Use objects

You can create and use objects in several ways.

Create objects

Create object of 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.

Create multiple objects at once

You can create new objects in a text editor and insert them in ARIS.

Create and insert multiple objects of the same type.

  1. In a text editor, enter the names of the new objects in separate lines.

  2. To the right of the objects, enter the attributes separated by tabs.

  3. Select all entries with Ctrl + A and copy them to the clipboard with Ctrl + C.

You can paste the contents of the clipboard into the Create Objects dialog to create new objects.

Insert the object definitions

  1. Open a model.

  2. In the Start tab bar, click Insert object Create objects. The dialog opens.

  3. Click Insert object Create objects. The dialog opens.

  4. Paste the clipboard content into the dialog by using Ctrl + V. The content is inserted into the dialog and rows are created for the symbol and attribute types.

  5. In the Select symbol type header, click Configure Configure to select the symbol type for all new objects.

  6. In the Select attribute type headers, click Configure Configure to select the attribute type for all attributes of the column.

    Create objects dialog

  7. Click OK. The preview of the object symbols is displayed in the modeling area.

  8. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to place the object symbols.

After placing the objects, you can connect them with other objects.

Use or create objects using Properties tab

The Properties tab enables you to reuse or create objects. These objects are not displayed in the model. Instead, a model with an occurrence copy of the reused or created object is assigned to the selected objects. The assigned model type depends on the selected object type. A model of Function allocation diagram (FAD) type is assigned to a function, a model of Organizational chart type is assigned to an organizational object, such as Organizational unit.

You can reuse or create objects, for example, to Responsibilities (RACI), Input and Output data, and Locations.

The procedure for Responsibilities (RACI) is described below.

Procedure

  1. Open a model of type EPC and select a function.

  2. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

    On the Properties tab, open the Responsibilities (RACI) category.

  3. Click Add Add in the Responsible field. The organizational objects relevant for RACI are displayed.

    Select object (Satellite modeling)

  4. Click an object, for example, an Organizational unit. The organizational unit is inserted, and you can enter a name.

  5. Enter a name. When you enter a name, all existing organizational units with the term entered in the name are offered. You can create a new organizational unit with the entered name by clicking Create or reuse an existing one by clicking on its name.

    Select existing object (Satellite modeling)

  6. Click Finance & controlling. A model containing an occurrence copy of the Finance & controlling object is assigned to the object you selected in the source model.

    Display object in model (Satellite modeling)

  7. Click Display object in model Display object in model if you want the Finance & controlling object to be displayed in the model.

You have reused an object with the Properties tab.

Reuse objects

You can reuse existing objects not only by placing occurrence copies.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Place an object in the modeling area. The name of the new object is selected for renaming. You can also select an already placed object and press F2 to select the name to overwrite.

  3. Enter at least two characters of the name of an existing object. All objects within the database whose name contain the entered characters are displayed.

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

The placed object becomes an occurrence copy of the existing object.

Place objects

Place object symbols

In an open model, you can place object symbols in the modeling area in various ways.

Procedure

Procedure

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

  2. Click the object symbol you want to place in the modeling area.

  3. Move the mouse pointer to the modeling area. The frame of the object is displayed. If Guided modeling is enabled, lines indicate the alignment of the moving object to the placed objects and arrows indicate the distances.

    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.

  4. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol. The name of the object symbol is selected for overwriting by default.

  5. If necessary, overwrite the previous name with the name of your choice and press Enter.

The object symbol has been inserted in the modeling area.

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.

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

  4. Move the mouse pointer to the desired position in the modeling area and click again 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.

    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.

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

  5. Move the mouse pointer to the desired position in the modeling area and click again 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.

    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.

Procedure

  1. 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

  2. In the Select and insert symbol box, enter a few characters of the object symbol name. All object symbols whose names contain these characters are listed, regardless of whether they are hidden or shown in the Symbols bar. The list is continuously updated while you are entering your input.

  3. In the list, click the object symbol you want to place in the modeling area.

  4. Move the mouse pointer to the modeling area. The frame of the object is displayed. If Guided modeling is enabled, lines indicate the alignment of the moving object to the placed objects and arrows indicate the distances.

    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. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol. The name of the object symbol is selected for overwriting by default.

  6. If necessary, overwrite the previous name with the name of your choice and press Enter.

The object symbol has been inserted in the modeling area.

