Model by drag and drop

This section describes how to model using drag and drop. This includes placing objects between existing objects and rearranging objects.

Open model for editing

You can open models in different ways.

Prerequisite

  • You have the ARIS Connect Designer license privilege.

  • The model type is allowed by the method filter in use.

Procedure

  1. If you are authorized to use multiple databases, select the database containing the contents you want to access.

  2. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Published content Published content.

  3. Click Groups in the Classic or Processes in the Default configuration set.

  4. Select the group or process area containing the required model. The content of the selected group or process area is listed.

  5. Click the name of the relevant model.

  6. Click Diagram if you want to display the model graphically.

  7. Click Edit Edit > Edit model Edit model.

  1. If you are authorized to use multiple databases, select the database containing the contents you want to access.

  2. Click the Search field and enter a term that is included in the model name. The search results list all models that have the term in their name.

  3. In the Models category, click the name of the model you want to open.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Models & Objects Models & Objects. The Models & Objects view in the repository is opened.

  2. In the database, select the group containing the relevant model. The content of the selected group is listed.

  3. Click the name of the model you want to open.

  1. If you are authorized to use multiple databases, select the database containing the contents you want to access.

  2. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Models & Objects Models & Objects. The Models & Objects view in the repository is opened.

  3. Click Recent changes Recently used. All models are listed that have recently been changed or created.

  4. Click the tile of the model you want to open.

The model opens on a separate tab.

Place object with drag and drop

You can place objects from the Symbols bar using drag and drop.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Open the Symbols bar if it is not already open by clicking Symbols Symbols.

    The Symbols bar provides object symbols, graphic objects, and text for insertion into the modeling area. It also allows you to filter the available object symbols by entering names and create connections between objects.

    Modeling component - Symbols bar

  3. Click the object symbol you want to place and hold down the mouse button.

  4. Drag the mouse pointer to the position you want to place the object in the modeling area. If you have enabled Guided Modeling, lines and arrows inform you of the orientation and distance of the dragged object from adjacent items.

    You can enable or disable Guided Modeling, which uses lines and arrows to help you place objects or connections at the selected distance in the modeling area.

    1. Open the model.

    2. Activate the Model tab bar.

    3. Click Grid Modeling area > Disabled check box Show guides. The check box is enabled (Enabled), and the guides for placing items are shown in the modeling area.

    4. To disable the guides, click Grid Modeling area > Enabled Show guides. The Disabled check box check box is disabled.

    You have enabled or disabled the guides for Guided Modeling.

  5. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, and its name is selected for overwriting.

  6. Enter a name. If you enter an existing name, existing objects are offered for selection. You can create a new object, select an existing one, or create a new one with the same name.

    You can create a new object with the same name as an existing object.

    Procedure

    1. Open a model.

    2. Place an object in the modeling area. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

    3. Enter the name of an existing object.

    4. Click in the modeling area or press Enter. You are informed that the entered name is already used.

    5. In the Create a new object with this name area, click the name you entered.

    The new object is created. The existing object and the new object are independent of each other. They have different GUIDs and can have completely different attributes except for the name.

  7. Click in the modeling area or press Enter.

You have placed an object from the Symbols bar with drag and drop. You can also place objects with drag and drop using Smart Modeling.

Objects placed with Smart Modeling are placed according to the set default distance. If you want to place a smart object in a specific position, you can place it via drag and drop in the modeling area.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object that you want to connect to a new object. The Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed.

    If you have enabled Smart Modeling, the insert icons are displayed under the following conditions.

    Enough space

    There must be enough space to arrange Insert smart object Insert icons around an object symbol. Therefore, the model display must be large enough to display Insert smart object Insert icons in the model in addition to the objects.

    Thus, Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed when Smart Modeling is enabled and the model display is equal or greater than 30 %.

    Permission to use a connection

    The user must have the privilege to use the outgoing connection of the selected object. If a user does not have the privilege because the used filter does not allow the connection, the Insert smart object Insert icon for the corresponding direction is not displayed.

