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The Diagram Designer is a diagramming tool that enables you to create architecture views for the assets and relationships managed in the Alfabet repository. Diagrams can be used to depict specific segments of your enterprise architecture, such as an application group and its applications, information flows and supporting components, the application landscape that enables a particular business process, or the applications and technologies affected by a transformation initiative or project.

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Because creating effective architecture diagrams involves both modeling and visual design, it is important to become familiar with the core capabilities of the Diagram Designer. The tool provides numerous options for adding repository objects to a diagram, simplifying complex networks of relationships, and enhancing visualizations through legends, colors, shapes, images, annotations, and other formatting elements. While these capabilities make it possible to represent sophisticated architecture landscapes, clear communication should remain the primary objective. As the number of displayed objects and relationships increases, diagrams can become more difficult to design and interpret. For this reason, it is recommended to limit diagrams to a manageable scope and include only the objects and connections necessary to communicate the intended message effectively.

When designing a diagram, you can:

  • Add assets that exist in the repository to the diagram. For example, you can add applications and application groups that exist in the repository to the diagram. Any existing information flows between applications will be automatically added to the diagram.
  • Create placeholder objects that you can then later replace with an asset in the repository. For example, if you don't yet know which application, application group, or information flow you want to have in your application landscape, you can add a placeholder with simple text. Later you can replace the placeholder with a relevant application, etc. that is in the repository.
  • Easily add assets to the diagram that are referenced by objects in the diagram. For example, you could automatically add the local components to the diagram that a specific application references, or you could automatically add all applications assigned to a specific application group. Assets that are automatically added to a diagram can also be removed from the diagram. This allows you to understand the references that exist for an asset, and then decide on the ones to display in the diagram.
  • Edit the basic attributes for a selected asset in the diagram. If you have edit permissions to an asset displayed in the diagram, then you can open its editor or navigate to its content area to modify the data. For example, with access permissions to an application, you could change its start/end dates or create a new local component for the application.
  • Remove a diagram item from the diagram. You can hide any asset displayed in the diagram by removing it from the diagram. For example, you can hide an information flow so that it is not visualized. This lets you create a diagram with only the relevant information you wish to convey.
  • Delete an asset that from the repository if it created in the current session of the Diagram Designer. For example, you can delete any information flow or application from the repository that was created in the context of the diagram.
  • Add shapes and other design elements. You can add a legend, text, arrows, color, etc. in order to provide additional information in the diagram. you can also change the color of a diagram item. This allows you, for example, to highlight a specific diagram in the visualization of an application landscape.

Add existing assets to the diagram

When you design a diagram, you will typically add diagram items such as applications and components that exist in the repository. The diagram items that can be added to the diagram are displayed in the left sidebar in the diagramming tool. If you are adding applications to a diagram, all information flows that already exist between applications will be automatically added and displayed as connections between the applications. The arrow will start with the application that is the source of the information flow and point to the target of the information flow.

  1. Click the class symbol in the toolbox so that a vertical bar is displayed next it and drag the class symbol to the diagram canvas. The mouse pointer displays a large plus symbol while you drag it to the desired position.
  2. The relevant selector will open. Select one or multiple objects to add to the diagram and click OK to close the selector.
  3. The focus will be on the object you added and it will be selected. If you add multiple assets at once, they will all be selected. Click anywhere in the canvas area to clear the selection.

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Change the size or placement of a diagram item

You can move or resize any individual diagram item or multiple diagram items. by

  • To change the size of a diagram item, click it to display its handles. Drag any handle to the appropriate size.
  • To move a diagram item, click to select it and then drag it to another location on the canvas.
  • To select multiple diagram items, click and drag the mouse to create a selection area. All diagram items in the selection area are in the selection. Individual diagram items can be added by holding the CTRL key and selecting another diagram item. Click the selection area to move the diagram items. Drag the handle of the selection area to change the size of all of the diagram items.

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Add connections between diagram items

A connection is typically an information flow between applications although there may be other semantic connections available for other combinations of objects. Connections may be straight lines or angles depending on how the connections are specified in the diagram settings.

If information flows already exist between applications or application groups that have been added to the diagram, the information flows will be automatically displayed as arrows. The arrow will start with the diagram item that is the source of the information flow and point to the target of the information flow. Whereas new assets like applications cannot be created in the context of the diagramming tool, connection items such as information flows are an exception. If you add an information flow and connect a target and source application in the diagram, a new information flow will be created and added to the repository.

Connection items like information flows might not be displayed correctly for diagram items placed in a shape. Solutions to this issue are being investigated.

