Show Splash Panel (set by default). If enabled ArgoUML will show a small panel with a picture while starting up.

	Tip
	The splash panel can be seen by using the Help menu (see Section 10.11.2, “ About ArgoUML ” ).

Reload last saved project on startup (clear by default). Check this item if you always work on the same project, and wish to load it automatically when you start up ArgoUML.

Strip (non-standard) diagrams from XMI file during import (clear by default). Checking this item will tell ArgoUML to ignore the "Diagram" elements when importing XMI files.

You only need to use this setting, if ArgoUML gives an error while importing your XMI file saying that it encountered unrecognized elements named "Diagram." Some versions of Poseidon are known to create this type of file by default although there's usually an export option to force them to create standard XMI files.

Default Graphics Format. Here you can select the same graphics formats as in the menu Section 10.3.11, “ Export Graphics... ”. The chosen format is selected by default in the Export Graphics and Export All Graphics menu-items.

Graphics Export Resolution. This allows you to artificially increase the resolution of produced graphics. The advised setting is "Standard". To be able to use "High" or "Extra High", you usually need to start the Java virtual machine with extra memory.

${argo.ext.dir}. The directory holding ArgoUML extensions -by default the ext sub-directory of the ArgoUML build directory.

${java.home}. The home directory of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

${user.home}. The user's home directory. Used for storing the argo.user.properties file, under the .argouml directory.

${user.dir}. The directory from which ArgoUML was started.

Startup Directory. The directory in which ArgoUML starts file searches etc.

Full Name. Allows the user to record her full name.

Email Address. Allows the user to record his Email address.

Look and Feel. The choice made here influences the complete User Interface. It only becomes effective when ArgoUML is exited and restarted.

Metal Theme. This item is downlighted if the Metal LAF is not chosen. The choice made here influences the complete User Interface. It only becomes effective when ArgoUML is exited and restarted.

Smooth edges of diagram lines and text. This feature is known as “anti-aliasing” on certain platforms. It causes diagonal lines to look much less jagged, by making use of several shades of gray. This feature only works if the operating system supports it.

Stereotype Visualization - select to view stereotypes as text, small or big icons.

Default XMI directories - allows the user to configure directories where ArgoUML can find the user defined profiles.

Default Profiles - select which profiles from the available profiles are configured in new projects by default.

Notation Language ( UML 1.4 by default). This feature allows changing the default notation (i.e. language: UML, Java,...) used on the diagrams for new projects. Suppose that a designer indicates that the default notation of a project is Java. When he saves the project, the choice for Java is stored inside the project file. If someone else is viewing the diagram, he will see the Java notation, too. This person can select the UML notation in the File - Notation menu, and see all diagrams in UML language. See Section 10.3.13, “ Notation ”).

Show name of nodes in bold font.

This feature causes the names of every node (i.e. something drawn with a closed polygon) to be bold.

There is no semantics to showing bold names, but it may make your diagrams look nicer.

Use guillemots (« ») for stereotypes (clear by default). By default ArgoUML uses pairs of less than and greater than (<< >>) characters for stereotypes. If this box is checked stereotypes on diagrams are shown between true guillemots (« »).

This feature is presumably added to ArgoUML because guillemots are poorly supported by various fonts, and if they are present, then they are quite small and poorly visible.

Independent of the way they are shown, when entering stereotypes, you can always type real guillemots (if your keyboard supports it) or their << >> equivalents.

Show association names.

This feature causes the names of every association to be hidden if not marked.

Show visibility (clear by default). If this is selected, then ArgoUML will show the visibility indicators in front of e.g. attributes in the diagram. In UML the notation is "+" for public, "-" for private, "#" for protected, and "~" for package. E.g. for an attribute, it may show: +newAttr : int.

Show multiplicity (clear by default). If this is selected, then ArgoUML will show the multiplicity of e.g. attributes in the diagram. In UML notation, the multiplicity is shown between [], such as: +newAttr [0..*] : int. This setting has no impact on showing multiplicity near associationends.

Show initial value (clear by default). If this is selected, then ArgoUML will show the initial value of e.g. attributes in the diagram. In UML notation, the initial value is shown e.g. like this: +newAttr : int = 1.

Show properties (clear by default). If this is selected, then ArgoUML will show various properties between braces {}. E.g. for an attribute, it may show: +newAttr : int { frozen }.

Show types and parameters (set by default). When this checkbox is unmarked, attributes in classes are shown without type indication, and operations are shown without parameters. This feature may be usefull during the analysis phase of your project. If all checkmarks in the Notation Tab are unchecked, then e.g. for an attribute, ArgoUML may show: newAttr. And for an operation: newOperation().

Show stereotypes in explorer (clear by default). If this is selected, then ArgoUML will show stereotypes next to the icons of the modelelements in the Explorer, i.e. the tree structure at the left hand side.

Show "1" multiplicities.

This feature allows the user to select if he wants to show all multiplicities that are "1" to be shown or not..

Some people consider not showing the multiplicity as "undefined". So, the only way to differentiate between a multiplicity of 1 and an undefined multiplicity, is to mark this checkbox.

Hide arrowheads for bi-directional associations..

The UML standard defines different ways to indicate navigability of an association on diagrams. Presentation option 1 is to show all arrows (i.e. you can only navigate in a certain direction if an arrow is drawn), presentation option 2 is to show no arrows at all, and presentation option 3 is to show only an arrow if the association is unidirectional.

Before the release of version 0.26, ArgoUML could only use presentation option 3. Currently, the user can choose between option 1 and 3. Option 2 is not supported.

In the past, option 3 was used most often in other UML tools, but nowadays option 1 is more common.

Default shadow width (set to 1 by default). ArgoUML is able to draw all elements on a diagram with a shadow. Use this setting to adjust the size of the shadow, used when the modelelement is created. The details tab "Presentation" allows to set the shadow per modelelement, after they are created.