If Smart Modeling is disabled, you can use the mini toolbar to link objects.

The mini toolbar provides you with exactly the object symbols that can be linked to the selected object using a connection.

Mini toolbar

When you place an object symbol from the mini toolbar in the modeling area, a connection between the selected object and the new object symbol is created at the same time. Also, you can use the mini toolbar to create connections to existing objects.

The mini toolbar is configured for each object type. When you click an object, the mini toolbar provides the object symbols you selected for the underlying object type.

You can hide the mini toolbar.

Procedure

  1. Click the placed object symbol. The mini toolbar is shown.

  2. In the mini toolbar, click the symbol you want to place in the modeling area.

  3. The Select connection box and the outline of the object are displayed. The currently used connection is marked with a preceding bar and is highlighted in bold.

  4. Click another connection or close the Select connection box with Close Close.

  5. Move the mouse pointer to the modeling area. The frame of the object is displayed. If Guided modeling is enabled, lines indicate the alignment of the moving object to the placed objects and arrows indicate the distances.

    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. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol. The name of the object symbol is selected for overwriting by default.

  7. If necessary, overwrite the previous name with the name of your choice and press Enter.

The object symbol is placed in the modeling area and linked to the previously selected object symbol using the selected connection.

With Smart Modeling, you can easily place new and existing objects.

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the object you want to connect with 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 of the direction in which you want to place the object. The Smart Modeling toolbar opens.

  4. Click an object shown on the Smart Modeling toolbar you want to place. The object is inserted in the direction you selected the Insert smart object Insert icon and a connection is created to the previously selected object. The name of the new object is selected for renaming.

  5. 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.

  6. 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 at the specified distance.

If an object has already been placed in the modeling area, you can create a new occurrence for this object. This enables you, for example, to insert the same organizational unit at all positions in a process where it participates in the process.

Procedure

  1. Click the placed object symbol and then Copy Copy.

  2. Click Paste Paste. Alternatively, press Ctrl + V. A frame for the occurrence copy is displayed in the modeling area.

  3. Drag the frame to the required position. Lines indicate the alignment of the moving object to the placed objects and arrows indicate the distances.

  4. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol.

The object symbol is placed in the modeling area. It represents the object whose object symbol you copied as an occurrence copy. This means, for example, that the name of both object symbols is changed, that is, the name of the copied object symbol and the name of the object symbol copy, if you change it for ONE of the two.

If an object has already been placed in the modeling area, you can use it as the basis for a new object. Thus, you only need to change the attributes by which the new object differs from the source object.

Procedure

  1. Click the placed object symbol and then Copy Copy.

  2. Click Down arrow down arrow > Definition copy next to Paste Paste. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + V. A frame for the definition copy is displayed in the modeling area.

  3. Drag the frame to the required position. 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.

  4. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol.

The object symbol is placed in the modeling area. As a definition copy, it represents a new object using the attributes of the object whose object symbol you have copied. The new object is autonomous even though it has the same attributes as the source object. This means, for example, that the name of the copied object does not change if you change the name of the source object.

Copy of the object definition, that is of the entire object, rather than just the occurrence as is the case with the occurrence copy.

The definition copy creates a new object. The occurrence, which is created when creating the definition copy, refers to the new object.

You can create copies of objects. When copying an object, you can decide whether you wish to create a new object (a definition copy) or a new object symbol for an existing object (an occurrence copy).

It makes sense to create a definition copy for an existing object if a new object is to have properties similar to those of the source object.

For example, you have modeled the object Plant 1 and specified its properties. You now wish to create the object Plant 2, which has properties similar to Plant 1. In this case, it is advisable to create a definition copy of Plant 1. Object Plant 2 is thus given all the properties of object Plant 1, but exists independently of it. You now simply need to change the properties that differ from those of object Plant 1, for example, by changing the name to Plant 2.

This involves significantly less work for you than creating the object from scratch and having to enter all the properties again.

Some attributes are not copied when the definition copy is created. For example, it does not make sense to copy the identifier of an object because the identifier represents a unique ID of an object.

Place objects directly below each other

You can easily place objects directly below each other.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Enable Guided Modeling.

    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.

  3. Drag the object to the border of the object under which you want to position it directly. It snaps into place here.

  4. Release the mouse button.

The object is now placed directly below the other object.

