Adding Annotations to Elements in the Diagram

You can create annotations for all model elements in a diagram. Those editing the diagrams use annotations to communicate with each other.

Essential Annotation Properties

Annotations are specific Innovator elements which can only be used for model elements within diagrams. You do not need access or write rights to create annotations.

Annotations

belong to a diagram
are unformatted text
require the appropriate privilegeAnnotating
can be edited and deleted by any user with the Annotating privilege
can be extended even without write rights
relate to one or more model elements
are used primarily to document review results
cannot be part of the documentation

Creating an Annotation

Context

You can add annotations to each diagram element to communicate with other users editing the modeling process.

Annotations are based on comments that you may know from using Microsoft Word.

Text is inputted for annotations in the Annotations diagram area.

You can use the clipboard text to add an annotation.

Annotations can be permanently deleted.

Note:

You cannot link more than 15 elements with an annotation.

How to proceed

Select Review>Annotations>Annotations to open the Annotations diagram area.
Select the diagram elements that you want to link to an annotation.
Select New Annotation in the context menu or drag the selected element and drop it in the open Annotations diagram area.

The annotation is created and can be seen along with information about which user wrote it and a timestamp.
Click in the annotation and enter your text.

The annotation is automatically saved.

Linking an Annotation with Diagram Elements

Prerequisites

Open diagram with diagram elements and the New Annotation diagram area is open and annotations exist.

Context

You can link an annotation with other diagram elements at a later stage.

How to proceed

Select the diagram element that you want to link to an annotation.
Drag the diagram element to the annotation to be linked.

The diagram element is linked with the annotation.

Finding Annotations

Context

You can find diagrams with annotations and text in annotations.

How to proceed

To find diagrams with annotations, select Review>Annotations>Find Annotations>Find Diagrams with Annotations.

The diagrams with annotations are displayed in the Result Region tool window.
To find annotations with a particular text component, select Review>Annotations>Find Annotations>Find in Annotations.

The Find dialog appears and the Find Annotation tab is activated. (see Find Annotation)

Deleting Annotations

Context

You can permanently and irrevocably delete an annotation.

How to proceed

Select the annotation which you want to delete.
Select Delete Annotation in the context menu.

The Delete from Model dialog appears.
Confirm deletion of the annotation by clicking onDelete from Model.

The annotation is permanently and irrevocably deleted from the model.