Merging Diagrams

Introduction

Use File | Read to merge one diagram into another diagram of the same type. Typically, you use this feature to copy diagram information into a new diagram.

What is merged

When you merge two diagrams, you merge their graphical components. The semantic items underlying the diagrams are not affected.

Diagrams overlie one another

When you select File | Read, the UML suite opens a second diagram in the diagram editor without first closing the current diagram. The second diagram overlies the first.

If the first diagram is new, the merged diagram contains the contents of the second diagram. If the first diagram contains objects, the merged diagram contains the contents of both diagrams. Use the diagram layout features to make the merged diagram legible.

How to merge diagrams

ÿ To merge two diagrams:

1. Open the diagram into which you want to merge the second diagram.
2. In the diagram editor, select File | Read.
3. In The Read Diagram window, select the diagram that you want to merge into the open diagram.

   The selected diagram overlies the open diagram.

4. If necessary, use the diagram layout features, as described in Modifying Diagram Layout, to make the merged diagram legible.