When you're working with enterprise architecture data, you often need to access the details of a single component. Maybe you're updating an application's lifecycle status, assigning a new owner, or just need a focused view of a component.
The Component Overview page is your home for all of this. With the new version, instead of jumping between different parts in the product, you get one unified page where you can:
See all the details about a component at a glance
Edit any field directly
Build and manage relationships to other components
Access relevant visualizations
Customize how the component appears in diagrams
Think of it as a component's "profile page" - everything about that component, organized and editable.
Info: The new Component Overview page is a redesigned version of the previous experience, created to make the page more actionable and to improve the overall user experience. The new version is available as a beta. If you’d like to try it in your organization, follow the steps below to enable it.
Watch this video to see how it works:
Enabling the Component Overview Page Beta
To start using the new version of the Component Overview Page, an Ardoq administrator must opt-in the organization into the beta.
Navigate to Preferences > Organization settings > Features.
Locate the Streamlined Ardoq experience section.
Toggle the switch for Enhanced Component Overview to On.
Note: Please be aware that this change applies instantly to the entire organization; however, you can always return to switch the feature off again.
Getting to the Component Overview Page
There are three ways to open the Component Overview page.
From Global Search
Click the search bar at the top of Ardoq
Start typing the component name
Hover over the result you want
Click the "Open" button that appears
From the Data Inventory
When browsing components in the Data Inventory view, simply click on any component name to open its Component Overview page.
From Visualizations
While working with visualized data through a viewpoint you can open the Component Overview page for any component you see. This keeps you in flow: explore a visualization, spot something that needs attention, and jump directly to its details.
Component Overview Tabs
The page is organized into five tabs, each focused on a different aspect of the component.
Overview: Read-only summary
Fields: View and edit component fields
References: Create and manage relationships
Viewpoints: Access visualizations featuring this component
Styles: Customize how the component looks in visualizations
Let's explore each one.
Overview Tab
This is your landing page: a read-only summary that helps you quickly understand what this component is and how it connects to your architecture.
About Section
Description
The component's description and tags appear at the top. Need to make changes? Click "Browse and edit" to jump straight to the Fields tab.
Field Summary
All the component's field values are displayed here - lifecycle phase, ownership, dates, whatever your metamodel defines. It's a quick way to scan the important details without opening an editor.
Relationship Summary
An overview of all the component's connections. Use the expand buttons to see more details about each relationship, or go to the References tab for the full picture.
Browse Viewpoints
Click "Browse viewpoints" to discover the full set of viewpoints available for the component.
Use the Overview tab for
Quick lookups: "Who owns this application?"
Orientation: "What systems does this server support?"
Stakeholder reviews: Share your screen to walk through a component's key details
Fields Tab
This is where you do the actual work of keeping your architecture data current. Every field has an editor designed for its data type.
Editing in Action
Let's say you're an application owner updating your application portfolio. Here's how different fields work.
Updating a Description
Click the Description field and a rich text editor appears. You get a full toolbar where you can:
Format headings and paragraphs
Add bold, italic, or colored text
Create bullet lists or tables
Insert links
Changing the Parent (Reorganizing Hierarchy)
The Parent field opens a tree navigator showing your entire workspace structure. Browse the hierarchy or search to find the right location.
Recording Important Dates
Date fields open a calendar picker. Navigate by month, click the date you need. Two handy buttons at the bottom:
Today: Sets to the current date
Clear: Removes the date entirely
For date ranges (like a "Live" period), you get two date pickers - one for start, one for end.
Field Types
Field Type | Editor | Example Use |
Text | Simple text box | Application name, version number |
Text paragraph | Rich text editor | Detailed descriptions, notes |
List | Dropdown | Lifecycle phase, criticality level |
Date | Calendar picker | Go-live date, review date |
Date range | Two calendar pickers | Support period, project timeline |
Checkbox | Toggle with Save/Cancel | Approved, business critical |
Number | Numeric input | Cost, user count |
User | User picker | Owner, technical contact |
URL | Link input | Documentation links |
References Tab
Relationships are the heart of enterprise architecture. The References tab makes it easy to see, create, and manage how this component connects to everything else.
Understanding the Layout
References are grouped to help you make sense of complex relationships.
Reference Type
└── Target Component Type (count)
└── Individual components
For example, an application might show:
Runs on
└── Server (3)
├── Production Server 01
├── Production Server 02
└── DR Server 01
Owned by
└── Business Unit (1)
└── Finance Department
Integrates with
└── Application (5)
├── CRM System
├── Data Warehouse
└── ... and 3 more
At a glance, you can see: this application runs on 3 servers, is owned by Finance, and integrates with 5 other applications.
