Data model validation in EA?

[Gusztav]

Hi,

Some colleagues asked a question. They have a data model in EA with some foreign keys set up between <<table>> classes. While the model evolves, the data type of some properties change over time, and such a change may include properties or columns being part of a foreign key relationship (such as the column with which the foreign key column has to match). In this case, obviously, the foreign key relationships needs to be revised, since a data type change occurred in one of the fields assigned to each other.

The very problem is that once they forget about this (maybe the one changing the data type is not aware of that column being used in a FK relationship at all), they will find themselves in a messed up model soon with invalid FK relationships.

I guess why EA can not warn the user on-the-fly about the need to review FK relationships on data type change. But is there any validator like those for BPEL which could be employed to point out invalid foreign key relationships in which data types of coupled fields do not match?

Thanks,
Gus

[Geert Bellekens]

Gus,

I don't know any existing functionality, but you could quite easily write an add-in that warns you about impacted FK's, even on the fly.

Geert

[Gusztav]

Thanks for the response, Geert. I was hoping there is something to use, our main focus would be to use EA, not to improve it.

[Geert Bellekens]

You can of course send in a Feature Request and hope for the best.

Geert