How to Export Formatting Styles

[jthillmn]

When I start a new Sparx project, one of the first things I do is create the styles that are commonly used for the components; i.e. a "new" component has a thick blue border, or a "contained" component has a thick red border, etc.  So it's easiest to simply set all of these styles and save them for re-use.

I was attempting to export these styles in the reference data export feature, but it doesn't appear that this type of meta data can be exported.  I have looked into each of the reference data types that can be exported (http://www.sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/10/projects_and_teams/exportrefdata.html), so wonder if I am missing something or if it's simply not possible.

Thanks for your help...Jim
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[VKN]

See:

http://www.sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/10/modeling_basics/using_element_templates.html

Then export/Import the template package as XMI (not Reference Data).
In the target model Settings->Project Template Package - select that package.
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[KP]

Another idea is to save your styles in a copy of the EABase.eap file, and use that file to create all your new projects.
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[jthillmn]

I have a base .EAP file in which I have created these styles.  I used that base to create a new project and then checked that project into SVN.  When a peer pulled down that project from SVN, these styles do not show up in his environment.

I'm taking a look through the use of the "Templates" package to see if I need to do something there, but these are styles that show up for me throughout my copy of the project, but not for my peer who pulled from SVN.
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[jthillmn]

Saving as part of the .eap file did not work.
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[KP]

4B5549484D4D4C4F210 wrote:

Saving as part of the .eap file did not work.

Just to be clear we're talking about the same thing... there is a toolbar along the top of every diagram which includes Apply Style, Get Style and Save Style buttons. These styles are saved in the database, in the t_trxtypes table. If you save them in the EABase.eap database and then create a new database by copying the EABase.eap database, then the contents of the t_trxtypes table must be the same in the new database and the EABase.eap.

Unless of course we're talking about different kind of styles...
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[Richard Colvin]

Just found this old thread when looking for a solution to the same problem. I don't think creating a EAP file is really a workable option: it assumes that you know exactly which styles you want to share upfront and will never be able to change to add new ones.

I can't believe that there is not a proper solution to this in EA!

Perhaps the style information is available via the API in which case a custom export/import might be written?