Object can easily be placed directly below each other:

Objects below each other

Place occurrence copy

You can place occurrence copies in the modeling area of an open model in different ways to reuse objects.

Procedure

Procedure

  1. Click the relevant object symbol in the Symbols bar or in the Smart object toolbar and hold down the mouse button.

    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

    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.

  2. Move the mouse pointer to 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.

  3. Drag the object symbol over a connection or the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol.

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

  5. Enter at least two letters. A list of existing objects is displayed. They have the same type as the placed object and their names begin with the letters entered.

  6. Click the name of the object you want to create as an occurrence copy. The name is entered in the object.

The occurrence copy is placed.

Procedure

  1. Click the relevant object symbol in the Symbols bar or the mini toolbar.

    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

    The mini toolbar provides you with exactly the object symbols that can be linked to the selected object using a connection.

    Mini toolbar

    When you place an object symbol from the mini toolbar in the modeling area, a connection between the selected object and the new object symbol is created at the same time. Also, you can use the mini toolbar to create connections to existing objects.

    The mini toolbar is configured for each object type. When you click an object, the mini toolbar provides the object symbols you selected for the underlying object type.

    You can hide the mini toolbar.

  2. Move the mouse pointer to 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.

  3. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol. The name of the object symbol is selected for overwriting by default.

  4. Enter at least two letters. A list of existing objects is displayed. They have the same type as the placed object and their names begin with the letters entered.

  5. Click the name of the object you want to create as an occurrence copy. The name is entered in the object.

The occurrence copy is placed in the modeling area.

Procedure

  1. In the modeling area, click the object of which you want to create an occurrence copy.

  2. Click Copy Copy in the toolbar.

  3. Click Paste Paste in the toolbar. A frame for the occurrence copy is displayed in the modeling area.

  4. Drag the frame to the required position. 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. Press the mouse button.

You have placed the occurrence copy.

Place an object in an object

You can place an object in another object. The object then overlaps the object in which it is placed and has an implicit connection to this object. Implicit connections are connections that are not being displayed while an object is placed in another object.

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click the object you want to place in another object, and hold down the mouse button.

  3. Drag the object on top of the other object, position it inside the other object's borders, and release the mouse button. If multiple connections are available between the two objects, the connection selection is displayed. A right arrow is added to the outgoing connections of the embedded object, while a left arrow is added to the incoming connections.

  4. Click the connection you want to draw between these two objects. The connection created is an implicit connection, which means that it is not displayed while the object is embedded in the other object.

The object is now placed in the other object. Due to the existing implicit connection, the embedded object is also selected or moved when the object in which it was placed is selected or moved. If you drag the nested object onto the model area, the connection between the two objects is automatically displayed.

Tip

You can place multiple objects of one type in an object at once.

Place an object on an object

You can place an object on another object. The object then overlaps the object on which it is placed but has no implicit connection to this object. Implicit connections are connections that are not being displayed while an object is placed in another object.

Procedure (quick video)

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click the object you want to place on another object, and hold down the mouse button.

  3. Drag the object on top of the other object, position it inside the other object's borders, and release the mouse button. The connection selection is displayed.

  4. Click No connection No connection. Thus, no connection is created between the two objects.

The object is now placed on the other object. Due to the lack of an implicit connection, the embedded object is neither selected nor moved when the object on which it was placed is selected or moved. If you drag the overlapping object onto the model area, no connection between the two objects is displayed.

Placing objects in or on objects

You can place objects on other objects or in other objects. The difference between these two procedures is as follows: When placing an object on another object you specify that no implicit connection will be created between the objects. In contrast, when placing an object in another object you specify that an implicit connection is to be created between the objects.

You can place multiple objects of one type in an object at once. If you want to embed two objects at once and object 1 already has a connection to the enclosing object while object 2 has none, proceed as follows when creating connections:

  • Select the connection that exists between object 1 and the enclosing object: this connection now links both objects to the enclosing object.

  • Select a connection other than the one that exists between object 1 and the enclosing object: object 1 is now linked to the enclosing object via two connections - the existing connection and the one you have selected. Object 2 uses a new connection.

Objects that were placed in other objects are also moved when the enclosing object is moved. If an enclosing object is selected, the embedded object is selected as well. This indicates clearly that an object is embedded in another object. In contrast, a non-embedded object is neither selected nor moved when the object on which it was placed is selected or moved.

You can drag an embedded object from an enclosing object to the model background. The connections linking the objects are then displayed.

