Create your first model
Last updated 2026-10-10
Create your first model
Creating a model gives you a place to bring together the important things in an area of work and describe how they connect. You can start small and develop the model as your understanding improves.
If you're new to OnyxJar, begin with Welcome to OnyxJar for an overview of what a model represents.
Before you begin
Think about the subject you want to understand. It could be a business process, a project, a set of applications, a service or another area of work.
You don't need to capture everything at the outset. A useful first model has a clear purpose and enough structure to help answer a real question.
Create the model
OnyxJar's model creation flow takes you through three stages: Details, Starting point and Review.
1. Enter the details
Begin by providing the model's identifying details. Choose a name that makes the subject clear to you and to anyone who may later explore or use the model.
Keep the scope specific enough to be manageable. For example, a model for a particular service or project is often easier to shape than an attempt to represent an entire organisation at once.
2. Choose a starting point
Next, decide whether to begin with an empty model or use a prepared template. This choice determines the initial structure you work from.
An empty model gives you more freedom to shape the structure yourself. A template provides a prepared structure for a familiar kind of subject that you can review and adapt.
See Choose a starting point for help deciding which approach fits your work.
3. Review your choices
Review the details and starting structure before completing the creation flow. Check that the model name and chosen starting point match what you intend to work on.
Once the model has been created, open it and familiarise yourself with the available views before adding a lot of detail.
What to do next
Start by looking at the structure available in your model. If you chose a template, take time to understand the kinds of things it is designed to represent before adapting it. If you started empty, identify the main kinds of things you need to represent and how they relate.
Then add a small number of meaningful objects and connections. This gives you something concrete to explore and helps you identify what the model still needs.
The next step is to learn how the main views work. See Navigate your model to understand where to look when you want an overview, find something specific or inspect its details.