Modeling basics
This section describes the basic procedures and settings for editing models.
You can pan large models that do not fit within the modeling area on your screen.
Move the mouse pointer over the model, preferably over the center.
Press both the space bar and the left mouse button. The
pan cursor is displayed.Move the model while keeping both the space bar and the left mouse button pressed.
In an open model, you can move model elements using the mouse or keyboard.
Using the mouse
Click and hold the model element, such as an object symbol or graphic object.
Drag the pointer to the required position. The preview frame of the model element is displayed. As you move objects, lines indicate the alignment of the moving object with the placed objects and arrows indicate the distances.
If the position to which you want to move the model object lies outside the visible area, you have the following options
Drag the model item to the edge of the modeling area. The visible area is moved automatically as long as you keep the model item in this position with the mouse button held down.
Reduce the zoom factor to bring the target position into the visible area, then drag the model element to the new position.
Release the mouse button.
The object is placed. If the model grid is enabled, the model elements are automatically aligned to the grid.
Using the keyboard
Select the model item you want to move and choose the appropriate option:
To move the model item one pixel at a time, hold down the Ctrl key and press the arrow keys.
To move the model item by increments of one grid line, hold down the Shift key and press the arrow keys.
To move the model item by increments of four grid lines, hold down the Alt key and press the arrow keys.
Using the keyboard, objects in column and row models can only be moved within the columns and rows in which they are placed. To move objects between columns or rows where the objects are allowed according to the method, use the mouse or cut/copy.
You can place images and graphics in the modeling area to add further information to the model or to optimize the design. For example, you can optimize a model for representation purposes.
In an open model, display the
Symbols bar if it is not already open.Click
Graphic. The Select graphic dialog opens.Click Select file and navigate to the graphic or image.
Select the graphic or image and click Open.
The image or graphic is placed in the modeling area. You can change its size, drag it to another position, and place it behind model items, for example.
You can select a database language other than the one currently in use for a model. This enables you to specify all language-dependent attributes for the model in the language of your choice.
If you change the language, the text attributes are output in the selected language if the text attributes are specified in the target language. Otherwise, the text attributes are displayed in the default language and identified by the language code added to the default language.
In an open model, click the language code next to the model name. A list of available languages is displayed.
Click the language you want to use for entering the language-dependent content.
The modeling area and the bars will directly display the language-dependent content in the selected language, for example, on the Attributes tab of the Properties bar. You can change language-dependent content specified in this language or enter new content.
The assignment enables you to describe objects in independent models in more detail, for example. Assigned models are displayed by way of an 
assignment icon at the object and can be opened by double-clicking the assignment icon.
In the open model, click the object to which you want to assign a model.
Click the Start tab bar if not already selected.
Click
Assignment > 
Create assignment. The dialog opens.
Select the required model type. The model types that are allowed for the selected object by the method and by the method filter in use are available for selection. The name of the selected object is suggested as a model name.
You can refresh the model appearance to display current content from the database. This is useful when several people work with the model items. For example, the names of objects that have an occurrence in the model you have opened may have been changed.
Make the relevant changes in your model.
Click
Refresh if you want to compare the most current status of your model with the changes from other users.
The current data is read from the database and the appearance of your model is refreshed. If, for example, the names of the objects used in the model were changed, the new names are displayed.
Graphic objects are shapes that can structure model content for the user. Graphic objects do not have any semantics in models. That is why they cannot be evaluated by reports or included in analyses, for example.
In an open model, display the
Symbols bar if it is not already open.Click the relevant graphic object
Circle/Ellipse, 
Square/Rectangle, or 
Polygon/Line.Move the mouse pointer to the position where you want to insert the graphic objects.
Circle/Ellipse: Click the preferred position.
Line: Click the position where you want the line to start, and double-click the position where you want the line to end.
Polygon or other angular shape: Click the position where you want the shape to start, then click the positions where the lines of the form are to change direction. Finally, double-click the position where you want the form to end.
Alternatively, use
Copy and 
Paste to insert graphic objects. You can copy them from the same or another model.Use the handles to change the size or form of the object. To change the size proportionally, press the Shift key.
The graphic object is inserted into the modeling area. To remove graphic objects from the model, drag the mouse pointer over the object while keeping the mouse button pressed. The object is displayed as selected. Press the Del key. The object is removed.
In an open model, select the model items you want to delete.
Click
Delete in the tab bar, or press Del, or Backspace. The selected elements are deleted without prompting. As long as you have not saved the model you can undo the deletion by clicking 
Undo.
You have deleted model items from the modeling area.
After you created or modified a model, click
Save in the tab bar. Your changes are saved.
In an open model, you can navigate from a model to the occurrence of a selected object or of the model in Explorer.
Prerequisite
Selected objects are saved.
Select the object to whose occurrence you want to navigate to in Explorer. If you want to navigate to the occurrence of the model, make sure that no object is selected.
Click the Start tab bar if not already selected.
Click
Show in group tree.
A new tab showing the repository opens. The group structure of the database expands and the check box in front of the selected object or model is enabled in the details view.
In an open model, you can navigate from a model to the fact sheets of the model in 
Published content.
Prerequisites
No object is selected.
The database containing the model has been published.
Click the Start tab bar if not already selected.
Click
View publication.
A new tab with the fact sheets of the model opens. The Overview fact sheet is displayed.