Creating a New Reference
Let's say you're documenting how your business capabilities are realised.
Go to the References tab
Find the "Is realized by" section (or whatever reference type applies)
Click "Add reference"
Search for the target component in the search box
Select it from the results
Click "Create references"
Done. The relationship is live immediately and will appear in all relevant visualizations.
Creating a Reference AND a New Component
Example:
You're documenting a server and need to record that it runs a new application called "Inventory Manager" but no one has created that application component yet.
Go to the References tab on the server
Click "Add reference" in the "Hosts" section
Instead of searching, click "Create new component"
Enter "Inventory Manager" and fill in the basic details
Click "Create references"
You've just created the new application and connected it to the server in one step.
Exploring a Reference
Click any reference to open its detail panel. You'll see:
The Triple
A visual showing the complete relationship:
Ardoq → Connects To → ServiceNow
Each part is clickable.
Reference Fields
If your metamodel includes fields on references, you can view and edit them here.
Quick Actions
Navigate to either connected component
Remove the reference
Keeping Things Manageable
Working with a component that has dozens of references? Use these tools:
Search box: Filter references by name
Collapse all: Minimize all groups, then expand only what you need
Group counts: See totals at a glance without expanding
Viewpoints Tab
Viewpoints are pre-configured visualizations that answer specific questions. The Viewpoints tab shows you all the viewpoints where this component appears
Browsing Viewpoints
You might see viewpoints like:
Application Landscape: Where does this app fit in the portfolio?
Infrastructure Dependencies: What does this system run on?
Business Capability Map: What capabilities does this support?
Here, you can:
Hover any viewpoint to see a preview without leaving the page.
Click to open the full visualization where you can explore, filter, and interact with the diagram.
Styles Tab
How a component looks in diagrams matters, especially when you're presenting to stakeholders or creating documentation. The Styles tab lets you customize the visual appearance.
What You Can Change
Icon
Choose from over 250 icons organized into categories:
Ardoq types: Platform-standard icons
Font Awesome: General-purpose icons
ArchiMate: Standard EA notation
BPMN: Process modeling symbols
EDGY: Additional architectural icons
Example: You're using ArchiMate notation. For your application components, select the ArchiMate "Application Component" icon so your diagrams follow the standard.
Image
Upload a custom image (PNG, JPG, or SVG) if you want something specific like a vendor logo.
Example: For third-party SaaS applications, upload the vendor's logo so they're instantly recognizable in diagrams.
Shape
Choose the geometric shape for block diagrams - rectangle, rounded rectangle, circle, diamond, and more.
Color
Pick from preset colors or enter a custom hex code. Use color to indicate status, category, or any other dimension meaningful to your organization.
Putting It All Together: A Real-World Scenario
Let's walk through a complete example.
Situation:
You're an enterprise architect, and a new integration has been approved between your CRM system and the data warehouse. You need to:
1. Document the integration
2. Update the CRM's description
3. Record the approval
Steps:
1. Search for "CRM System" and open its Component Overview page
2. Create the reference (References tab)
- Click "Add reference" under "Sends data to"
- Search for "Data Warehouse"
- Select it and click "Create references"
3. Update the description (Fields tab)
- Click the Description field
- Add a new section: "Data Warehouse Integration"
- Document the key data flows and schedule
- Changes save automatically
4. Record the approval (Fields tab)
- Find the "Approved" checkbox
- Check it and click Save
5. Verify in visualization (Viewpoints tab)
- Open the "Integration Map" viewpoint
- Confirm the new connection appears correctly
Total time: About 2 minutes. Everything documented, connected, and visible in your architecture diagrams.
Quick Tips
Stay oriented: The component name and type are always visible in the header, so you always know where you are.
Use the Overview tab for reviews: When walking stakeholders through a component, start on the Overview tab - it's read-only, so no risk of accidental edits during a screenshare.
Collapse reference groups: If you have many references, collapse all groups first, then expand only the ones relevant to your current task.
Efficient editing workflow: Use the Tab key to move between fields quickly, and Enter to confirm changes.
Managing many references: Use the search box on the References tab to filter by name. Use "Collapse all" to reduce visual clutter, then expand only the groups you need.
Quick navigation: Click component names in the relationship summary (Overview tab) or reference triple (References tab) to navigate directly to connected components.
Known Limitations
The revamped Component Overview page is not available in the legacy version of Discover, nor if you're working through workspaces.
Future Iterations
We have more plans for the Component Overview page. In the coming months you can expect to see a hierarchical browser making it easy to change the component's position in a hierarchy, or open a different component. Another improvement is that we will include a "one step out" visualisation on the overview tab, replacing the list of references currently shown there.
