When browsing through diagrams in Sparx EA or a web browser (HTML model export), hyperlinks to go back can be useful. By default, this requires a manual update in each diagram, involving looking up the model to create the suitable hyperlinks.

eaUtils breadcrumb Trail navigation gathers all the calling diagram(s) to the active diagram and generates links back accordingly.

The following example illustrates the different types of links that one can use in Sparx Enterprise Architect to open a diagram i.e. from a Composite Element, a Package, a Hyperlink, or a Navigation Cell (introduced in EA13 as an improved alternative to hyperlinks).

Composite elements support

Using the breadcrumb trail feature on composite elements is illustrated via the following BPMN2 model:

• Diagrams 1, 2, and 3 contain ActivityA subprocess. In EA, a double click onto any ActivityA opens the same diagram (see diagram Activity A with a red border).
  • We will use Activity A diagram to illustrate the breadcrumb trail feature.
• Diagram 2 contains the ActivityB subprocess, linking to Diagram 3.

Important: running eaUtils features are based on the selected diagram in the Project Browser, not the displayed/active diagram.

Prior to run eaUtils Breadcrumb, please make sure that the active diagram is selected from the Project Browser. To select the active diagram in EA Project Browser, right click in the diagram > Find in Project Browser, or use the keyboard shortcut Maj+Alt+G.

Right click in the active diagram (or from a diagram in the project browser) and select Extensions > eaUtils > [Diagram] Generate breadcrumb trail as shown below: (note: if the list is different, you are not working on a diagram).

Confirm from the following dialog box if you would like to go ahead.

Note: all types of links are currently selected according to the current settings. If needed, the selection can be restricted to "Composite Elements". To save this selection in eaUtils settings, the option "Update settings" must be enabled.

Having run eaUtils Breadcrumb trail from the Activity A diagram, the following confirmation window is displayed:

Activity A BPMN diagram has been updated with new hyperlinks as shown below. Hyperlinks can be moved to a suitable location.

Running the Breadcrumb Trail again leads to the following dialog box:

Package Links support

eaUtils breadcrumb trail feature can be run from the package's main diagram to generate a link back to the calling diagrams. In the example below, the Package option must be enabled.

Result:

Hyperlinks support

eaUtils breadcrumb trail "hyperlinks" option must be enabled to generate a link back from Activity2's diagram to the "main" and "activities" diagrams.

Navigation Cells support

The last available option illustrates the "Activities" diagram that is opened via a Navigation Cell link from the diagram "main".

Video

This feature has been shared via a video available from UMLChannel blog Youtube channel.