    No connection access

  3. Click the Insert smart object Insert icon on the side of the selected object to which you want to attach the connection. The Smart Modeling toolbar opens.

    The Smart Modeling toolbar provides functionality for the simple and very fast placement of objects. It provides objects that are directly accessible and a search field for finding and placing object symbols that are not listed in the toolbar. Also, you can use the smart object toolbar to create connections to existing objects.

    Smart Modeling toolbar

    When you place an object using the search field, the symbol of the placed object is added to the list of directly accessible objects for the selected object type.

    You can configure the toolbar for each object type so that you always have access to the objects you want to connect.

  4. Click the object symbol you want to place and hold down the mouse button.

  5. Drag the mouse pointer to the position you want to place the object in the modeling area. If you have enabled Guided Modeling, lines and arrows inform you of the orientation and distance of the dragged object from adjacent items.

    You can enable or disable Guided Modeling, which uses lines and arrows to help you place objects or connections at the selected distance in the modeling area.

    1. Open the model.

    2. Activate the Model tab bar.

    3. Click Grid Modeling area > Disabled check box Show guides. The check box is enabled (Enabled), and the guides for placing items are shown in the modeling area.

    4. To disable the guides, click Grid Modeling area > Enabled Show guides. The Disabled check box check box is disabled.

    You have enabled or disabled the guides for Guided Modeling.

  6. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, and its name is selected for overwriting.

  7. Enter a name. If you enter an existing name, existing objects are offered for selection. You can create a new object, select an existing one, or create a new one with the same name.

    You can create a new object with the same name as an existing object.

    Procedure

    1. Open a model.

    2. Place an object in the modeling area. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

    3. Enter the name of an existing object.

    4. Click in the modeling area or press Enter. You are informed that the entered name is already used.

    5. In the Create a new object with this name area, click the name you entered.

    The new object is created. The existing object and the new object are independent of each other. They have different GUIDs and can have completely different attributes except for the name.

  8. If selectable connections are displayed, click another connection or click in the modeling area to obtain the current connection.

With Smart Modeling, you have placed an object with drag and drop.

Place an existing object

You can easily place existing objects.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Place an object using drag and drop. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

  3. Enter a term. As soon as you have entered two or more letters, all objects in the database that are of the same type as the selected object and whose names contain the entered term are listed.

  4. Click the name of the object you want to place.

You have placed the symbol of an existing object in the modeling area.

Place object between existing objects

You can quickly place structurally relevant objects between existing objects using drag and drop.

Basic model objects.

These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Open a model.

  2. Open the Symbols bar if it is not already open by clicking Symbols Symbols.

    The Symbols bar provides object symbols, graphic objects, and text for insertion into the modeling area. It also allows you to filter the available object symbols by entering names and create connections between objects.

    Modeling component - Symbols bar

  3. Click the object symbol you want to place and hold down the mouse button.

  4. Drag the preview frame between the objects where you want to place the object. When the preview frame is over a connection between objects between which the selected object can be inserted methodically correctly, the connection is colored green.

    You can place objects between existing objects under the following conditions:

    • Drag, paste, or place only a single object.

    • Drag the object that you want to place only onto a single connection.

    • Do not place source and target objects in an object.

    • Both the connection between the source and target objects is structurally relevant (process-flow) and the source and target objects themselves are structurally relevant.

      Basic model objects.

      These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

      The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

      An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.

    Drag new object

  5. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, the lower objects are moved, and the connections are newly linked. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

  6. Enter a name. If you enter an existing name, existing objects are offered for selection. You can create a new object, select an existing one, or create a new one with the same name.

    Drag object

You have quickly placed a structurally relevant object between existing objects. You can also place objects with drag and drop using Smart Modeling.

Objects placed with Smart Modeling are placed according to the set default distance. If you want to place a smart object in a specific position, you can place it via drag and drop in the modeling area.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object that you want to connect to a new object. The Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed.

    If you have enabled Smart Modeling, the insert icons are displayed under the following conditions.