Troubleshooting
A field isn't saving my changes
- Check for validation errors (fields may highlight in red)
- Ensure you have edit permissions
- Verify required fields are filled
- Try refreshing the page
I created a reference but it's not showing
- Refresh the page
- Check that the reference type is valid in your metamodel
- Verify both components still exist
The page is loading slowly
- Large numbers of references can slow loading
- Try collapsing reference groups you're not using
- Check your network connection
I accidentally deleted something
- References: Contact your administrator about workspace history
- Field values: Some changes may be recoverable through audit logs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Component Overview page?
The Component Overview page is a dedicated interface for viewing and editing a single component in Ardoq. It consolidates all component information - fields, references, visualizations, and styling - into one accessible location with five organized tabs.
How do I access the Component Overview page?
There are three ways:
1. Global search: Click the search bar at the top of Ardoq, type the component name, hover over the result, and click the "Open" button
2. Inventory: Click any component name in the Inventory view
3. Visualizations: While working with visualized data, you can open the Component Overview page for any component you see
Can I edit component data directly on this page?
Yes. The Fields tab provides full editing capabilities for all component fields. Each field type has a specialized editor - text boxes, dropdowns, date pickers, rich text editors, and more.
Are my changes saved automatically?
Most field changes save automatically when you click away or press Enter. Some fields (like checkboxes) show explicit Save/Cancel buttons for confirmation.
Can I undo changes?
Individual field edits can be cancelled before saving (press Escape or click Cancel). For changes already saved, use Ardoq's workspace history features to review and revert changes.
How do I delete a reference?
Click on the reference to open its detail panel, then click the "Remove reference" button. You'll be asked to confirm before deletion.
What is the "triple" shown in the reference detail?
The triple visualizes the relationship structure: Source → Reference Type → Target. Each element is clickable, allowing you to navigate to either component.
What viewpoints are shown on the Viewpoints tab?
All viewpoints that include the current component's type in their viewpoint model. This depends on how viewpoints are configured in your organization.
Why don't I see any viewpoints?
Possible reasons:
- No viewpoints include this component type
- You don't have permission to access available viewpoints
- Viewpoints are in draft status (not published)
Where do style changes appear?
Style changes affect how the component appears in all block diagrams, dependency maps, and other visualizations throughout Ardoq.
Can I preview style changes before saving?
Yes. The Styles tab includes a live preview section that updates in real-time as you modify icon, shape, or color settings.
Why can't I edit certain fields?
You may not have write permissions for the workspace containing this component. Contact your Ardoq administrator to request appropriate access.
Can I view a component I can't edit?
Yes. Read-only users can view all component information on the Overview tab but cannot make changes on the Fields, References, or Styles tabs.
Who can delete references?
Users with write permissions to the workspace containing the reference's source component can delete references.
For Ardoq Admins: How to Communicate the Redesigned Component Overview Page to Your Team
To make it easier to prepare your wider team for working with the new Component Overview page, we’ve included an email you can share with them below. Feel free to copy, paste, and adapt it as needed.
[BEGIN COPY/PASTE EMAIL FOR YOUR TEAM]
Subject: Upcoming update: New Component Overview page in Ardoq
Hi everyone,
I’m writing to let you know that we’ll soon be introducing an updated Component Overview page in Ardoq.
The Component Overview page is the place you use to view information about a single component, such as an application, system, service, or capability, including its details, relationships, and visualizations.
What’s changing?
You’ll notice a redesigned, more actionable Component Overview page that makes it easier to:
View all key information about a component in one place
Update component details (such as descriptions, ownership, or lifecycle) directly on the page
See and manage relationships to other components more clearly
Access relevant diagrams and visualizations without navigating away
Better understand how a component fits into the wider architecture
The goal of this update is to reduce context switching and make everyday work with components faster and more intuitive.
What stays the same?
You’ll continue to log in and navigate Ardoq as usual
Your access rights and responsibilities do not change
Existing components, data, relationships, and visualizations remain unchanged
Do you need to do anything?
No action for you is required. Once the update is available, you’ll automatically see the new Component Overview page when opening a component.
If you’d like a quick overview of the new layout and features, we’ll share a short guide with screenshots and examples.
Questions or issues?
If something doesn’t look right, or if you have questions about the new experience, feel free to reach out to [Your name / Architecture team / Internal contact].
Thanks, and we hope the updated Component Overview page makes working in Ardoq simpler and more efficient!
[END COPY/PASTE EMAIL FOR YOUR TEAM]