Converting models to sketches

You can convert a UML diagram or topology diagram to a sketch to work with the diagram in a more abstract way.

About this task

When you convert a model to a sketch, you reduce the detail in the model so you can work with the concepts at a higher level of abstraction. When you are finished working with the sketch, you can convert it back to a model.

The modeling tools that are installed determine which types of models you can convert to sketches:

You can always convert a sketch to another sketch to create a copy of the sketch.
If you installed the UML modeling tools, you can convert UML diagrams to sketches. See Converting sketch elements to UML elements.
If you installed the deployment planning tools, you can convert topology diagrams to sketches. See Converting sketch elements to topology elements.

Procedure

Complete these steps to convert an entire diagram to a sketch. You can also convert individual model elements to sketch elements by right-clicking an element and then clicking Convert to.

In the UML model editor or the topology editor, right-click a blank space on the diagram and then click Convert to New Sketch.
Type a name for the new sketch, select a location, and click Finish.

Results

The new sketch contains sketch elements that represent the elements in the model. Depending on the sketch editor preferences, the new sketch might also contain a link to the original model. You can delete this link if you do not want to show it on the sketch. Also, each element in the sketch might contain information about the equivalent element in the original model. This information is visible only when the sketch element is selected.

A picture of a sketch that was created from a UML model, showing the link back to that UML model

Feedback