  1. Click the Information Flow diagram item in the toolbox.
  2. Hover over the application that is the source of information flow. You will see green dots on the edges as well as the center of the application. Decide which of the green points shall be where the information flow starts.
  3. Click the green point and drag the information flow to a green point on the target application.
  4. In the editor that opens, specify the mandatory attributes as well as any other optional attributes. Click OK to close the editor.
  5. Click the Save Changes button to save your changes.
  6. You can move the connection by grabbing its handle and dragging it. If the connection is elbowed and has angles, you can grab a handle on a connection to drag it to change the angle degree as well as add more angles.

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Tips to improve the layout of connection items

When a diagram contains many connection items, such as information flows, it can become difficult to follow the relationships between objects. The following techniques can help improve the layout and readability of connection items:

  • Click a connection item to highlight its source and target objects. The handles at each end of the connection help identify the direction of the relationship.
  • Move the source or target diagram item to create a clearer layout and reduce visual clutter.
  • Drag an end handle to another side of the source or target object to adjust where the connection attaches.
  • Drag a corner handle on an elbowed connection to reposition adjacent segments and improve the routing of the connection.
  • Move the source or target position of a connection item. Grab a handle at the end of the connection item and drag the end handle to a different side of the object to move the end of the connection item.
  • Grab a handle at a bend in the connection item to move the bend and reposition the connected sections of the connection.
  • If multiple connection items share the same source or target object, you can combine them into a single connection to reduce visual clutter. To collapse similar connections, drag one connection item onto another. The connections are displayed as a single line with arrows at both ends.

Use placeholders for assets in the diagram

You can create placeholder objects for applications, application groups, and information flows, and replace them with repository assets later. This allows you to design and plan your architecture before specific applications, application groups, or information flows have been selected. Placeholder objects are visible to all users who view the diagram in the content area.

  1. Click the placeholder symbol in the toolbox (for example, Application Placeholder so that a vertical bar is displayed next it and drag the symbol to the diagram canvas. The mouse pointer displays a large plus symbol while you drag it to the desired position.
  2. Click in the placeholder item and enter a short text to indicate the purpose of the placeholder.
  3. Click Save Changes.

You can replace a placeholder object with an asset from the repository at any time. A placeholder can only be replaced with an asset of the same type. For example, a placeholder application can only be replaced with an existing application, and a placeholder information flow can only be replaced with an existing information flow.

  1. Right-click the placeholder diagram item and select Replace Object. In the selector that opens, select the asset you want to replace the placeholder with and click OK.
  2. Click Save Changes. The placeholder item is replaced with the asset.

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Add referenced assets to the diagram

Some assets shown in the diagram have relationships to other assets that can also be added to the diagram. You can add all related assets for a selected asset at once. For example, you can add the local components assigned to an application or the applications assigned to an application group.

When you add applications, any information flows between the added applications, as well as between the added applications and those already in the diagram, are added automatically. Depending on the number of added assets and relationships, you may need to rearrange the diagram to improve readability.

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Add selected referenced assets to a diagram item. For example, you can add an application's local components or applications assigned to an application group.

  1. Right-click the diagram item and select Add Referenced Objects > Add Referenced Objects.
  2. In the selector, choose one or more related assets to add to the diagram.
  3. Click OK to apply the update.

Add all referenced assets of an asset to a diagram item. For example, add an application's local components or all applications assigned to an application group:

  1. Right-click the diagram item > Add Referenced Objects > Update All Referenced Objects. An Update Group editor opens where you can define the following:
    • Group Table Layout. Select the checkbox to specify the automatic formatting of objects. If you do not select the checkbox, all objects will be placed on top of each other in the diagram and you will need to manually distribute them in the diagram.
    • Organize by Rows or Organize by Columns: Select whether assets should be arranged in rows or in columns.
    • Count: Enter how many rows or columns should be displayed.
    •  Reapply Table Layout on Rendering Diagram: Select the checkbox to specify that the layout should be rescanned upon the Update... action. If the checkbox is not selected, the current layout will not be updated with the table layout definition. In this case, the current layout of referenced objects including the positioning or removal of reference objects will not be changed.
  2. Click OK to apply the update.

Add all referenced assets of all assets currently displayed in the diagram. This option would add all applications to all application groups and all local components to all applications that are already displayed in the diagram.

  1. Right-click anywhere in the diagram and select Add Referenced Objects > > Update References for All Objects.
  2. Specify the layout options in the Update Group editor and click OK to apply the update.

