The Explorer lets you navigate through encyclopedia objects. Using the Explorer window, you can:
▪navigate to diagram types, preview (in Properties windows), or open and create new diagrams
▪navigate to definition types, and view (in Properties window) definition properties or edit, open and create new definitions
▪right-click diagrams or definitions and select commands from the context menu
Explorer toolbar
The Explorer toolbar buttons perform these tasks:
▪Create a new dynamic or static view
▪Open the selected objects
▪Remove the selected objects
▪Delete the selected objects from the encyclopedia
▪Refresh the current View
▪Sort all objects (includes option to enable/disable case sensitivity in the view)
▪Add a new Pane, delete or rename the current Pane
Explorer context menu
When you right-click a diagram, definition, or other nodes in the Explorer, a set of commands are available depending on what you select. The commands include:
Enables you to expand diagram or definition nodes.
Verify Only
Runs Verify Only on the selected items.
Verify and Repair
Runs Verify and Repair on the selected items.
Assert Relationships
Runs Dictionary Update on the selected items.
Run Macro
Runs a macro on the selected items.
In order for this menu item to be enabled, the SA ExplorerMacros.mac file provided at the installation time must be loaded. Two example routines have been provided. Instructions concerning new user routines:
▪The routine must have only one ByRef parameter, which is the selected item’s ddId in string format.
▪No return value is required.
Using the Classic Explorer
Classic Explorer provides most of the same options as the Explorer, as shown above. However, certain options, like the Configure Tabs command, are only applicable when you use the Classic Explorer. To use the Classic Explorer, click the View menu and select Classic context menu.
Pane name
Displays the name of the current Pane. To select a Pane, you can by click its name in the Accordion Pane Selector or click its icon in the Button Pane Selector at the bottom of the Explorer.
Accordion pane selector
Contains large buttons and Pane names you can click to select a Pane. When Creating panes and views, you may select to use the default icons provided by System Architect, or a select a custom icon (that is, 24x24 bitmap file).
Button pane selector
Contains small buttons you can click to select a Pane. When ‘Creating panes and views, you may select to use the default icons provided by System Architect, or a select a custom icon (that is, 16 x 16 bitmap file).
Show more buttons/show fewer buttons
Use this control to show more or show fewer buttons in the Accordion Pane Selector. Each bar in the Accordion Pane Selector displays the 24 x 24 icon and the Pane name. Showing fewer buttons removes accordion bars from the Explorer, and instead, displays the 16 x 16 icon on the Button Pane Selector.
Properties window
The Properties window displays details about the object selected in the Explorer window. When you select a diagram in the Explorer, the Properties windows displays a thumbnail image of the diagram. When you select a definition, the Properties displays definition properties.
Using the Properties window, you can:
▪View definition values
▪Click the Edit Object link to edit definitions through the standard dialogs
▪Click the Show Referenced Objects link to list objects referenced by a definition
▪Display definitions as categorized groups or in alphabetical order
The Matrix Browser window
The Matrix Browser window displays a categorized view of available matrices. You click an icon at the bottom of the window to get a list of corresponding matrices, categorized by the methodologies in use. You click the matrix you want to run.
The Framework, Reports and other Windows work similar to those described above.
Docking windows
You can move the Explorer or Properties windows to the left, right, top or bottom of the System Architect workspace, and dock it in or out the main System Architect window. The default dock position is on the left. The pushpin button toggles on the Auto Hide option. In Auto Hide mode, the pushpin icon points horizontally and the window is shown full size only when you mouse-over the Explorer tab in the application workspace. To open the Explorer window, click View> Explorer.
