A Quick Linker definition is a text file consisting of records terminated by new-line characters. Each record must consist of 23 comma-separated fields, as defined by the table below. The values of each field must not be in "quotes". A Quick Linker definition can include comments: all lines which begin with "//" are ignored by Enterprise Architect.
Each record of the Quick Linker definition represents a single entry on the Quick Link menu. Some fields define the menu command; some fields can be thought of as filters, with the entry being ignored if the filter condition isn't met.
A Quick Linker definition has the following fields.
Column |
Field |
Description |
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A |
Source Element Type |
The row is ignored unless a link is being dragged away from this type of element. |
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B |
Source Stereotype Filter |
If set, the row is ignored unless a link is being dragged away from an element with this stereotype. |
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C |
Target Element Type |
If set, the row is ignored unless a link is being dragged onto this type of element. If blank, the row is ignored unless a link is being dragged onto an empty piece of diagram. |
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D |
Target Stereotype Filter |
If set and Target Element Type also set, the row is ignored unless a link is being dragged onto an element with this stereotype. |
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E |
Diagram Filter |
Contains either an inclusive or exclusive list of diagrams, which limits the diagrams the given kind of link can be included on. Each diagram name is terminated by a semi-colon. Excluded diagram names are preceded by an exclamation mark. Example of an inclusive list: Collaboration;Object;Custom; Example of an Exclusive list: !Sequence; |
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F |
New Element Type |
If set and Create Element also set, results in the creation of an element of this type. |
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G |
New Element Stereotype |
If set and Create Element also set, results in the creation of an element with this stereotype. |
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H |
New Link Type |
If set and Create Link also set, results in the creation of a link of this type. |
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I |
New Link Stereotype |
If set and Create Link also set, results in the creation of a link with this stereotype. |
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J |
New Link Direction |
Can be:
Note: Not all of the above work with all connector types; for example, you cannot create a bi-directional generalization. |
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K |
New Link Caption |
If a new link is being created but not a new element, then this is the text that appears on the context menu. |
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L |
New Link & Element Caption |
If a new link AND a new element are being created, then this is the text that appears on the context menu. |
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M |
Create Link |
If set to TRUE, results in creation of a new link; otherwise should be left blank. |
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N |
Create Element |
If set to TRUE the row is ignored unless a link is being dragged onto an empty piece of diagram and results in creation of a new element; otherwise should be left blank. This overrides the values of Target Element Type and Target Stereotype Filter. |
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O |
Disallow Self connector |
Should be set to TRUE if self connectors are invalid for this kind of link; otherwise should be left blank. |
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P |
Exclusive to ST Filter + |
If set to TRUE, indicates that elements of type Source Element Type with the stereotype Source Stereotype Filter do not display the QuickLink definitions of the equivalent unstereotyped element. |
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Q |
Menu Group |
If set, indicates the name of a sub-menu in which a menu item is created. |
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R |
Complexity Level: |
Not implemented, always set to 0. |
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S |
Target Must Be Parent |
If set to TRUE this menu item only appears when dragging from a child element to its parent; for example from a port to its containing class. |
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T |
Embed element |
If set to TRUE the element being created is embedded in the target element; otherwise should be left blank. |
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U |
Precedes Separator LEAF |
If set to TRUE results in a menu separator being added to the QuickLink menu; otherwise should be left blank. |
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V |
Precedes Separator GROUP |
If set to TRUE results in a menu separator being added to the QuickLink sub-menu; otherwise should be left blank. |
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W |
Dummy Column |
Depending on which spreadsheet application you use, this column might require a value in every cell to force CSV export to work correctly with trailing blank values. |