File Based Repositories

Enterprise Architect projects can be created as .eap files via the File | New Project menu option, which displays the Save New Enterprise Architect Project dialog.

Select a directory and enter a file name for your project, then click on the Save button. Once the project has been saved, the Select Model(s) dialog displays, which makes a selection of Model Packages available. Select the Model Packages to include and click on the OK button. Enterprise Architect adds a model containing the selected Model Packages to the Project Browser.

You can also add Model Packages to the project using the New Model From Pattern icon in the Project Browser toolbar. Alternatively, new projects can be created from the Start Page; select the Create a New Project option.

The Model Wizard

The Model Wizard is used to add a selection of Model Packages to the project, through the Select Model(s) dialog.

The EABase Project File

The default project file (EABase.EAP) is supplied when you install Enterprise Architect and is stored in your Enterprise Architect installation directory (or anywhere else you might redirect it to). The default installation directories, depending on which version you have installed, are:

• Registered version: C:\Program Files\Sparx Systems\EA
• Trial version: C:\Program Files\Sparx Systems\EA Trial

• Lite version: C:\Program Files\Sparx Systems\EA Lite

Having copied the base project  as a template for your own project, you can rename it  - or any other project you own.

Design a Custom Template

You can customize any Enterprise Architect project and use it as the base for a new project. This enables you or your organization to build a template project with company standards, tutorials, frameworks or any other common piece of modeling already in-built. A template project is no different from an ordinary project; Enterprise Architect simply copies and renames it as a starter for your new project. With careful planning you can save yourself many hours of work at project start-up.

Configure Project

Having created your project, you can set a range of project parameters to define defaults, tailor the project to particular coding languages, and ensure consistent development and use of the project. See the following topics:

• The Settings Menu
• Defaults and User Settings