Modeling

Enterprise Architect is a comprehensive UML analysis and design tool. It provides a library of UML data structures that you can use and extend to develop your models.

For an explanation of how Enterprise Architect interprets the UML standards and specifications, see the Standard UML Models topic.

• You create your projects and models using the Start Page or File Menu, which provide templates on which to base your models
• You initially create your packages and diagrams using the Toolbars and Menus, and the elements and connectors using the Diagram Toolbox
• You can also create new structures through the Project Browser, and re-use existing structures using the Project Browser, Model Views, Element List and Model Search.

Building models requires the use of various UML data structures and Enterprise Architect tools, as above, to graphically represent a business process or software system. The resulting model can be used to emphasize a certain aspect of the system being represented and to record and communicate its detail.

A further extremely useful tool is the:

• Relationship Matrix, which enables you to visualize and amend the relationships and hence organization of structures within the model.

Enterprise Architect also provides particular support for:

• Requirements Management and
• Modeling the business process, an essential part of any software development process.

You can extend the scope of your models by using:

• UML Stereotypes, Profiles and Patterns, and
• MDG Technologies.

For more information, see the Modeling Fundamentals, Build Your Own Modeling Language and Requirements topics.