Modeling apps, interfaces, data and solutions

[Michel777]

Hi,

we have just started a new project with focus on integration existing applications and their Interfaces.  There is a dozen candidate applications with altogether circa fifty interfaces. The first approach, to simulate diverse solutions to fulfill the requirements.

The applications are modelled in MEGA  ( http://www.mega.com/en/solution/enterprise-architecture ) and the requirements are (of course) in Sparx Enterprise Architect. It is obvious,  the best way is, to copy application, interfaces and data object from the MEGA repository into the EA.

The question ist, what kind of element to choose for the applications, interfaces,  data objects and for the solutions. Remark: a solution is a composition of interfaces and data objects.

Requirements for modelling, to be able

1)  ... to edit properties all the the four objects in standard view (respectively in excel export via eadocX).  I tried the element class, but the its properties does appears either in standard view nor in the Excel export.


2) ... to define relationships between

a) applications - interfaces (one to many)
b) interfaces - data object (many to many)
c) solutions - interfaces / data objects (many to many)
d) requirements - interfaces (many to many)

3 ... to search / to select  using all the properties, realtionships and requiremenst. The properties are text,  yes / no or list field. We will acces  the database (EA repository) directly.

Thanks a lot in advance,

Michel

[B H]

Hi Michel,
Wondering if you found the answers to part 2 of your question.  Like you I am also looking for practical ways to model applications, interfaces, data objects, etc. in an intuitive way that will allow me to report on the various relationships (e.g. in the relationship matrix).  My need is to do this for impact analysis and planning efforts. Desire is to:
define a (high level) enterprise domain model
model business capabilities, IT services, applications, interfaces
link all this stuff together with appropriate relationships (dependencies?)
Visualize in relationship matrix

Typical questions to answer would be:
What applications are using this interface?
What data is sent through the interface?
What applications support this business capability?

The company I work for already has an enterprise license for Sparx EA and I would like to use if possible vs. expensive enterprise IT planning tools out there positioned for this purpose.

Bob

[ken.norcross]

...what kind of element to choose for the applications, interfaces,  data objects and for the solutions...

How about create a custom profile in Sparx that directly mimics the concepts in MEGA?

So for at least this part of the model there is no "impedance mismatch", every concept in MEGA has a counterpart in Sparx. Import the model from MEGA into Sparx (via script, csv, eaDocX, etc.) and it should directly represent what you had in MEGA.

Then extend the profile to add the new concepts that don't exist in MEGA.