Working in Table Editors for Elements

Table editors for elements are used for easily editing subelements and properties of certain element types.

Purpose

You can show and edit all subelements and properties of certain element types (classifiers, database tables, entities) in table form in table editors for elements.

A table is write protected or opened for editing, depending on the Open Documents Read-Only option.

General Table Functions

A table contains all of an element's subelements or a certain type respectively, e.g. all operations of a class.

For each type of subelement there is a tab in which the elements of this type are shown as rows in a table.

Each subelement forms a row in the table. Its properties, configured stereotype properties, type system options and labels form the columns.

You can hide single columns by accessing the context menu in the header.
The fixed column splitter to the left in the column header can be used to fix the columns to the left edge.

Fixed columns are not moved if you click on the horizontal scroll bar.
You can sort the rows according to the value of a column by clicking in the column header.

Sorting is only temporary for viewing purposes. It is not stored in the repository.
You can select a table row by clicking on the row marker.
You can create a new entry in tables for elements which can be edited by clicking on the insert row on the bottom margin of the table.

Labeling and Types of Fields

Labeling Fields

Labeling the table cells improves the clarity of the table. Labeling cannot be suppressed.

A distinction is made between the following labels:

Editable fields
Editable fields with incorrect input (red background, note tool tip)
Read-only fields (pale gray background)
Undefined table cells (dark gray background)

Field Types

There are the following types of editable and read-only fields:

Field for direct entry

Click in the field and enter the property.

Example: Name

The field is marked red if the input is rejected by the server, e.g. if the name is not unique. Please read the tool tip to see how to fix the problem.

A button appears for the input field for the value if the input field belongs to a property, stereotype property or label of the string type and is a URL value; you can then use this to jump to the URL.

The input field is write protected and has the icon if the input field belongs to a property, stereotype property or label of the string type and has the multi-line value. Clicking on the icon opens an editing dialog for multi-line text.
Drop-down list field for selecting a predefined value from a list

Click on the drop-down list icon and select the property from the list.

Example: Value lists (label, stereotype properties)
Check box for activating or deactivating an option

Click on the check box icon and (de)activate the property.

Example: Boolean properties
Element selection field for selecting a linked model element

Click on the Select Element icon and select a suitable element in the select dialog. If it is an optional element link, you can remove the link using the Clear value icon .

Example: owner, type

Drag-and-Drop

Adding subelements

Drag the elements from another window and drop them in the table.

This is the same as copying and pasting.

Copying and pasting does not have to be for the same element type. It is therefore possible to e.g. jointly select properties and operations for a class and use drag-and-drop to copy them into another class. This extends the table to include both the properties and the operations.

Changing the user-defined order of subelements

Move rows to the desired target position.

You can only move as far as the row marker column on the left-hand margin of the table.

If you click with the mouse on a row which is not selected, the row is selected and the move is carried out on this element. If you click with the mouse on a row which is already selected, the move is carried out on the current selection, i.e. also for multi-selection, if applicable.

Moving only works if the table is sorted according to a user-defined order, i.e. the table is not sorted according to a column.

The user-defined order is stored in the repository and e.g. used for documentation.

How to Use the Keyboard

Function	Shortcut Key
Move the active table tab one position	Ctrl+arrow key left or right
Search in the Table	Ctrl+F
Move the current cell one position	Arrow Keys
Open the editor for changeable cells	F2
Move the active cell one position and open the editor for editable cells	Ctrl+arrow keys
Move the active cell to the next cell which can be modified and open the editor	Tab
Move the active cell to the previous cell which can be modified and open the editor	Shift+Tab
Move one position in the cell editor	Arrow keys
Implement a Boolean value	Space bar
Adopt the entry	Enter
Discard the entry	Esc

Function (Table Editors for Elements)	Shortcut Key
Create an entry	Ctrl+plus (number or numeric pad)