tranpose Relationship matrix

[malmoth]

I would like to be able to tranpose Relationship matrix to invert source and target settings and link direction.

[«Midnight»]

For everything? Would this be for only specific links, or types of links instead?

I can see where this (for types of links) might be useful when converting to and from other modelling tools that draw aggregations (for example) differently, but you can change settings for this in the EA Options dialog.

Still, the idea is intriguing. Please give us some context.

[malmoth]

Sorry, I'll try to be a bit more specific.
This is for doc generation mainly.
Let's say I've made a use cases vs requirements matrix, the matrix will display much more columns than rows since there generally are more requirements than use case (or is it the other way around ?). This will be difficult to include in a portrait stylesheet document. As I'm a bit lazy, I'd find it useful to have a simple function to change my matrix in a requirements vs use cases matrix.

[«Midnight»]

I think you mean that you want to transpose the axes without transposing the meaning. That way you could display the matrix in oriented as either 'x by y' or 'y by x.'

Regardless of any requirement for on-screen display, I can easily see where this would be valuable for documentation purposes. While it is a fairly simple thing conceptually, performing the transposition within an RTF template is just not on.

Definitely a worthwhile enhancement!

[thomaskilian]

I remember Bruce had asked for this quite a while ago (swap axes). Probably not on top of Sparx list...

[«Midnight»]

I think I remember Bruce asking, now that you mention it. Didn't seem to get too much traction at the time, but here we are talking about it again...

Of course we could always request RTF template enhancements to do this. Perhaps then this request might start looking sweeter.

Bruce, are you out there? Would this solve your problem too?

[sargasso]

No, I wanted and still want just a simple little button on the matrix screen to just swap the axes.  Tracing stuff through the model can involve wanting to change the relationship being used in the matrix - a simple enouigh thing to do in EA.  But, when doing that, sometimes the matrix makes more "sense" if it were the other way around.  This involves several key-mouse activities to achieve which is quite disrupting to the train of thought.

[«Midnight»]

Sounds like Bruce's button would solve both problems. During the EA session one could transpose the axes of the matrix. At documentation time one could set it as desired.

The only thing I think we're missing is some kind of 'sticky' setting so that EA remembers which was the axes are when it comes time to document. This could be achieved through an Options setting, or at the model level, or both. Another way would be for EA to remember which setting was last used - this would probably specific to the model.

If that would make all of us happy(er), off to Sparx with it.

[malmoth]

Are you guys really saying one can generate RTF documentation including Relationship matrixes ? Because, I didn't think this was possible. Now, I'm exporting matrixes in .csv file, importing them in excel, then copy/paste the tables in the RTF document.
If there is a way to automatize this, I want to know.

[thomaskilian]

Are you guys really saying one can generate RTF documentation including Relationship matrixes ? Because, I didn't think this was possible. Now, I'm exporting matrixes in .csv file, importing them in excel, then copy/paste the tables in the RTF document.
If there is a way to automatize this, I want to know.

There's another thread talking about that not being possible. You can export csv and have an Excel linked to that to appear in what fashion you want it. The way to RTF is not solved, though.

[«Midnight»]

Yes, I should have made this clearer.

I would like to see the ability to run the Relationship Matrix through an RTF generation process. However,  I think the ability to transpose the RM axes would be beneficial for documentation however it is created. I also agree with Bruce et al that just being able to work with the best orientation for a given project would increase the utility of the RM.

If and when an RTF process is developed for the RM, having the ability to specify (or preset, or default) the axes as required would improve this function as well.