View - Action options
Overview
The Action toolbar provides options for changing the layout of the items in the view. Each is explained below.
- Not all options in the toolbar are available at all levels.
- The toolbar can be moved anywhere in the view by dragging and dropping it.
- The toolbar can be collapsed to improve view visibility using the icon at the bottom of the toolbar:
Add objects
Only visible in a tab which has been added following the use of the global search feature to display results. Using this action icon will open the search popup and any new objects you select for display as a result of the search will be added to the existing tab. See also Tips.
Select
Option selected by default, allows you to interact with the items in the view, for example, to drill-down or select.
Selection tool
Provides various methods for selecting multiple objects and nodes:
Insert tool
Provides methods for inserting both text and shapes (rectangles or circles) into the view, for example to highlight specific items:
For example, a rectangle with a green border has been added, alongside some text in red:
Drawing tool
Provides a method to draw a freehand shape in the view in the colour of your choice, for example to highlight specific items or add your own notes:
For example:
Graph layout tool
Provides layout options for the items in the view (Sequential is set as the default):
Add concept node tool
Provides a means to add an object type of your choosing to the view. All possible object types can be added, except those that already exist on the view whether as other concept nodes, or object types resulting from analyses:
Concept object type nodes are displayed as squares to differentiate from object types nodes resulting from an analysis (displayed as circles):
Visual Grouping/Group By tool
Allows you to apply a different level specific grouping to the level you are currently working in:
For example, if you are working in level 5 you can choose to view the nodes in level 5 using the abstract grouping from any of the other Levels 1 - 4, listed as:
- Architecture (level 1 grouping)
- Services (level 2 grouping)
- Business (level 3 grouping)
- Technology (level 4 grouping)
Choosing Architecture (level 1) when in level 5 (for example) will show the following:
The circles are added to the view to highlight the nodes that are grouped in their chosen level grouping - e.g. in this example, Level 1 groupings:
- User Interaction
- System Interaction
- Services
- Data Services
Spotlight tool
Provides a mechanism to search for nodes or objects that are present in the current view:
Searches are performed on the node or object name and matching items are then highlighted directly in the view:
Group selected nodes tool
Allows you to group specific nodes or objects into single nodes. For example, you may want to group together SQL object types, or JEE object types so that the view is easier to understand.
Clicking the icon will group all nodes or objects that are selected in the view and display them as follows:
The grouped items will move around the graph as one item. To remove or rename the grouping, use the right-click contextual menu on the grouped item:
Tip: Double click the grouped item to change the position of individual items within it.
Nodes Display tool
Hides (or unhides) any objects that are selected in the view - for example those that may not be of interest.
(Un)Group links tool
Toggles between grouped links (default position) and ungrouped. Explanation: some links at object level will be “highlighted”. This indicates that there is more than one link between the objects and therefore these links are grouped:
Using the Ungroup links option, all links between the two objects will be displayed:
Use the option again to toggle between the two states (grouped/ungrouped).
Graph display options tool
Provides various view display options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| External libraries / Isolated nodes | Filter on the type of objects/nodes that are displayed in the view. Toggling the option will remove and re-display corresponding objects from the view.
|
| BelongsTo links | Toggle the display of BelongsTo links (interactions between parent and child objects, for example, C++ Classes and Methods). Disabled by default. When enabled, BelongsTo links are displayed in pink making them distinct from other link types. |
| Shortest path |
Only available for Transaction and Data Call Graph scopes at Objects level.
Displays the critical (i.e. shortest) path between two objects (source and target).The view will show the critical (i.e. shortest) path between the input node (i.e. the selected transaction/node) and any “output nodes” (any nodes/objects not involved will be temporarily hidden). Disabled by default. For example:   |
| Main objects only |
Only available for Transaction and Data Call Graph scopes at Objects level.
Toggles the view to show a simplified version of the Transaction or Data Call Graph including only the main objects and excluding any sub-objects. Disabled by default.For example, option disabled:  Option enabled:  |
| Tooltips | Displays a short tooltip explanation about the item when the item is selected in the view. Enabled by default. |
Post-Its tool
Use this feature to add detailed documentation or notes to a view and/or to specific objects/nodes or groups of objects/nodes:
When a Post-It has been assigned to an object or node, the item’s badge will update to indicate that a Post-It exists:
- are viewed via the right panel, see here.
- can also be accessed by right clicking the item in the view and selecting Show details:
Tags tool
Use this feature to add custom tags to specific objects/nodes or groups of objects/nodes. Tags can then be used as a search term to find items of interest more quickly:
