Chapter 1 - Getting Started with Agilian
Chapter 1 - Getting Started with Agilian
Aside from a collection of menus, tool-bars and windows that make up the development workspace, one special feature is our Resource-centric interface, which lets the user access modeling tools easily without referring back and forth from the workspace to various toolbars. Incorporating shortcuts such as mouse gestures into our modeling tools allow our users to draw as with a pen and paper, executing complicated modifications with just a click and drag, creating a completely visual environment.
This chapter will describe how to get started with Agilian. You will learn following techniques in this chapter:
- How to Launch Agilian?
- What is Workspace?
- Importing License Key
- Working with Floating License Server
- Basic Environment
- Dockable User Interface
- Browse your work by trees and tables
- Basic diagram editing functionalities
Launching Agilian
Agilian can run in different operating systems.
Windows
To launch Agilian in Windows:
Select Start > All Programs > Visual Paradigm > Agilian.
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Figure 1.1 - Launch Agilian in Windows |
Mac OSX
To launch Agilian in Mac OSX:
Select Agilian icon in the "bin" folder inside the Agilian installation directory.
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Figure 1.2 - Launch Agilian in Mac OSX
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Linux
To launch Agilian in Linux:
Select Agilian icon on the desktop.
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Figure 1.3 - Launch Agilian in Linux |
Workspace
A workspace is a directory used to store all your Agilian settings. Both system and user settings are stored in the workspace directory (user settings can be configured via Tools > Options... ). The workspace also stores all the teamwork login information and local copies of teamwork projects. In the case of switching computers, you simply need to copy the whole workspace directory to the new computer and specify the new workspace when starting Agilian. All your teamwork information and settings will then be transferred to the new computer.
Specifying a Workspace
When Agilian starts, the Workspace Launcher is displayed. You will need to select the workspace each time Agilian starts. To apply the specified path as the default workspace and restrict the dialog from appearing again, check the option 'Use this as the default and do not ask again'.
Importing a Workspace
In case you have an existing workspace, you can import it so that all the user preferences can be copied to the new workspace.
To import a workspace:
1. Click Import Workspace...in the Workspace Launcher, and then specify the path of the workspace used for import and click OK.
2. The Workspace Launcher will display the import workspace path. Click OK to import.
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Figure 1.6 - Workspace Launcher with import workspace path
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All VP products need a license key to activate. A License key of a higher edition can be used on a lower edition. For example, you can run Standard Edition of Agilian with Viewer Edition of Agilian key.
Agilian also provides a 30-days evaluation key for trial. After the evaluation key expires, you can choose to purchase the full license from our website or resellers, or un-install the program.
Importing a Single Seat License Key
A Visual Paradigm's Single Seat (developer based) license allows a licensee to install the software on more than one machine, such as desktop and notebook, which belong to the licensee only. As the license is developer based, the software must be used by the licensee only, without running more for than one instance concurrently.
To import a single seat License Key:
1. You should first open the License Key Manager. There are two ways of opening License Key Manager:
- If there are no valid license keys imported, the License Key Manager will show up for importing license key.
- Select from the main menu Tools > Key Manager...
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Figure 1.7 - Select Key Manager
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Name |
Function |

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Import license key
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To import a license key. |

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Delete the license key |
To delete the license key imported.
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Request Key |
To request a 30 days evaluation key.
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Help |
To show the Help. If no Help has been installed before, the Download Help dialog box will appear to enable downloading and installation of Help. |
Table 1.1
2. Then, you can either select License Keys > Import... or press on the Import License Key
button on the toolbar. This displays the Import License Key dialog box.
From the File field, enter the file path of license key. You can enter the path in the text field directly, or you can click on the ... button to browse for license key file. Click OK.
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Figure 1.9 - Import License Key dialog
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3. The imported key is then displayed in the Key Manager.
Then, click Close from the License Key Manager to start using Agilian.
Switching from Evaluation Key to Permanent Key
You can try Agilian by using an evaluation key for 30 days. Then, you will need to buy a permanent key if you want to continue to use it. After purchasing, you should follow the steps below to switch your evaluation key to a permanent one.
To switch from evaluation key to permanent key:
1. Open the License Key Manager from the main menu Tools > Key Manager....
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Figure 1.11 - License Key Manager with evaluation key with expiry date |
2. Remove the evaluation key by clicking the Delete the license key button in License Key Manager dialog. You can also remove the key by clicking License Keys > Remove. If your key has expired, you have to check the Expired Keys to show your expired evaluation key in order to delete.
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Figure 1.12 - Delete by clicking Delete the license key button
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If your key has not expired, Delete License Key dialog will appear and ask if you really want to remove the key. Click Yes to confirm.
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Figure 1.13 - Confirm deleting license key
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3. Click Import license Key to import the permanent key. You can also select License Keys > Import... to import the key.
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Figure 1.14 - Import by clicking Import license key button
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4.Select or type a path for the permanent key in Import License Key dialog. Click OK to confirm.
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Figure 1.15 - Select or type a path for permanent key |
5. Permanent key imported. Unlike an evaluation key, the permanent key does not have expiry date.
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Figure 1.16 - Permanent Key with no expiry date
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Importing Upgrade Keys
From time to time, VP releases new versions. If your license keys are covered by the maintenance period, the latest version will be available to you without any payment. You can login to the Customer Service Center (https://cs.visual-paradigm.com) to download the latest version and get an upgrade key. The upgrade key should be used with the original license key, i.e. the original key should neither have been delete or expired.
After you have installed the latest version and downloaded the upgrade key, follow the steps below to import upgrade keys to use that version. Here, a license key of version 6.0 is used as an example to replace the key of version 5.1.
To import upgrade keys:
1. Open the License Key Manager from the main menu Tools > Key Manager...
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Figure 1.17 - License Key Manager with license key of version 5.1
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2. Click Import license Key to import the upgrade key. You can also select License Keys > Import... to import the key. Remember the old key must still exist before you import the upgrade key.
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Figure 1.18 - Import by clicking Import license key button |
3. Select or type a path for the upgrade key in Import License Key dialog. Click OK to confirm.
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Figure 1.19 - Select or type a path for upgrade key
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4. The upgrade key has replaced your old one.
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Figure 1.20 - License Key Manager with license key of version 6.0 |
Floating License Key
VP Floating License allows you to deliver development software to every user in your organization without paying for unique licenses for every developer.When you use a floating license, the entire organization can access to Agilian but the number of people that use VP at the same time is limited to the number of license keys you buy.
By using a floating license, you can reduce the cost of buying licenses, as you just need to purchase enough number of licenses that will run VP at the same time, instead of buying licenses for all developers in your organization.
The installation of floating license server and the configuration of client pointing to the server is a simple process. Our license server can be run on multiple platforms and can be installed in less than 10 minutes.
The license sharing process is automatic, which is convenient to use. VP Floating License automatically manages and shares the licenses through the network. When the client connects to the license server, the server will assign him a license until the license limit has been reached. Once it disconnects from the server, the license will be released automatically and the other user can start using VP with that license.
This kind of key is particularly useful for organizations which have limited access to VP at a certain time each time, e.g. a company has ten staff but only two staff will use Agilian at the same time. The the company can then purchase just two floating license keys but the whole company will be able to use Agilian at different times.
Before you use Agilian with a floating license key, your machine need to access to the license server via LAN to acquire a license key first. For more details, you can refer to the Floating License Server Installation Guide about floating license server installation for more details.
Configuring Floating License Server
To configure floating license server:
1. Open the License Key Manager.
2. Select License Keys > Floating License > Configure... .
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Figure 1.21 - Select configuration of floating license
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3. Input the host and port. You can refer to Floating License Server User's Guide for more details.
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Figure 1.22 - Configuration dialog box
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Exporting Floating License Key
To use a Floating License key, you need to have Local Area Network (LAN) access to the *Floating License Server*. You may choose to export one of the floating license keys to your laptop if you need to use it out of the office (e.g. a meeting with a client). If you export a floating license key the number of floating licenses in the server will decrease. This will be reverted when you import the license key back to the server from your laptop.
To export floating license key:
1. Select License Keys > Floating License > Export Floating License... .
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Figure 1.23 - Export the Floating License
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2. Floating license key is exported from server.
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Figure 1.24 - Floating license exported
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Importing Floating License Key
When you finish using the exported license key, you can import the key back to the server.
To import floating license key:
1. Select License Keys > Floating License > Import Floating License... . The Import Floating License Key dialog is displayed.
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Figure 1.25 - Import Floating License
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2. Select the key you want to import and click OK to confirm.
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Figure 1.26 - Select license key to import
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3.The key is imported successfully.
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Figure 1.27 - License key imported successfully |
If you did not import the exported key to the server when you switch off Agilian, the next time you switch on Agilian, it will ask if you want to import it to the server.
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Figure 1.28 - Asking whether to import the license key
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Switching Editions
There is a single installer for all editions. You can install any edition with the same installer. If you want to change your installed edition, you can either re-install the software or use the VP Suite Product Edition Manager as long as you have a valid key for that edition to run.
When evaluating Agilian, you can ensure the features you want and are most likely to use are available in different editions.
1. Select Start > All Programs > Visual Paradigm > VP Suite Product Edition Manager .
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Figure 1.29- Select Product Edition Manager
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2. Select the desired edition in the edition manager.
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Figure 1.30 - Select desired edition
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VP Suite Product Selector
Product selector is for a flexible license scheme, and is only for users using a floating license key.
The selector is flexible so that you can view the license keys available in the floating license server and start a product with the selected key.
To start the Product Selector:
Select Product Selector from 'bin' folder in the directory where Agilian is installed.
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Figure 1.31 - Bin folder
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Figure 1.32 - Product Selector
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Name |
Function |
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Product
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Name of products available.
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Start
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To start the selected product.
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Available/Total
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The number of products in the server available. This is a fraction that the number of product available over the total product purchase.
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Select Server
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To select floating license server(s). |

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Refresh Server
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To refresh a floating license server(s). |
Table 1.2
Basic Environment
In this section, you will learn the basic environment of the Agilian user interface, and get to know how to use it to perform modeling more efficiently.
After you have imported the license key, you will see the Agilian main screen.
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Figure 1.33 - Basic environment |
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Name |
Description |
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Menu |
All the commands for execution.
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Toolbar
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Frequently used commands.
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Diagram pane |
Area where you create your diagram.
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Message pane |
Display messages that are generated by performed operations.
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Table 1.3
Dockable User Interface
Agilian adapts a Dockable User Interface which allows you to drag UI components around to customize your favorite working environment. You can save the environment as a perspective which you can reopen later. It allows you to use different perspectives for different purposes.
Using the Dockable User Interface
The Dockable User Interface is composed of a number of windows called dockable frames. A dockable frame may be standalone (floating) or docked into another container (split pane/tab pane).
You can click on the title bar of a dockable frame to drag it to anywhere you like.
You will notice a gray outline appears while you are dragging a frame. This outline tells you where the dockable frame will be docked to.
Docking a Dockable Frame into another Container
If you drag the dockable frame and release it over another container, the gray outline will change its shape to fit the dockable area of the container.
If you release the frame, it will be docked into the underlying container and also removed from its original container.
Dragging a Tab out of a Tab Pane
Each tab in the tab pane is also a dockable frame, and can be dragged and docked. You can drag a tab out of a tab pane to make it a floating window.
You can also drag the tab over a container and dock the tab into it.
Docking a Dockable Frame into a Tab Pane
You can also drag the tab (and any dockable frames, including floating frames) and dock it into another tab pane. You will see the outline changed to a tab shape if you drag the tab over a tab pane.
Auto-hiding a Dockable Frame
A dockable frame can be set to "auto hide" , meaning it will automatically disappear when not active. To set a dockable frame to "auto hide" , click on the Auto Hide button on the upper right corner of the frame (the button with a pin as the icon, see figure below).
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If you set a dockable frame in a tab pane to auto-hide, the whole tab pane will be hidden. |
Panes
Agilian provides various panes for performing different tasks and for displaying the modeling project in different views.
Diagram Navigator Pane
The Diagram Navigator Pane displays diagrams and their diagram elements in the project, which are categorized by diagram type.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Diagram Navigator.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+I.
Model Pane
The Model Pane displays models in the project.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Model
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+O
Class Repository Pane
The Class Repository Pane displays packages and class models in the project.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Class Repository
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+L
Logical View Pane
Logical View Pane displays logical view of the project that can be customized to the desired structure.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Logical View
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+A
Stencil Pane
Stencil Pane displays stencils that can be used to create custom shapes. You can also organize and select stencils here.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Stencil
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+S
Property Pane
Property Pane displays the properties of the selected element(s). You can also edit the properties here.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Property
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+P
Diagram Overview Pane
This pane displays the overview of the active diagram which is scaled to fit the display area. The rectangle represents the visible area of diagram. You can navigate to different parts of the diagram by dragging the display area.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Diagram Overview
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+V
Documentation Pane
Documentation Pane can display documentation of the selected element. Agilian also provides rich text documentation. You can edit your documentation directly here.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Documentation
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+U
Message Pane
Message Pane displays information, warning and error messages shown by Agilian.
To open this pane:
- Select View > Panes > Message
- Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+M
Layout and Perspective
Saving Perspective
If you are satisfied with the current UI environment and want to re-apply this environment later, you can save it as a perspective. In order to do this, choose View >Save Perspective as...from the main menu. This displays the Save Perspective As dialog box.
This allows you to supply the perspective name in the Name field and select whether this perspective should be shown in the menu by selecting/deselecting the Show in Menu checkbox. You can also provide a description for this perspective. After you have supplied the necessary information click OK to confirm.
Opening Perspective
To open a perspective, choose View > Open Perspective from main menu, and select the perspective that you want to open.
You may also click Others... from the popup menu to view a list of available perspectives, together with their detailed information, and the description and preview of each perspective.
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You can click once on the picture of the Preview pane to see a larger preview. |
Managing Perspective
To manage perspectives, choose View >Manage Perspectives... from main menu. This displays the Layout Perspective Configure dialog box.
In the upper-left corner is a list of perspectives. You can rename them and select whether they should appear in the menu, or reorder them using the Move up and Move down buttons beside the table.
To remove perspectives select one or more perspectives in the table and click the Remove button.
The preview of the selected perspective will be displayed in the Preview pane, where you can see a larger preview by clicking once on the picture of the Preview pane. The Perspective Preview dialog box will appear displaying how Agilian will look like after the selected perspective is applied. You may then click once on the preview picture to close the dialog box.
You may also edit the description of the perspective by typing directly in the Description field.
Resetting Perspective
To reset to the default perspective of the currently applied perspective, choose View > Reset Perspective to Default from main menu. All the UI components will then be reset to its original locations and sizes as defined in the perspective.
Open Specification Dialog Box
The open specification dialog box is a top-level window which enables you to browse for and edit the detail of model elements or diagrams. It can be invoked by right-clicking on either a model or a diagram and selecting Open Specification...from the popup menu.
The open specification dialog box contains several pages which show different aspects of the selected item. General information such as name, stereotype, documentation, files are included in most of the model elements. For some of the model elements, relationship between other model elements (children, relations) and information that is specific to the model elements. (attributes/operations in Class, sub-diagrams of Package) will be displayed as well.
There are five buttons at the bottom of the dialog box: Reset, OK, Cancel, Apply and Help.
Button |
Description |
Reset |
Reset the changes made in the dialog box. |
OK |
Accept the changes and close the dialog box. |
Cancel |
Cancel and close the dialog box. |
Apply |
Apply the changes immediately without closing the dialog box. |
Help |
Display the help information of the Open Specification dialog box. |
Table 1.4
Navigating between Model Elements
You can navigate to other model elements via the open specification dialog box. This can be done in two ways. For model elements with a one-to-many relationship such as relations, children, you can invoke the open specification dialog box of a selected model elements by clicking on the Open Specification... button.
Some of the properties of the model element are references to another model element (or a reference to itself) such as Supplier/Client of a Dependency, or Role A/Role B of an Association. In this case you can click on the ... button besides this property to navigate to that model element.
Note that if the open specification dialog box of the referenced model element is already opened, this button will be disabled.
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Visual Paradigm International Limited |
Website: |
www.visual-paradigm.com |
E-mail: |
support@visual-paradigm.com |
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