Use model items

You can arrange model items, such as objects, graphic objects, and free-form text in the modeling area.

Place model items one behind the other

In an open model, you can specify the order in which the overlapping model items are placed one behind the other in the modeling area.

In the example below, it is assumed that you have created the three objects 1, 2, and 3 in sequence. As the most recently placed objects are created at the highest level, object 3 is at the highest level and object 1 is at the lowest level. You want to reverse this sequence.

Procedure

  1. Activate the Start tab bar if not already selected.

  2. Select the object 3 and click Bring forward Arrange > Send backward Send backward.

  3. Select the object 1 and click Bring forward Arrange > Bring forward Bring forward.

Now, when you place the objects one behind the other, they are placed in the order 1, 2, and 3.

In the same manner, you can place graphic objects such as squares or circles behind parts of objects to highlight these areas separately.

Group model items

You can group model items and then handle them as if they were a single object.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the model items you want to group.

  3. Activate the Start tab bar if not already selected.

  4. Click Group Group/Ungroup > Group. The selected model items are combined in a group. The Element handle handles are placed around the grouping.

    Grouped model items.

    Grouped items can be moved, enlarged, or reduced, and deleted as if they were one item.

To select all items in a group, click one of the previously independent items. You can now move them all together, for example.

You can ungroup grouped items by selecting the group and clicking Group Group/Ungroup > Ungroup.

Align model items

In an open model, you can quickly align selected model items relative to each other.

Procedure

  1. Select the model items you want to align with.

  2. Activate the Start tab bar if not already selected.

  3. Click Align left Align and then the relevant alignment, for example, Align left or Distribute vertically.

The selected model items are aligned accordingly.

Match size of items

You can resize the selected items so that they match.

Prerequisite

For this model, the Resize symbol option for text attributes in the symbol was not selected in ARIS Architect (Model properties > Format > Representation > Text attributes in symbols).

Procedure

  1. Select the different-sized model items you want to match.

  2. Activate the Start tab bar if not already selected.

  3. Click Same size Match size of items and then the relevant size change, for example, Align with tallest item Same height (maximum).

The height of the selected model items is matched to that of the tallest item.

Copying objects to another model

You can paste objects into a model if they are methodically allowed in the model.

Suppose you have copied objects of type Function and Organizational unit to the clipboard. If you paste the contents of the clipboard into a model of type EPC, the functions and organizational units will be inserted in the model because both object types are methodically allowed in EPC.

However, if you paste the content of the clipboard into a model of type Organizational chart, only the organizational units will be inserted, because objects of type Function are not methodically allowed in the organizational chart. When you paste the objects, the functions are shown crossed out (x), so you know that they will not be pasted.