Use copies

You can use different copies of objects.

Paste copied object as an occurrence copy

You can paste a copied object into a model as an occurrence copy. Thus, a new occurrence is created, that is, a new graphical representation of the object. This means, for example, that changing the name of this occurrence will change the name in all occurrences of the copied object.

Prerequisite

The object is allowed to exist in the target model according to the method.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the relevant object.

  3. Click Copy Copy. Now you can insert the copy into the current or another model.

  4. Click Paste Paste > Occurrence copy. Alternatively, press Ctrl + V. The frame of the object is displayed.

  5. Move the mouse pointer to the relevant position. 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. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol.

Copying and pasting the occurrence of an object is now complete.

Occurrence copies enable you to quickly reuse the same object at different positions in the same model or to reuse it in various other models.

Paste copied object as a definition copy

You can paste a copied object into a model as a definition copy. Thus, a new object is created whose attributes are identical to those of the copied object. Changing the attributes of the pasted object will not affect the copied object.

Prerequisite

The object is allowed to exist in the target model according to the method.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the relevant object.

  3. Click Copy Copy. Now you can insert the copy into the current or another model.

  4. Click Paste Paste > Definition copy. The frame of the object is displayed.

  5. Move the mouse pointer to the relevant position. 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. Click the position in the modeling area where you want to insert the object symbol.

Copying an object and pasting it as a definition copy is now complete.

Using definition copies reduces the effort of creating multiple objects that differ only in a few attributes.

Difference between occurrence and definition copy

An occurrence copy is only a copy of a graphical representation of an object. Thus, when you create an occurrence copy, a graphic is created that references the copied object:

Occurrence copy

When you create a definition copy, an entirely new object is created whose attributes are identical with those of the copied object:

Definition copy

If attributes of an object are changed, this change also applies to the corresponding attributes in all occurrences of the object. This becomes clear when changing the Name attribute:

Occurrence copy and definition copy

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.

Edit objects

Use optional hyphens

You can insert optional hyphens in texts. These hyphens are displayed only when necessary when texts must be broken up due to, for example, resizing an object. Optional hyphens can be used for attribute texts and free-form texts. The following procedure describes an example use of optional hyphens for the name attribute of an object.

The purpose of optional hyphens is to specify separation points for longer words. Where required, automatic separation occurs at these points, and optional hyphens are inserted.

When entering an attribute text, for example, optional hyphens can be specified. They are indicated by a placeholder (Optional hyphen) during input. If, for example, optional hyphens are inserted for an object name, the name is automatically adjusted if the size of the object is changed.

Example

You insert optional hyphens when entering the text:

Insert optional hyphens

When you exit the entry by clicking in the model background, the name is separated.

Optional hyphens in object names

When you enlarge the object, the name is separated at a different place and provided with a hyphen. The previously displayed hyphens are removed.

Optional hyphens at different positions

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click a selected object in the model. The name of the object is selected for editing.

  3. Place the cursor at the position at which you want to insert an optional hyphen.

  4. Press Alt + -. An optional hyphen is inserted and the placeholder for the optional hyphen is displayed (Optional hyphen).

  5. Insert optional hyphens wherever you want to separate the attribute value when you change the size of an object.

  6. Click in the modeling background.

The text input box is closed and the optional hyphen placeholders are no longer displayed.

If you now change the size of the object so that the text requires a line break, the text is wrapped at the position of the optional hyphen, and a hyphen is automatically inserted at that position.

Optional hyphens

The purpose of optional hyphens is to specify separation points for longer words. Where required, automatic separation occurs at these points, and optional hyphens are inserted.

When entering an attribute text, for example, optional hyphens can be specified. They are indicated by a placeholder (Optional hyphen) during input. If, for example, optional hyphens are inserted for an object name, the name is automatically adjusted if the size of the object is changed.

Example

You insert optional hyphens when entering the text:

Insert optional hyphens

When you exit the entry by clicking in the model background, the name is separated.

Optional hyphens in object names

When you enlarge the object, the name is separated at a different place and provided with a hyphen. The previously displayed hyphens are removed.

Optional hyphens at different positions

Change object symbol

You can change the symbol for selected objects if various symbols are available for them.

Prerequisite

The method filter in use includes different symbols of the objects you selected.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click an object or hold the Ctrl key pressed to select multiple objects of the same type.

