Regression bug. Copying BPMN to clipboard.

[dbJav]

Hi,

I just upgraded EA to build 800.  Replaced my previous install of the BPMN add-on by BPMN 1.3.

If I now copy a BPMN diagram (Ctrl-C) to clipboard and paste it into Word, different adornments are not shown, e.g. arrow heads, the end event bold border.

Could you please fix this problem.
Thanks.

Denis

[«Midnight»]

Thanks Denis,

Have you also reported this directly to Sparx?

If not, you can get to the appropriate spot for doing so from within EA. From the main menu choose Help | On-line Resources | Bug Report Page.

Doing this will get your report directly into their hopper. This forum is best for letting the rest of us know, either as a "heads-up" or if you're not sure if something is a bug (not the case here).

I'm particularly interested in this being repaired. For some reason I've not used the BPMN add-in since 798 or so, and missed this entirely. With luck this is minor, and if it is in the add-in rather than EA itself we (hopefully) won't have to worry about skipping a build if they cannot get a solution for build 801. Still, best to get that report in immediately.

David

[KP]

Denis,

This is caused by the "Automatic" or default colour being interpreted as "White" in certain circumstances. We have a fix but I'm not sure if it made it into build 801 - it might have to wait until 802.

Until then, there's a couple of work-arounds:

1. Select the affected elements/connector, press F4 and set border/line colour to be explicitly black, or

2. Set the clipboard format to "Bitmap" instead of "Metafile" (Tools | Options | General)

HTH,

Neil

[«Midnight»]

Thanks Neil,

While I don't like to 'degrade' to bitmap format, I'm sure this will work fine while we wait for 802.

David

[dbJav]

Thanks Neil and David,

Unfortunately there's no way to select all connectors (Ctrl-A) and change their color in one step...  I did not find a manual way to select more than one connector either (Ctrl-left click does not add to current selection).

Denis

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Thanks Neil and David,

Unfortunately there's no way to select all connectors (Ctrl-A) and change their color in one step...  I did not find a manual way to select more than one connector either (Ctrl-left click does not add to current selection).

Denis

We use direct Database queries to assist in rendering edges in groups.

With the usual caveats (backups etc), this method can be very useful.  We render edges differently, depending on combinations of connector type, stereotype, multiplicity etc...

Notwithstanding this fairly easy and safe (once you get used to it) back door EA should allow operations on multiple edges at the same time.

We don't, but it's not hard to restrict the scope of the rendering to specific diagrams, packages - whatever.

HTH,
Paolo

[dbJav]

We use direct Database queries to assist in rendering edges in groups.

Dear Paolo, would be great if you would share with us the way to implement such database queries (doc available online?) and a practical example dealing with edge rendering ?

Denis

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Dear Paolo, would be great if you would share with us the way to implement such database queries (doc available online?) and a practical example dealing with edge rendering ?

Denis

Unfortunately the convention in the forum has been that (in general) access to the database has only been discussed in generalities.

This is particularly because this access is NOT supported by Sparx and the possibilities for havoc are tremendous.

We do almost all our work in MS Access - using linked tables into the repository itself.

It isn't too hard to figure out what needs to be done (if it can).

(Please don't take this the wrong way)  If you can't figure out how to create queries in MS Access (or your favourite SQL program) to achieve the ends you want, then you don't have a licence to drive the "back door".  If you stuff things up by yourself, there's no comeback...

We can and have (I've made us of it myself) advised on how and where to find specific stuff and how it might be interrelated.

For example, the basic connector rendering information is held in t_connector - and is relatively easy to access.  If you have modified the rendering in a specific diagram you'll need to check out t_diagramlinks - where the information is encoded (I think).

Sorry we can't be more helpful - if others want to do more please feel free to assist...

Regretfully,
Paolo

[dbJav]

We do almost all our work in MS Access - using linked tables into the repository itself.

If you can't figure out how to create queries in MS Access (or your favourite SQL program) to achieve the ends you want, ...

Writing SQL queries is no problem.  But how do you proceed to have a SQL program (like MS Access) access the .eap files in the first place ?

Denis

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Writing SQL queries is no problem.  But how do you proceed to have a SQL program (like MS Access) access the .EAP files in the first place ?

Denis

Denis,

The *.EAP file is just a renamed MS Access *.MDB file.

Our experience has been that you should change the EA usage of the Jet engine to use Jet 4.0 (see Tools|Options|General [X] Use Jet 4.0 - requires restart).  Then make sure you convert your .EAP file to use at least Microsoft Access 2000 (in Access 2000 Tools|Database Utilities|Convert Database>(as appropriate)).

You can then create an empty MS Access MDB file and attach the .EAP file via File|Get External Data>Link Tables....  You should then end up with a normal MDB that points to the .EAP file.

From there, the world is your oyster...

HTH,
Paolo