    Enough space

    There must be enough space to arrange Insert smart object Insert icons around an object symbol. Therefore, the model display must be large enough to display Insert smart object Insert icons in the model in addition to the objects.

    Thus, Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed when Smart Modeling is enabled and the model display is equal or greater than 30 %.

    Permission to use a connection

    The user must have the privilege to use the outgoing connection of the selected object. If a user does not have the privilege because the used filter does not allow the connection, the Insert smart object Insert icon for the corresponding direction is not displayed.

    No connection access

  3. Click the Insert smart object Insert icon on the side of the selected object to which you want to attach the connection. The Smart Modeling toolbar opens.

    The Smart Modeling toolbar provides functionality for the simple and very fast placement of objects. It provides objects that are directly accessible and a search field for finding and placing object symbols that are not listed in the toolbar. Also, you can use the smart object toolbar to create connections to existing objects.

    Smart Modeling toolbar

    When you place an object using the search field, the symbol of the placed object is added to the list of directly accessible objects for the selected object type.

    You can configure the toolbar for each object type so that you always have access to the objects you want to connect.

  4. Click the object symbol you want to place and hold down the mouse button.

  5. Drag the mouse pointer to the position you want to place the object in the modeling area. If you have enabled Guided Modeling, lines and arrows inform you of the orientation and distance of the dragged object from adjacent items.

    You can enable or disable Guided Modeling, which uses lines and arrows to help you place objects or connections at the selected distance in the modeling area.

    1. Open the model.

    2. Activate the Model tab bar.

    3. Click Grid Modeling area > Disabled check box Show guides. The check box is enabled (Enabled), and the guides for placing items are shown in the modeling area.

    4. To disable the guides, click Grid Modeling area > Enabled Show guides. The Disabled check box check box is disabled.

    You have enabled or disabled the guides for Guided Modeling.

  6. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, and its name is selected for overwriting.

  7. Enter a name. If you enter an existing name, existing objects are offered for selection. You can create a new object, select an existing one, or create a new one with the same name.

    You can create a new object with the same name as an existing object.

    Procedure

    1. Open a model.

    2. Place an object in the modeling area. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

    3. Enter the name of an existing object.

    4. Click in the modeling area or press Enter. You are informed that the entered name is already used.

    5. In the Create a new object with this name area, click the name you entered.

    The new object is created. The existing object and the new object are independent of each other. They have different GUIDs and can have completely different attributes except for the name.

  8. If selectable connections are displayed, click another connection or click in the modeling area to obtain the current connection.

With Smart Modeling, you have placed an object with drag and drop.

Rearrange objects with drag and drop

You can easily rearrange objects with drag and drop.

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click the object you want to move and hold down the mouse button.

    Click object

  3. Drag the preview frame between the objects where you want to place the object. If you have enabled Guided Modeling, lines and arrows inform you of the orientation and distance of the dragged object from adjacent items. When the preview frame is over a connection between objects between which the selected object can be inserted methodically correctly, the connection is colored green.

    You can enable or disable Guided Modeling, which uses lines and arrows to help you place objects or connections at the selected distance in the modeling area.

    1. Open the model.

    2. Activate the Model tab bar.

    3. Click Grid Modeling area > Disabled check box Show guides. The check box is enabled (Enabled), and the guides for placing items are shown in the modeling area.

    4. To disable the guides, click Grid Modeling area > Enabled Show guides. The Disabled check box check box is disabled.

    You have enabled or disabled the guides for Guided Modeling.

    You can place objects between existing objects under the following conditions:

    • Drag, paste, or place only a single object.

    • Drag the object that you want to place only onto a single connection.

    • Do not place source and target objects in an object.

    • Both the connection between the source and target objects is structurally relevant (process-flow) and the source and target objects themselves are structurally relevant.

      Basic model objects.

      These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

      The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

      An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.

    Drag object

  4. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, the lower objects are moved, and the connections are newly linked.

    Drag object

You have rearranged objects using drag and drop. You can also place objects with drag and drop using Smart Modeling.