Add all referenced assets recursively. This action adds all assets referenced by the assets currently displayed in the diagram, as well as any assets referenced by the newly added assets. The process continues until the lowest level of the hierarchy is reached. All added objects are placed on top of each other and must be arranged manually in the diagram. Use this action with caution, as it can add a large number of assets and relationships and may require significant rework of the diagram layout.

  1. Right-click anywhere in the diagram and select Add Referenced Objects > Update References for All Objects.
  2. Specify the layout options in the Update Group editor and click OK to apply the update.

Edit data about an asset in the diagram

You can edit the basic attributes of an asset in the diagram that you have access permissions for. Right-click the diagram item and select Edit Object or select Navigate to Content Areato edit and understand more details about the object.

Hide classes or assets in the diagram

By default, all object classes and relationships defined for a diagram are displayed. You can hide selected information to simplify large or complex diagrams and focus on content relevant to a specific audience. Assets associated with a hidden object class will not be displayed in the diagram for any user accessing the diagram. You can return the object class to the diagram via the Diagram Designer at any time, thus making the relevant objects visible again in the diagram page view.

Hide an object class. All objects of that class and their dependent relationships are hidden. For example, hiding application groups also hides their applications and information flows.

  1. Right-click in the canvas area and select Show/Hide Objects > View Settings.
  2. The View Settings editor displays all object classes and relationships that can be hidden in the diagram. Relationships between object classes are indicated by an arrow (-->). For example, Application --> Application indicates information flows from an application to another application, and Application --> Peripheral indicates information flows from an application to a peripheral.
  3. All object classes and relationships that are currently specified as visible in the diagram are selected. Deselect any object class or relationship that you want to hide in the diagram.
  4. Click OK. The objects are no longer visible in the diagram.
  5. Return the object class or relationship to the diagram by setting the relevant object class to visible.

Hide individual objects. The selected object and its dependent relationships are hidden. For example, hiding an Application Group also hides its applications and information flows.

  1. Right-click the object in the diagram that you want to hide and select Show/Hide Objects > Hide Selected Objects.
  2. The selected object and its referenced objects are no longer visible in the diagram. Return the object class or relationship to the diagram at any time Show/Hide Objects > Show All Hidden Objects.

Hide all connections for an object. For example, you can hide all information flows for an application while keeping the application visible in the diagram.

  1. Right-click the object in the diagram that you want to hide and select Show/Hide Objects > Hide Connections for Objects. The connection items associated with the selected object are no longer visible in the diagram.
  2. Return the connection items to the diagram at any time via Show/Hide Objects > Show Hidden Connections for Objects.

When you use the Generate Network functionality, related objects and connection items are added to the diagram even if their object classes are currently configured to be hidden. This behavior ensures that the generated network is complete and that you can review all objects and relationships identified by the operation. After the network is generated, you can hide the added objects and connections using the diagram visibility options described above.

Remove assets from the diagram

The Alfabet Diagram Designer provides a Delete  Delete_Diag and Cut  Cut capability in the toolbar and right-click menu.

  • The Delete  Delete_Diag button allows you to delete an information flow that has been created in the context of the Alfabet Diagram Designer. The information flow will be irrevocably deleted from the repository.
  • The Cut  Cut button allows you to remove any asset as well as shapes that have been added to the diagram. Any assets that have been removed via the Cut  Cut button are saved to a clipboard and can be returned to the diagram via the Paste  Paste button.

    The Cut  Cut button will be disabled if you select an information flow. Information flows can only be removed if a source or target application is removed from the diagram via the Cut  Cut button.

Add shapes to the diagram

You can add any shape available in the toolbox of the Diagram Designer. After adding a shape, you can modify its position, size, appearance (for example, color, border, or shadow), and text.

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To add a rectangle, triangle, rhombus, ellipse/circle, arrow rectangle, double arrow rectangle, or text box:

  1. In the toolbox, select the required shape to add it to the canvas area. A vertical bar is shown next to the shape if it is selected.
  2. Drag the shape to the diagram.
  3. The shape is first displayed as a text box where you can enter text.
  4. Click in the text box and enter text.
  5. Click anywhere outside the text box. The shape is displayed with the text.
  6. Change the look of the diagram items and shapes, as needed.

    If you have added a triangle, drag the adjustment handle to change the direction of the triangle's apex (tip).

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Change the look of diagram items and shapes

Various options are available that allow you to change the visual style of your diagram. When you select one or more diagram elements or shapes in the diagram and right-click, you will see the design options that are available for your selection. Note that you must save each change via the Save Changes button in the lower left corner.

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