Version Control

[Graham_Labdon]

Hi
I am trying to get version control set up
I have 2 developers
I have created a .eap file on a shared network drive
I have configured the VC settings and placed soem test packages under VC.

Both developers open the model file
One checks out a package and makes some changes and then checks in the xmi file.

QUESTION - How does developer 2 get to see the changes made by developer 1? - apart from reloading the whole project.

Any suggestions would be welcome

Graham Labdon

[thomaskilian]

By checking the version control log

[Graham_Labdon]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is the version control log?

[HowardB]

Hello Graham,

I believe you are asking; "How do I refresh what I see in my instance of EA, to show the updates made by my colleague?"

You can refresh the contents of a diagram by right-clicking on the diagram's tab and choosing "Reload '<diagramName>'".

To refresh model content, either reload the entire model by clicking on the short-cut on your Start Page, or reload a particular package by right-clicking that package in the Project Browser, then choosing "Contents | Reload current package".  I believe this will also refresh the diagram.

If you wish to review the version control history of a package, right-click the package and choose "Package Control | File History".  This will display a list of the revisions of this package file held in the VC repository, and the check-in comments associated with each revision.

I hope this helps.


Best Regards,
Howard.

[Graham_Labdon]

Hi Thanks for your reply

I was really looking for something that would automatically update or notify a user that a package had been modified

[Graham_Labdon]

Hi again

On reading the manual I see that

'If user1 checks-out and modifies a package within Enterprise Architect, user2, who also has this shared model open in Enterprise Architect, can see the changes to the model immediately.'

This is not happening for me - anybody know why not?

Graham

[Geert Bellekens]

I think in this case the 'immediately' is meant as: "as soon as the package is loaded/reloaded". So you can see the changes made even if they are not checked in yet.
This is in contrast with the option "private models" where each user has its own .eap file. In that setup you will only see the changes after they are checked in.

[thomaskilian]

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is the version control log?

Your version control system can tell who has done what kind of changes. This log can be checked. Depends of course on the version control system...

[HowardB]

Hello Graham,

EA stores its models in a database, whether it be the EAP file or a 3rd party DBMS.  You can think of EA as being the front-end of a multi-user DB application.

When connected to a Shared model, all users are accessing the same (up-to-date) data in the DB.  However, your "view" of the data, the diagrams and project browser, is not necessarily refreshed as soon as another user makes an update, as this would introduce potential performance issues.  There are certain user actions that will trigger a "refresh".

When you have applied version control to the packages in your model, a "check-out" command triggers a "refresh".  Since EA enforces serialized editing of VC packages, whenever you are editing, you will always be looking at and working with, the most up-to-date "view".

I hope that makes things clearer...

Best Regards,
Howard.