Import into Rose - how?

[LarrySkelly]

Can anyone tell me how to import an EA package into Rose?  I think I know what to do on the EA end - generage an XMI file for the package.  But I cannot find anything in the Rose user interface for importing this package!

I'm working with a client who has 5 copies of Rose   gathering dust, would like to use EA   but would feel better knowing that its possible to eventually take the models into Rose.

Thanks in advance,
Larry

[sparks]

Hello,

You actually need to use the Unisys XMI add-in (which is available from the Rational Website) to be able to perform import/export of UML model elements using the XMI 1.1/UML1.3 protocol to and from Rose.    

Note: Make sure you check the Use Rose/Unisys format box when doing an export from EA.

Warning: This is not a perfect process and because diagrams are not 'officially' supported in the XMI spec, the appearance of diagram's will not always by the same in either tool.

Paul Mathers

[LarrySkelly]

Thanks Paul, I found the importer just after posting, have installed it.  Unfortunatley I get syntax errors very early in the import, or Rose GPF's.  Trying various options to try to get it to work.  Any suggestions, other than keeping it simple?

Larry

[gsparks]

Hi Larry,

What version of Rose are you using?

We have recently been made aware of some changes or discrepencies in the way the later versions of Rose/Unisys import/export XML ... we are following up on these.

If you can send me the XML that causes a problem I will look at it and let you know what I think the problem is -- send to [email protected]

Geoff Sparks

[LarrySkelly]

Using the latest version of Rose Enteprise, circa 2002 I believe.

I was doing a bit more research, and noticed in the EA User Guide that I should be trying to export a complete model to Rose, not a single package.  And I haven't seriously attacked this problem yet.  Therefore let me try a few more things before taking you up on your offer to look at the XML.

Larry

[LarrySkelly]

I've been able to get a basic import working, by running the entire model thru, and manually making sure the DTDs used by both tools are in the directory where the XML document is.

But much of the model information is lost along the way.  Our model is principally packages, nodes and components, with a small class diagram.

- components are turned into 'component-stereotyped' classes in Rose's logical view.
- all diagram info is lost.  This alone makes it pretty onerous as the diagrams would take a long time to reproduce.
- associations are lost

The Rose import interface is flakely and reports many occurrences of the dreaded VB 'object or with block variable not set' error.  It also seems to dislike the XMI document syntax in a few places.

All in all, unless you want to get only a basic verson of each object into Rose, its not a viable route.

[gsparks]

Hi Larry,

We are currently adding support for XMI 1.0 to EA. Although this is a somewhat retrograde step - it appears more tools understand this format. The first 'beta' release of the exporter will be in the next build of EA. It exports UML 1.3 in XMI 1.0 format and comforms to the UMLX13.DTD.

We are currently looking into issues with export to the latest version of Rose, but in the meantime I would suggest trying this when it is available.

Geoff Sparks

[LarrySkelly]

Thanks Geoff, will look forward to it in the next release, even though I much prefer working in EA than Rose.

BTW where is the next release, I need my weekly fix    BTW I really admire your practive of putting out 'weekly' releases with incremental improvements.  Are you using automated testing tools for regression testing?

Larry