Using Composite View to Display Sub-Objects within a Symbol
Many objects (packages, processes, classes, activities, states, EAM objects, etc.) have the capability to display sub-objects within their symbols through one or more composite view modes. Depending on the type of object, the sub-objects can be displayed either as a static sub-diagram within the symbol or as dynamically editable symbols that you can create and arrange directly from the parent diagram.
Displaying a Set of Associated Sub-objects Within a Parent Symbol
A sub-object is an object associated with a parent object. It has no symbol in the diagram but displays in its parent symbol. In the following example, the Team number and the Employee number columns have no symbol in the diagram but display in their parent Proj.Team table symbol:
Symbol Format Properties
You can change many aspects of the display of one or more symbols, by changing the properties in its Symbol Format dialog box.
Managing Image Collections
The Select Image window lets you manage the images that you use in your model diagrams, and to insert them into your models as object symbols, diagram backgrounds, etc.
Working with Decorative Symbols
Decorative symbols have no technical meaning in your diagram, but help make it more readable. You can use them to surround parts of a model, for example, to distinguish domains of activity.
Working with Textual Symbols
Free text is text that is not associated with an object in the model. For example, a note that you type in a rectangle is free text, (while a column name is not). You can insert free text in your model independently of any shape, and can select and move it like any symbol.