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Zero Config Client Support
Enterprise Architect can be used on client machines without having to be installed on those machines. This can ease deployment in a corporate environment, by running the system from a read-only shared folder. This enables a System Administrator to install Enterprise Architect once for all users rather than once on each computer.
- The ea.ini file will be read if it exists in the same directory as ea.exe
- To add settings, copy the value lines from a registry export of defined Enterprise Architect options
- It is recommended that you specify JET 4 support using the line "JET4"=dword:00000001
- You specify a keystore and the keys to checkout using the values 'SKT', 'SharedKeyFolder', 'SSKSAddress', 'SSKSPassword' and 'AutoCheckoutEx'
- Use the Cloud Service to deploy shared models without requiring additional database drivers and other software
Note: It is still preferable to install locally where possible. Without a local installation these restrictions apply:
- The Automation Interface and Scripting will not be available (without running the object registration as part of the install)
- Firebird models (with the extension .feap) cannot be loaded (without registering the ODBC driver as part of the install)
- JET 3.5 is no longer installed by default on Windows systems, and JET 3 drivers are unlikely to be available, so you will need to enable JET 4
- No file extensions will be automatically registered in this scenario; users can still manually configure their computers to use Enterprise Architect to open .eap files
- The file handler allowing Enterprise Architect to open source files and documents directly from the file system will not be available
The system administrator must first follow this process:
- Install Enterprise Architect.
- Open the application.
- Connect to a keystore containing the key(s) everyone should use.
- Select the 'Start > Application > Preferences > Preferences' ribbon option to display the Preferences window, click on the 'General' page and select the 'Use JET 4.0' checkbox.
- Click on the and then close down Enterprise Architect.
- Open your registry editor and export HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sparx Systems\EA400\EA\Options.
- Create an ea.ini file in the directory to be shared.
- Copy these keys into the ea.ini file from the exported registry: JET4, SKT, SSKSAddress, SSKSPassword, and AutoCheckoutEx.
- Copy the Enterprise Architect install files from 'Program Files' to a network share or USB device.
- Optionally, mark the target directory as read-only.
Note:
- If the appropriate values for the ea.ini file are already known, steps 2-5 can be skipped
- Defaults can be configured by placing them after a registry key of the form "INIFILE_VERSION"=dword:00000043; these will only be executed when the existing value for this user is not the same value as the one in the file
Example - Checkout an Ultimate Key
This example sets JET 4 and configures a keystore. Using a configuration file to specify the settings for all users means that the users can select a key without having to connect to a keystore, as shown here. The first time this example is run it checks out an Ultimate key, but allows the user to request a different key on subsequent logins.
"JET4"=dword:00000001
"SKT"=dword:00000001
"SSKSAddress"="ssks://licenseserver"
"SSKSPassword"=""
"INIFILE_VERSION"=dword:00000043
"AutoCheckoutEx"=hex:1a,00,00,00
An Enterprise Architect user will just need to run the system from the network drive or USB device.