All project information is stored in a single file that has the same name as the project itself.

A newly created project consists of the following packages:

  • The empty root package Model, storing all model elements.
  • File View package, containing components that are created during code engineering and representing source files. Adding a resident element to a particular component causes that element to be generated within the source file.
  • UML Standard Profile, containing stereotypes that are necessary in order to work with MagicDraw, primitive data types and constraints (which are UML standard), and UML 2 metamodel elements. The following data types are specified in MagicDraw: boolean, byte, char, date, double, float, int, Integer, real long, short, void, and string.

You can create your own packages for keeping model elements as well. By default, packages cannot be deleted or renamed in a project (except for the File View package).

To start a new project, first, you must create a new workspace for it. You can select a project type from the following domains:

  • General-Purpose Modeling (UML, Use Case, Guide to UML Diagrams projects)
  • System Engineering (SysML project)
  • Enterprise Modeling (DoDAF, DoDAF 2.0, MODAF projects)
  • Software Engineering (Scrum project, Project from Existing Source Code)
  • Business Process Modeling (BPMN 2.0 project)
  • Service-Oriented Modeling (Cameo SOA+ project)
  • Other (Project from Template, Process Guide project)

Upon creation of a new project, the General-Purpose Modeling domain opens by default.


To create a new workspace for a blank project


  1. Do one of the following:
    • From the File menu, select New Project.
    • On the main toolbar, click the New Project button.
    • Press Ctrl + Shift + N.

Any of the above actions opens the New Project dialog.

New Project dialog 

2. Select the UML Project in the General-Purpose Modeling domain.

3. Specify the file name in the Name box.

4. Click the  button to select the location to store the created project.

5. Click OK.