delete.

This function deletes the selected item(s) from the model completely.

If the item to be deleted is also present on another diagram than the current one, the dialog box from figure x appears.

Figure 9.7. The dialog for confirmation of Remove from Model.

The dialog for confirmation of Remove from Model.

9.4.7.  Settings…

This menu entry brings up a dialog box, which allows the user to set various options that control the behavior of ArgoUML (see Figure 9.8, “The dialog for Settings - Preferences.”).

Figure 9.8. The dialog for Settings - Preferences.

The dialog for Settings - Preferences.

The options that can be set up on the various tabs are described in the following sections. For each tab there are three buttons at the bottom of the dialog box.

  • OK. Activating this button (button 1 click) applies the chosen settings and exits the dialog.

  • Cancel. Selecting this button (button 1 click) exits the dialog without applying any settings changed since the last Apply (or since the dialog started if Apply has not been used).

  • Apply. Selecting this button (button 1 click) applies the chosen settings and remains in the dialog.

Closing the dialog (with the close button in the top corner in the border of the window) causes the same effect as Cancel.

These settings can be saved for use by subsequent ArgoUML sessions (see Section 9.3.10, “Save Configuration”).

9.4.7.1. Preferences Tab

Selecting the Preferences tab (button 1 click on the tab) gives the following options as check boxes.

  • Show Splash Panel (set by default). If enabled ArgoUML will show a small panel with a picture while starting up.

    [Tip]Tip

    The splash panel can be seen by using the Help menu (see Section 9.11.2, “About ArgoUML”).

  • Preload Common Classes (set by default). If enabled ArgoUML creates class objects of a number of classes internally during start up so that instantiation is quicker when they are needed.

  • Report Usage Statistics (set by default). If enabled usage statistics are reported on the console.

    [Warning]Warning

    In the V0.14 version of ArgoUML there is only a very small amount of information, which may be missed amongst the other console output.

  • Report on Load Times (clear by default). If enabled load times at start up for the various phases of initialization are reported on the console.

    [Tip]Tip

    These times are only of use to developers—they have no meaning to the ordinary user.

9.4.7.2. Environment Tab

Selecting the Environment tab (button 1 click on the tab) lists seven environmental items. Note that none of these can be set — this tab is just a matter of record.

Figure 9.9. The dialog for Settings - Environment.

The dialog for Settings - Environment.

  • ${argo.root}. The full path to the ArgoUML program, i.e. the argouml.jar file.

  • ${argo.home}. The ArgoUML home directory which contains the "jar" files needed by ArgoUML.

  • ${argo.ext.dir}. The directory holding ArgoUML extensions—by default the ext sub-directory of the ArgoUML build directory.

  • ${java.home}. The home directory of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

  • ${user.home}. The user's home directory. Used for storing the argo.user.properties file.

  • ${user.dir}. The directory from which ArgoUML was started.

  • Startup Directory. The directory in which ArgoUML starts file searches etc.

9.4.7.3. User Tab

This tab allows the user to record additional information of use to the system. There are two text boxes provided.

Figure 9.10. The dialog for Settings - User.

The dialog for Settings - User.

  • Full Name:. Allows the user to record her full name.

  • Email Address:. Allows the user to record his Email address.

This information is used when requesting to-do help by Email.

9.4.7.4. Notation Tab

This tab allows the user to specify certain notation settings, i.e. how things are shown on diagrams. It comprises the following check boxes.

Figure 9.11. The dialog for Settings - Notations.

The dialog for Settings - Notations.

  • Use only UML notation (clear by default). This feature is for future use. One possibility is that a designer may create a diagram and indicate that the notation of the diagram is Java. Someone viewing the diagram with strict UML notation checked will only see UML notation in the classes no matter what notation the designer has used. See also Section 9.5.8, “Notation”).

    [Warning]Warning

    This is not currently (V0.14) supported and there is no commitment to the feature of assigning a notation to a diagram either.

  • Use guillemots (« ») for stereotypes (clear by default). By default ArgoUML uses pairs of less than and greater than (<< >>) characters for stereotypes. If this box is checked stereotypes on diagrams are shown between true guillemots (« »).

  • Show visibility (To be written)

  • Show multiplicity (To be written)

  • Show initial value (To be written)

  • Show properties (To be written)

  • Show stereotypes in explorer (To be written)

  • Default shadow width (To be written)

9.4.7.5. Appearance Tab

This tab allows the user to specify the LAF (Look And Feel) and theme, i.e. what the complete ArgoUML UI looks like. It comprises the following settings.

Figure 9.12. The dialog for Settings - Appearance.

The dialog for Settings - Appearance.

  • Look and Feel. The choice made here influences the complete User Interface. It only becomes effective when ArgoUML is exited and restarted.

  • Metal Theme. This item is downlighted if the Metal LAF is not chosen. The choice made here influences the complete User Interface. It only becomes effective when ArgoUML is exited and restarted.

  • Smooth edges of diagram lines and text. This feature is known as “anti-aliasing” on certain platforms. It causes diagonal lines to look much less jagged, by making use of several shades of gray. This feature only works if the operating system supports it.