Objects placed with Smart Modeling are placed according to the set default distance. If you want to place a smart object in a specific position, you can place it via drag and drop in the modeling area.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object that you want to connect to a new object. The Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed.

    If you have enabled Smart Modeling, the insert icons are displayed under the following conditions.

    Enough space

    There must be enough space to arrange Insert smart object Insert icons around an object symbol. Therefore, the model display must be large enough to display Insert smart object Insert icons in the model in addition to the objects.

    Thus, Insert smart object Insert icons are displayed when Smart Modeling is enabled and the model display is equal or greater than 30 %.

    Permission to use a connection

    The user must have the privilege to use the outgoing connection of the selected object. If a user does not have the privilege because the used filter does not allow the connection, the Insert smart object Insert icon for the corresponding direction is not displayed.

    No connection access

  3. Click the Insert smart object Insert icon on the side of the selected object to which you want to attach the connection. The Smart Modeling toolbar opens.

    The Smart Modeling toolbar provides functionality for the simple and very fast placement of objects. It provides objects that are directly accessible and a search field for finding and placing object symbols that are not listed in the toolbar. Also, you can use the smart object toolbar to create connections to existing objects.

    Smart Modeling toolbar

    When you place an object using the search field, the symbol of the placed object is added to the list of directly accessible objects for the selected object type.

    You can configure the toolbar for each object type so that you always have access to the objects you want to connect.

  4. Click the object symbol you want to place and hold down the mouse button.

  5. Drag the mouse pointer to the position you want to place the object in the modeling area. If you have enabled Guided Modeling, lines and arrows inform you of the orientation and distance of the dragged object from adjacent items.

    You can enable or disable Guided Modeling, which uses lines and arrows to help you place objects or connections at the selected distance in the modeling area.

    1. Open the model.

    2. Activate the Model tab bar.

    3. Click Grid Modeling area > Disabled check box Show guides. The check box is enabled (Enabled), and the guides for placing items are shown in the modeling area.

    4. To disable the guides, click Grid Modeling area > Enabled Show guides. The Disabled check box check box is disabled.

    You have enabled or disabled the guides for Guided Modeling.

  6. Release the mouse button. The object is placed, and its name is selected for overwriting.

  7. Enter a name. If you enter an existing name, existing objects are offered for selection. You can create a new object, select an existing one, or create a new one with the same name.

    You can create a new object with the same name as an existing object.

    Procedure

    1. Open a model.

    2. Place an object in the modeling area. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

    3. Enter the name of an existing object.

    4. Click in the modeling area or press Enter. You are informed that the entered name is already used.

    5. In the Create a new object with this name area, click the name you entered.

    The new object is created. The existing object and the new object are independent of each other. They have different GUIDs and can have completely different attributes except for the name.

  8. If selectable connections are displayed, click another connection or click in the modeling area to obtain the current connection.

With Smart Modeling, you have placed an object with drag and drop.

Conditions for placing objects between existing objects

You can place objects between existing objects under the following conditions:

  • Drag, paste, or place only a single object.

  • Drag the object that you want to place only onto a single connection.

  • Do not place source and target objects in an object.

  • Both the connection between the source and target objects is structurally relevant (process-flow) and the source and target objects themselves are structurally relevant.

    Basic model objects.

    These are objects that indicate the distinctive feature of a model. For a model of the Organizational chart type, the objects Organizational unit, Role, and Person are structurally relevant objects, for example. Using these items, you can build the typical hierarchy of an organizational chart.

    The Event and Function objects are typical for the EPC model type and are thus structurally relevant to a business process. You can use these to establish a typical control flow. The Organizational unit, Role, and Person objects can also be inserted into an EPC. However, these objects do not constitute the distinctive feature of a business process. As structurally irrelevant objects, they act as satellites and add more detailed information to the process model. For example, you can insert organizational units and link them to functions to illustrate who carries out those functions.

    An object that can be inserted in a model or diagram but is not a structurally relevant object is known as a satellite.