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Integrate Data from External Providers
The Pro Cloud Server helps you to integrate the data from external providers into an Enterprise Architect model. Enterprise Architect is a team player and through its powerful server-based integration capability allows models to be created relating elements from a wide range of disparate tools that contain items from strategy and requirements down to implementation, work packages and configuration items. Enterprise Architect does not manage the master-record for these items but rather acts as an accumulator, bringing content into a single repository and allowing the items to be related. A variety of third-party providers can be connected to, including:
Application Lifecycle Management (formerly HP Quality Center)
Jazz (interacts with:
- IBM Rational DOORS Next Generation's requirements management tool
- Rational Rhapsody Design Management (DM)
- Rational Team Concert Change and Configuration Management (CCM)
- Rational Quality Manager (QM)
Jira and 
Confluence
Team Foundation Server
Wrike
ServiceNow
Autodesk
Bugzilla
Salesforce
SharePoint
Dropbox and
Other Enterprise Architect models
See the Install and Configure Help topic for information on how to configure each provider.
When an item from an external provider is selected in the list the meta-data for the item will be displayed in the appropriate Enterprise Architect window. So any property-and-value type of information will be displayed in the Properties window, descriptions and comments will be displayed in the Notes window and discussions or posts will be displayed in the Collaborate window. For example, if Jira was the External Data source and the integration was listing User Stories, a Jira User Story property such as Priority: Medium would appear in the Properties window, the Story description would appear in the Notes window and the Comments would appear in the Collaborate window.
Some meta-data such as collaboration information might not be available for all items and integrations, but where it is available the facility provides a uniform, cross-integration view of the meta-data, making it easy for Enterprise Architect users to understand the data from multiple providers and integrations without the need to leave the tool or grapple with vendor specific terminology. Enterprise Architect is performing the role of an accumulator, allowing information from a wide range of disparate sources to be related to the already rich set of architectural models in the tool, creating a view of how the information in these otherwise unrelated tools can be visualized. This removes the need for the bundle of static spreadsheets that organizations have traditionally used to relate pairs of items such as Test-Cases to Business Drivers, or Stakeholder Concerns to application services, and much more.
All integrations offer support for linking objects and elements from the external system into an Enterprise Architect client. The Integration window supports browsing the external provider's items and retrieving lists of elements and objects based on the provider's queries. Capabilities include:
- Link an Enterprise Architect element to an external object
- View external element properties
- View and in some cases add to, external object discussions
- Export links to WebEA URL's that correspond to the current model
- Open external items in a web browser
- Import elements
- Export elements
From Enterprise Architect Release 14.1 it is possible to link a non-Cloud model to Integration Plug-ins configured on a Pro Cloud Server.
See the Cloud Page Help topic for configuration options.
Access
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Ribbon |
Specialize > Tools > System Integration > Open External Data To view a list of all elements that are linked to external items: Specialize > Tools > System Integration > Show All Linked Items |
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Context Menu |
In a diagram or the Browser window, for elements that are already linked to an external item:
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Keyboard Shortcuts |
> System Integration |
Features
Feature |
Description |
See also |
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Pro Cloud Server Configuration |
Each external provider must be configured on the Pro Cloud Server to enable connection. Multiple configurations can be made for each provider (such as connecting to two separate Jira servers). |
Install and Configure |
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Authorization |
If the Integration Provider requires authorization you are prompted to enter your credentials. If the provider supports it, a new internet browser window will open and prompt you to log in to the Integration Provider and allow Enterprise Architect access to its resources. Alternatively, a simple dialog will pop up asking for your credentials, with the option to securely store them in the current model. If stored in the model the credentials will only be used for the current user. |
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Navigate External Provider |
Find external items to link to by navigating the external provider. |
Navigate External Data |
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External Item Details |
Select an external item from the External Data view to see its properties, notes and discussions in the Properties window, Notes window and 'Discussions' tab of the Collaboration window. |
External Item Details |
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Link External Items |
External items can be linked to Enterprise Architect as a generic «ExternalReference» stereotype or as another element type. |
Linking Items |
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Add WebEA Link |
Hyperlinks to WebEA can be added to the external item so that you can quickly open the WebEA element from the external source. Right-click on a local linked element in the list and select 'Add WebEA Hyperlink to External Object'. This will update the external item with a link to the WebEA element that is linked to it in Enterprise Architect. Note that not all provider types have a 'link' mechanism. Where none exists, some providers might allow adding the link as a comment on the item. Ensure that the model has a valid WebEA address set in the model options. |
Cloud Page |
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Configuration |
Each Integration Provider comes with a set of default mapping values which determines what type of local element is created in Enterprise Architect, as well as which fields are copied to the new element. These mappings are configurable via the 'Configure' option on the Integration window toolbar menu. Users must have the 'Configure External Data Sources' permission to access this functionality. |
Configuration |
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Troubleshooting |
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Troubleshooting |
Notes
- 'Integration' requires a Pro Cloud Server and is only available to Cloud models
- 'Integration' is currently provided with the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate Editions of Enterprise Architect
- If you select two or more elements at the same time, you can perform an operation on all of the selected elements at once
- For WebEA links to work a valid URL must be set for the WebEA address (see the Cloud Page Help topic)