Enterprise Architect Notes for Previous Versions

The information for the current version of Enterprise Architect is here. This file contains notes from older versions.

Directions for EA 15

Version 15 of Enterprise Architect was first distributed in summer, 2020.

• Reverse engineering a class model using EA 15:
  1. Ensure the project builds so the import does not fail mid-way through.
  2. Create a new EA project. This pops up a dialog asking where to put the project; I recommend either putting the EA file at the top level of the project or in a doc folder.
  3. Create a class model and use the Model Wizard to add a class diagram by clicking on the Diagram tab, selecting Create Package, clicking on UMLStructural, selecting Class, then selecting UML::Simple Class. See this image to see the setup. Note the Files menu is also selected here. You'll need this in a couple steps.
  4. Click on the Create Diagram button; the system will prompt you for the package name. Enter the package name for the project you are attempting to reverse engineer.
  5. Click on the Develop tab and note the Files drop-down in the Source Code group. This group is the middle-right of the Develop ribbon.
  6. Click on your class diagram in the Project Browser (usually on the far left), then click on Files and Import Directory.
  7. Browse to the top directory of your project, set Source Type to the appropriate type (such as Java) and use the remaning default options (recursively process directories, create package per namespace, create diagram for each package, etc). When prompted, I set the current package to be the namespace root. Close the reverse engineering dialog.
  8. If desired, select the Layout tab, pick Diagram Layout (in the middle of the bar), then Apply Default Layout.
  9. Move the classes so they fit nicely on a single page or as close to a single page as you can et.
  10. Move the associations, generalization arrows, and role names so that elements do not overlap and have clear attachments.
• Creating a .PNG of your model (class, sequence, etc):
  1. If necessary, reorganize your classes and lines to minimize crossed lines and and empty white space. This should result in both placing related classes together and fitting the diagram on a single page. If it will not fit on a single page, be sure to minimize the number of pages while keeping the diagram readable.
  2. Open the Publish tab.
  3. Select Save Image | Save to File.
  4. Change Save as type to PNG.
  5. Browse to the desired location and set the name in the normal way.

• Creating a sequence diagram
  1. Right click on the class model, select Add Diagram....
  2. Select UML Behavioral and then Sequence.
  3. Click on OK.

Older Directions for EA 13

Version 13 of Enterprise Architect was first distributed in fall, 2018. These directions are here in case you are using this older version.

• Reverse engineering a class model using EA 13:
  1. Create a new EA project. I recommend either putting the EA file at the top level of the project or in a doc folder.
  2. Create a class model.
  3. Open the class model and delete all of the automatically-created elements.
  4. Save the (empty) model.
  5. Select the Code tab.
  6. Select Import Code | Java Files...
  7. Browse to the source files that you want to process, select them all, and click Open. This will import them, but the diagram will not be organized.
  8. If desired, select the Layout tab, pick Diagram Layout (in the middle of the bar), then Apply Default Layout.
  9. Move the classes so they fit nicely on a single page (if possible).
  10. Move the associations, generalization arrows, and role names so that elements do not overlap and have clear attachments.

• Creating a .PNG of your model (class, sequence, etc): This sequence is the same as for Version 15 above.

• Show method and constructor parameters with types:
  1. Open the Layout tab
  2. Choose Manage|Properties...
  3. Select Features
  4. Select Full Details for Show Parameter Detail
  5. Click OK
  6. To apply to the current view, select Apply Default Layout from the Diagram Layout menu (at the center of the Layout tab bar).
  Note you can also use this form to set Show Attribute Detail to Name Only, suppress Show Qualifiers and Visibility Indicators, and to suppress Show Operation Return Type. The Diagram item on the layout's properties page also includes a "Hand Drawn" feature that can be useful for more informal-looking diagrams.

• Creating a sequence diagram
  1. Right click on the class model, select Add Diagram....
  2. Select UML Behavioral and then Sequence.
  3. Click on OK.

Older directions for EA 12

These directions may also work for EA 11.

• Reverse engineering a class model using EA 12:
1. Create an EA file in your project directory (where the src folder and others are stored).
2. Create a class model.
3. Open the class model and delete all of the elements it creates automatically.
4. Save the diagram.
5. Select PACKAGE | Code Engineering | Import | Java Files...
6. Browse to the source files that you want to process, select them all, and click Open. This will import them, but the diagram will not be organized.
7. Select DIAGRAM | Layout Diagram
8. Move the classes so they fit nicely on a single page.
• Creating a .PNG of your class model:
  1. Select DIAGRAM | Save Image to a File... and use an appropriate name.