Representing Graphical Nodes

ArchiMate Nodes

In order to represent a graphical node instance of an ArchiMate element in XML, a <node> tag is created with an elementRef attribute referencing an ArchiMate element that is declared elsewhere in the XML document.

For example:

  1. Declare an <element> tag within the <elements> tag:

    <element identifier="id-123" xsi:type="BusinessRole">
    <name xml:lang="en">Customer's Bank</name>
</element>

  2. Declare a <node> tag within a parent <node> tag, or a parent <view> tag. The elementRef attribute should have the same value as the identifier attribute of the referenced element. Ensure that the xsi:type attribute has the value “Element”:

    <node identifier="id-3732" elementRef="id-123" xsi:type="Element" x="610" y="360" w="150" h="120">
    <style>
        <fillColor r="255" g="255" b="181" a="100" />
        <lineColor r="92" g="92" b="92" />
        <font name="Segoe UI" size="9">
            <color r="0" g="0" b="0" />
        </font>
    </style>
</node>

Representing Other Types of Graphical Nodes

In order to represent a graphical node that does not reference an ArchiMate element, such as a group box, textual note, or label, a <node> tag is created without a reference to an ArchiMate element.

For example, to represent a group type node that contains other nodes:

Declare a <node> tag within a parent <node> tag, or a parent <view> tag. Ensure that the xsi:type attribute has the value “Container”. Child nodes can be included within the parent node:

<node identifier="id-1234" x="120" y="72" w="400" h="140" xsi:type="Container">
    <label xml:lang="en">Group</label>
    <style>
        <fillColor r="210" g="215" b="215" a="100" />
        <lineColor r="92" g="92" b="92" a="100" />
        <font name="Segoe UI" size="9">
            <color r="0" g="0" b="0" />
        </font>
    </style>
</node>

To represent a “note” or “label” type graphical node:

Declare a <node> tag within a parent <node> tag, or a parent <view> tag. Ensure that the xsi:type attribute has the value “Label”, and do not include any child nodes:

<node identifier="id-a54f2861-d8d0-4608-8dec-76bdf78c34ed" xsi:type="Label" x="177" y="264" w="185" h="80">
    <label xml:lang="en">Some text</label>
    <style>
        <fillColor r="255" g="255" b="255" a="100" />
        <lineColor r="92" g="92" b="92" a="100" />
        <font name="Segoe UI" size="9">
            <color r="0" g="0" b="0" />
        </font>
    </style>
</node>