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

  4. Click Remove symbol Change symbol. The list of object symbols available for the selected object(s) is shown.

  5. Click the symbol you want to use from now on for the selected object/s in this model.

The symbol for the selected object is or the symbols of the selected objects are changed.

Change object size when placing

In an open model, you can place an object and determine its size at the same time.

Procedure

Using the Symbols bar

  1. In the Symbols bar, click the object you want to place.

    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

  2. Move the mouse pointer to the modeling area, click, and hold down the mouse button.

    Place object

  3. Move the mouse pointer in the direction in which you want to resize the object. The position of the upper left object corner is the anchor point.

    Resize object

  4. Release the mouse button when the object has the required size.

    Object placed and resized

You have placed an object and determined its size at the same time.

Using the mini toolbar

  1. In the mini toolbar, click the object you want to place.

    Select object

  2. Place the preview frame of the object so that the upper left corner of the object is placed as an anchor point at the position you want.

    Place object

  3. Move the mouse pointer in the direction in which you want to resize the object.

    Resize object

  4. Release the mouse button when the object has the required size.

Object placed and resized

You have placed an object and determined its size at the same time.

Find objects in an open model

You can have objects selected in the modeling area. If the object is not located in the visible area of the modeling area, the visible area is moved and the object is displayed as selected in the visible area.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Click the Find Find bar button or press Ctrl + F. The Find bar opens.

    You can use the bar buttons to show or hide the Find, Details, Evaluations, Semantic checks, Symbols, and Collaboration bars, as well as the Modeling table.

    Click the bar button Find Search to show the Find bar that you can use to have objects selected in the model.

    Find bar

    Click the bar button Properties Details to show the Properties tab, where you can edit attributes or view occurrences and relations of objects, for example.

    You can edit the attributes of models, objects, and connections. You can customize the Properties tab by using the More More menu of each attribute to see only the attributes with which you want to work.

    In an open model, you can show additional attributes or specify whether and when attributes are to be shown.

    Procedure

    1. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

    2. Click Edit language Edit language if you want to show an additional language column for language-specific attributes. You can select an additional database language and view and edit it next to the language currently used.

      You can show a column for another language next to the column with the original language. This way, you can compare and edit the content of language-dependent items in different languages side-by-side. For example, you can use this option to translate language-dependent content from one language to another.

      Procedure

      1. Open a model.

      2. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

      3. Click Edit language Edit language. A second column for language-dependent attributes is shown.

      4. Click the Down arrow down arrow in the header cell and select the required language. The content of the language column is displayed in the language you selected. If you change or enter attribute values for language-dependent attributes, it is done in the selected language.

        You can edit model, object, and connection attributes in various languages if they are not system attributes.

        Procedure

        1. Open a model.

        2. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

        3. Filter the attribute. If the attribute is not added to the Properties tab, add the attribute.

          In an open model, you can add model attributes and the attributes of objects or connections.

          Procedure

          1. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

          2. If you want to edit model attributes, ensure that no model item is selected.
            If you want to edit object or connection attributes, select the corresponding object or connection.

          3. Click Attributes Add attributes on the Properties tab. The Select attribute dialog opens.

          4. If you want to see only attributes with assigned values, enable the Show specified attributes only check box. You can use a search term to restrict the attributes displayed.

          5. Enter a search term for the attributes you want to display. The attribute type groups that contain attributes whose names contain the term you entered are expanded and the attributes are displayed.

          6. Enable the check boxes of the relevant attributes.

          7. Click OK.

          The Select attributes dialog is closed, and the selected attributes are added to the OTHER ATTRIBUTES category of the Properties tab. You can hide attributes of the OTHER ATTRIBUTES category.

          1. On the Properties tab, move the mouse pointer over the row of the attribute you want to hide.

          2. Click the Actions three dots at the end of the row. The attribute menu opens.

          3. Click Hide always Hide always if you want to hide the attribute, even if it has a value.
            Click Hide, if not specified Hide, if not specified if you want to hide the attribute if it is not specified, but should be displayed if a value has been entered.

          The attributes that you always hide remain hidden even if they have values.

          The attributes you hide with the Hide, if not specified Hide, if not specified option are hidden if they have no value or when you delete their values. If a value is entered for them, for example, in the modeling area, they are displayed again on the Properties tab.

