Database Import Warning

[witling]

In Enterprise Architect Professional version 6.5.803, an attempt to re-import a single table from an ODBC database (MySQL InnoDB) resulted in a complete re-layout of the Logical Data diagram, replacement of all right-angle connectors with direct line connectors, and caused a number of connections to disappear completely.

Naturally, I closed the program immediately without saving the horrible result, but to my chagrin the result had somehow already overwritten the good version of the model.

EA has quite a few problems in its SQL import facility, and this one wasted many hours of my time without any warning, so gardyloo!  Make your own backup copies frequently, as EA will sooner or later wreck your model.

[«Midnight»]

Ouch!

In the Insert Related Elements dialog there is a checkbox to let you specify your preference for Layout Diagram When Complete.

Perhaps something like this should be provided for import of XMI, source code and databases. What say?

David

[hd]

Try...

Tools | Options | Source Code Engineering | Auto Layout Diagram on Import:

[«Midnight»]

Thanks Henk,

I thought I'd seen this someplace, but could not remember where. On looking around EA - which I did before the earlier reply to this thread - the only instance I could find was as mentioned above.

Will the setting you mentioned have any effect when importing a schema from ODBC?

David

[witling]

Regarding Henk's suggestion that the Tools -> Options -> Source Code Engineering -> Auto Layout Diagram on Import be set to "Never", yes, that did prevent the layout from occurring, and thank you for your prompt reply.

However,
1. Control of the layout operation is very far from the action which causes it to occur.  I.e. you have to know about and remember that option setting to avoid trouble.

2. A setting of
       Auto Layout Diagram on Import: "On New Diagram"
causes the entire diagram to be laid out again, even though the operation is NOT on a new diagram.  Maybe it has to do with importing a NEW object, but that seems less than obvious.

3. Automatic layout uses the default connector style and completely reorganizes the diagram, even though I specified other connector styles and only imported one new table.

4. Even though the layout operation changes the diagram in unpredictable ways, there is no UNDO operation for automatic layout or database import.

5. I exited the program without saving the project and specified "NO: DO NOT SAVE THE CHANGES", but when I reopened the project, the diagram still had the new layout and the imported table.

I can turn off the Auto Layout feature, but this tool seems pretty tempermental.