Author Topic: Linked document Templates (Read 7749 times)

prussell · « **on:** May 01, 2009, 08:12:38 am »

I found how to create a new template, but its only available to the project it was created in. Is there a way to make these available globally to all projects?

thanks
patrick

«Midnight» · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2009, 02:11:25 am »

You could create an MDG Technology and add the template. The technology could then be installed on a shared drive or in a shared URL, from which location it could be loaded by EA on startup.

TomasH · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2009, 05:54:31 pm »

I've tried to find in EA Help, but I still don't know, how to add the document template to MDG technology ... Could someone give me more detailed information how to do this?

Thanks Tomas

(EA ver. 7.1 Build 833)

Oliver F. · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2009, 06:34:53 pm »

Quote

I've tried to find in EA Help, but I still don't know, how to add the document template to MDG technology ... Could someone give me more detailed information how to do this?

Thanks Tomas

(EA ver. 7.1 Build 833)

AFAIR there is no sharing of templates across projects in EA. You will have to export it as reference data and reimport it into another project.

Oliver

TomasH · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2009, 06:48:14 pm »

Quote

AFAIR there is no sharing of templates across projects in EA. You will have to export it as reference data and reimport it into another project.

Oliver

I thought the same till I've read the reply posted by «Midnight» ...

... it made me unsure ... but it would be nice if it works ...

thanks Tomas

Oliver F. · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2009, 07:05:45 pm »

Quote

Quote

AFAIR there is no sharing of templates across projects in EA. You will have to export it as reference data and reimport it into another project.

I thought the same till I've read the reply posted by «Midnight» ... ... it made me unsure ... but it would be nice if it works ...

AFAIC David is one of the most experienced competent guys around in this forum, however in this case I believe he is mistaken

. Though I will not eliminate the possibility that I am wrong here

Oliver

OneCent · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2009, 07:25:41 pm »

I have another question to "linked documents". Is there a way to audit them? I mean to view the changes in the dokument.

«Midnight» · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2009, 09:26:48 pm »

NB: FWIW I may well be incorrect here. I misread the title of the thread and was thinking of templates in the sense of template packages and such. As for linked documents this might not work at all.

As far as discussions of MDG Technologies is concerned...

While you cannot share templates in the same manner as reference data, you can do something useful with MDG Technologies.

Instead of using a local folder to store the MDG Technology files, which would require distribution to each computer, you can use a common folder on a server. In the folder locations (via the MDG Technologies dialog in EA) provide the URL to the common folder. EA will load technologies it finds there.

Pay particular attention to the fact that EA uses a URL rather than a folder path. The remote destination does not need to be directly connected on your LAN, nor does it need to be a file share. It could be a remote server accessible via the Web.

TomasH · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2009, 09:36:28 pm »

Ok, I think now it's clear ... I was surprised, because I was looking for solution how to add a document template to my own MDG technology and my yesterday result was ... it is not supported ... so your reply was very surprising ... but it's a pity that it doesn't work ...

thanks Tomas

«Midnight» · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2009, 09:46:16 pm »

Hi Tomas,

I apologize for not noticing this sooner. It was certainly not my intention to waste your time. Mea culpa.

David

PS: A while ago there was some discussion about templates (i.e. not template packages) and reference data. I don't remember the details, but I think this was a 'hole' in reference data. At least it was not in the documentation. I remember it was mentioned to Sparx, either via a forum thread which Sparxians joined or a bug report. I do not remember the outcome.

TomasH · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2009, 10:28:16 pm »

Hi David,

no problem, I have just made my first MDG technology and I'm still discovering what else is supported in EA and how I can improve it ... and I really enjoy this work now ... so finding out that there is "no way" in some case and become sure about it ... is possible result as well ... so I will find another way ...

... or try something else ...

thank you for all your replies in forum, I think it's very helpful material ...

nowadays after I've tried to find out some information about MDG technology in EA help I'm not sure if help file has documented supported features properly, so if you or someone else know about some better information source, which describes supported MDG technology features in EA or about some complex example model ... it will be helpful to know ... only if something like this exists, but I really don't believe it does ...

Thanks to all Tomas

«Midnight» · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2009, 10:44:08 pm »

Sadly the help file is the only documentation source.

Things are not hopeless though. Roy has made considerable progress in improving the documentation. If you find errors or inconsistencies (yes Paolo, I too think these are the same thing) then report them to Sparx; they cannot improve the documentation unless we tell them where the problems are.

RoyC · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2009, 10:10:24 am »

EA release 7.1, build 833 supports the procedures for using MDG Technology files to introduce your own features and facilities. These are documented in the section immediately before the Glossary, called SDK for Enterprise Architect. In this section there is a fairly substantial topic on MDG Technologies in SDK. If Tomas would like to let me know what further information he needs, I'd be very happy to see what we can do to help him.

Oliver is correct though, you can't incorporate Linked Document Templates in an MDG Technology for distribution. (David, I did warn you that Oliver was hot on your tail in the EA Guru Chase!)

You create linked document templates within the Templates folder hierarchy in the Resources window. From here, as you have deduced, you can export them to other models as reference data. The procedure for doing this is documented in UML Model Management | Reference Data | Import and Export Reference Data | Export Reference Data. When you select the tables to export, you pick Linked Document Templates from the Name list in the Data Exporter dialog. The information is there.

OneCent asks if you can audit changes to linked document templates. The EA auditing facility does not record changes to RTF templates (and that is what linked document templates are).

Oliver F. · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2009, 07:33:51 pm »

Quote

(David, I did warn you that Oliver was hot on your tail in the EA Guru Chase!)

Never knew (and never inteded) that there is a chase or competition around for the turban

David can keep it for a while, at least as long as I am not able to write the required 4800 posts

«Midnight» · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2009, 12:14:42 am »

Quote

Quote
(David, I did warn you that Oliver was hot on your tail in the EA Guru Chase!)

Never knew (and never inteded) that there is a chase or competition around for the turban David can keep it for a while, at least as long as I am not able to write the required 4800 posts

Oliver (et al),

Roy's assertion is quite correct! The number or frequency of posts is not the issue here, quality is. There's no question that Oliver, and certainly several others, are doing legion duty in making this an excellent forum.

And no, that's not just my opinion...

David

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