        4. Show the required language column.

        5. Click in the cell behind the attribute name. The Edit dialog and the selected language column are shown. If required, you can enlarge the dialog.

        6. Make your changes. Different input options are available depending on the type of attribute. While you can enter text for text attributes such as names, you can, for example, select a number and a unit for times. You cannot change or delete the attribute values of attributes that the system defines. Such values are placed in gray cells, for example, Type.

        7. If you have specified your input for the language displayed and want to specify input for other languages, click the name of the selected language in the dialog. The list of available languages opens.

        8. Select another language and make your entries.

        9. Click OK.

        Your changes are saved in various languages.

      5. Click Hide language Hide language if you no longer need to display the second language. The additional column is removed, and only the column of the original language remains visible.

      You have used the language column to display attributes in different languages.

    3. Click Attributes Add attributes on the Properties tab. The Select attribute dialog opens.

    4. If you want to add only specified attributes, enable the Show specified attributes only check box. You can use a search term to restrict the attributes displayed.

    5. Enter a search term for the attributes you want to display. The attribute type groups that contain attributes whose names contain the term you entered are expanded and the attributes are displayed.

    6. Enable the check boxes of the relevant attributes.

    7. Click OK. The Select attributes dialog is closed, and the selected attributes are added to the Properties tab.

    8. On the Properties tab, click More More next to the attribute whose visibility you want to specify. The availability of menu items varies depending on the attribute.

      • Click Place attribute Place attribute and then the relevant position in the modeling area to display the attribute value in the model.

      • Click Delete Delete attribute if you want to delete the attribute value. You cannot change or delete the attribute values of attributes that the system defines. Such values are placed in gray cells, for example, Type.

      • Click Hide always Hide always if you want to hide the attribute from the Attributes tab even if a value has been specified. To display the attribute later, you must select it explicitly by clicking Add.

      • Click Hide, if not specified Hide, if not specified if you want the attribute to be displayed on the Attributes tab only if a value has been specified.

    The attributes on the Properties tab are displayed according to your settings.

    Prerequisite

    The attribute you selected can be edited. You cannot change or delete the attribute values of attributes that the system defines. Such values are placed in gray cells, for example, Type.

    Procedure

    1. Open a model.

    2. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

    3. If you want to edit model attributes, ensure that no model item is selected.
      If you want to edit object or connection attributes, select the corresponding object or connection.

    4. Filter the attribute. If the attribute is not added to the Properties tab, add the attribute.

      In an open model, you can add model attributes and the attributes of objects or connections.

      Procedure

      1. Open the Properties tab of the Properties Details bar if it is not open.

      2. If you want to edit model attributes, ensure that no model item is selected.
        If you want to edit object or connection attributes, select the corresponding object or connection.

      3. Click Attributes Add attributes on the Properties tab. The Select attribute dialog opens.

      4. If you want to see only attributes with assigned values, enable the Show specified attributes only check box. You can use a search term to restrict the attributes displayed.

      5. Enter a search term for the attributes you want to display. The attribute type groups that contain attributes whose names contain the term you entered are expanded and the attributes are displayed.

      6. Enable the check boxes of the relevant attributes.

      7. Click OK.

      The Select attributes dialog is closed, and the selected attributes are added to the Properties tab.

      You can hide attributes:

      1. On the Properties tab, move the mouse pointer over the row of the attribute you want to hide.

      2. Click the Actions three dots at the end of the row. The attribute menu opens.

      3. Click Hide always Hide always if you want to hide the attribute, even if it has a value.
        Click Hide, if not specified Hide, if not specified if you want to hide the attribute if it is not specified, but should be displayed if a value has been entered.

      The attributes that you always hide remain hidden even if they have values.

      The attributes you hide with the Hide, if not specified Hide, if not specified option are hidden if they have no value or when you delete their values. If a value is entered for them, for example, in the modeling area, they are displayed again on the Properties tab.

    5. Move the mouse pointer over the attribute.

    6. Use the edit buttons or click the attribute to change its value.

    You have edited the attribute.

    Modeling component - Properties tab

    Click the bar button Reports Reports to show the Evaluations tabs and generate reports.

    Reports bar

    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

    Click the bar button Comments Collaboration to show the Collaboration bar that you can use to enter notes, improvement proposals, questions, etc., about the model.

    Collaboration bar

    Table-based modeling enables rapid and comfortable modeling of EPCs and BPMN diagrams. The modeling table is shown by default.

