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About the Book

The UML modeling tool Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems has gained popularity worldwide because it is an affordable yet fairly complete tool, feature-wise. However, the interface is so full of features that it can be hard to find out how to do things. This book is an answer to that need. It contains fifty different features and uses of Enterprise Architect that you probably don’t know, but that can make life as an Enterprise Architect user simpler and more fruitful. This book contains tips and tricks for getting the maximum out of Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect. From working with elements and connectors to making diagrams to more advanced functionalities like toolboxes, stereotypes and tagged values, the user is guided through the complex user interface of Enterprise Architect. A final chapter offers even more advanced features and some unexpected uses of Enterprise Architect.

This eBook contains over sixty tricks that will make your life as an Enterprise Architect user easier and more successful. Updates of the eBook are free, but the initial price increases as more chapters get added. That means: the earlier you purchase the book, the better value you will get.

What others are saying

"Just reading this now (Kindle version).

I’ve been an EA user for 7+ years, and I’m now keeping a tally of the tricks I didn’t know: and there are lots!

This is a great piece of work, and has been needed for a long time.

I’m just writing a ‘Intro to EA’ course for a customer, and I’ll certainly reference it.

Well done!" (Ian M, Eadocx)


"Thanks for all the tricks, I cann't keep up with all of them.

Very good stuff." (Jose Z, USA)


"Thanks for putting this resource together. I am a pretty savvy EA user and there were definitely some eye openers in this book. Again, awesome job!" (Carol D, Pittsburgh)


Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Preface
  3. Copyright notice
  4. Thanks to
  5. About the author
  6. Online
  7. Chapter 1: Elementary, my dear Watson
  8. Trick 1: Adding an element of the same type
  9. Trick 2: Adding related elements to the diagram
  10. Trick 3: Put target element in diagram
  11. Trick 4: Bookmarking elements
  12. Trick 5: Element styles
  13. Trick 6: Finding elements in the tree
  14. Trick 7: Nesting elements
  15. Trick 8: Locking elements
  16. Trick 9: Adding elements directly to a package
  17. Trick 10: Mimic multilanguage support
  18. Chapter 2: Connecting things
  19. Trick 11: Exact placement of connectors
  20. Trick 12: Repeat connector
  21. Trick 13: Pressing shift while dragging to add a bend
  22. Trick 14: A bezier curve
  23. Trick 15: Prompt on connector deletes
  24. Trick 16: Adding notes to a connector
  25. Trick 17: Docking elements
  26. Trick 18: Parent-child relations, drag and drop style
  27. Trick 19: Converting linked element to local copy
  28. Trick 20: Connecting notes to internal documentation
  29. Chapter 3: Diagrams
  30. Trick 21: Copy a diagram to the clipboard
  31. Trick 22: Same size
  32. Trick 23: Save as shortcut
  33. Trick 24: Change diagram type
  34. Trick 25: Package on a diagram
  35. Trick 26: Quick zooming
  36. Trick 27: Shallow or deep copy?
  37. Trick 28: A legend
  38. Trick 29: Status colors on diagrams
  39. Trick 30: Manual layouting
  40. Chapter 4: Toolbox, types and tree
  41. Trick 31: Toolbox visibility
  42. Trick 32: Create your own toolbox
  43. Trick 33: General types
  44. Trick 34: Auto name counters
  45. Trick 35: Stereotypes
  46. Trick 36: Tagged value types
  47. Trick 37: Inheriting tagged values
  48. Trick 38: Apply a tagged value to multiple elements
  49. Trick 39: Sorting tree
  50. Trick 40: Finding orphans
  51. Chapter 5: A bit more advanced
  52. Trick 41: Slideshow
  53. Trick 42: Searches
  54. Trick 43: Relationship matrix
  55. Trick 44: Hierarchy window and traceability
  56. Trick 45: List view
  57. Trick 46: Filtering
  58. Trick 47: Printing large diagrams
  59. Trick 48: The Team Review
  60. Trick 49: Database access
  61. Trick 50: Visualize workflow
  62. Bonus Chapter 1: various extra tips
  63. Trick 1: a simple todo list
  64. Trick 2: quickly copying an element with its properties
  65. Trick 3: Hide stereotypes for information items on information items conveyed by a connector
  66. Trick 4: Show Namespaces
  67. Trick 5: A bunch of relations
  68. Trick 6: Reporting on some specific elements
  69. Trick 7: Inserting images the easy way
  70. Trick 8: Updating the status of all requirements in a package
  71. Trick 9: How to make a diagram the model default, and how to undo it
  72. Trick 10: coupling roles to swimlanes
  73. Bonus Chapter 2: Still more various extra tips
  74. Trick 1: semi-batch creation of elements
  75. Trick 2: sorting a list on tagged values
  76. Trick 3: using lists for easy export to spreadsheets
  77. Overview of shortcuts