    Objects are modeled in a table and simultaneously placed in the model displayed above. Layout takes place automatically. The distance between objects is defined by the spacings specified in the layout options.

    Table-based modeling provides a quick and easy way to model processes and process frameworks at an early stage, for example, in meetings during the project planning phase.

    Moreover, additional information can be added for models and objects.

    It can also be used to navigate in the model. If an object is selected in the table, it is selected in the model and the selected object is moved into the visible area. If an object is selected in the model, it is also selected in the table and the row is displayed in the visible area.

    If the modeling table is is not displayed,click Hide/Show modeling table Modeling table to display it and vice versa.

    Modeling component - Bar buttons

    Click the bar button Find Search to show the Find bar that you can use to have objects selected in the model.

    Find bar

  3. Enter a part of the name or the entire name for the object to be found.

  4. Click either Search down Search down or Search up Search up, depending on the direction in which you want to search for objects. The next object whose name contains the entered term is selected. If it is located outside of the visible area it is placed in the visible area.

  5. Click Search down Search down or Search up Search up again. The next object with the term in its name is selected.

Each time you click the up and down buttons the next occurrence is selected. If a corresponding object cannot be found in one direction, the first occurrence is selected again.

Display objects

Display occurrences in models

You can display the usage of the selected object and connection occurrences in the open model or in other models.

Procedure

  1. Select the occurrence in the modeling area.

  2. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  3. Click the Occurrences tab if it is not active yet. The usage of the selected occurrence is displayed in the areas In this model and In other models.

  4. Navigate to the individual occurrences in the model if multiple occurrences exist. To do this, use the navigation buttons in the In this model area.

    1. From top to bottom or left to right: Click the Scroll down right arrow.

    2. From bottom to top or right to left: Click the Scroll up left arrow.

    3. Select an occurrence directly: Click Select directly direct selection and then the number of the occurrence.

The occurrence selected is highlighted. If it is placed outside the visible area, the model display is moved automatically so that the selected occurrence is placed in the visible area.

You can open a model in which object and connection occurrences of the selected object or connection are also used by clicking the name of a model in the In other models area.

Display relations of selected objects

You can display the relations of selected objects.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select the occurrence of the relevant object in the modeling area.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. Click the Relations tab if it is not active yet.

The relations of the selected object are listed. If a relation of the selected object has an occurrence (connection), you can navigate to the linked object. You can also delete connections that do not have any occurrences in models.

Show where object occurrences are used

You can display where occurrences of an object or a connection are used and select the required occurrence using the navigation controls.

Procedure

  1. Open a model.

  2. Select an object in the model.

  3. Click Properties Details. The Details bar opens.

  4. Click the Occurrences tab. The occurrences of the selected object are listed. If more than one occurrence exists in the current model, the number of the selected occurrence and the total number of occurrences are displayed next to the object name.

  5. Click the left or right arrow to navigate to the next occurrence in the model. The next occurrence is selected and its number updated.

  6. To directly select an occurrence, expand the drop-down list and click the occurrence number.

  7. To open a model that contains an occurrence of the selected object, click the name of the model in the In other models area. The model opens and the first occurrence of the object is selected. If there is no Diagram fact sheet for the occurrence exists, the first fact sheet is shown, for example, the Overview fact sheet.

    In the In other models area, all models are displayed to which you have at least read access.

You switched between the occurrences of an object using the navigation controls.

Order of object occurrences

You can display where occurrences of an object or a connection are used and select the required occurrence using the navigation controls.

The navigation controls include arrows and a drop-down list:

Controls for navigation through occurrences

If you click an arrow, the next occurrence is selected. The order of the occurrences depends on the vertical position of the objects in the model. The occurrence at the topmost position is occurrence number 1.

The first number in the drop-down list refers to the occurrence currently selected, the second number represents the total amount of occurrences in a model.

Using the drop-down list, you can directly select a specific object occurrence:

Drop-down list for object occurrences

Object relation symbols

The relations are identified by the following symbols:

Connection occurrence in the model

Symbol for relations for which an occurrence or an implicit connection exists in the current model.

Implicit relationship

Symbol for assignment relations (implicit relations).

No connection occurrence in the model

Symbol for relations for which no occurrences exist in the current model and that are not implicit either.

For example, if a connection was created between objects A and B and object B has been deleted, the relation is displayed when object A is selected.