Mixing versions

[ChrisMW]

I often 'roam' with my EA license, and I usually keep my version current. But often, the clients I visit tend to run old versions. Is there a list somewhere that would help me work out what happens when I point my EA at those repositories?

Right now I would like to know if 12.1 and 7.5. can work on the same repository? But in general, a compatibility matrix would be really helpful.

Rgds Chris

[Geert Bellekens]

EA is backwards compatible to almost any version in the past.
The only thing to be aware of are the new features.
If you are using a "new" feature that didn't exist back in the 7.5 days then they might not see it (properly)

I'm not 100% sure when they were introduced, but some of the newer features include

- Structured Scenarios
- Rich text formatting in the notes
- Enumerations (as type, not as stereotyped class)
- Datatypes (as type, although I'm not sure of this one)
- Schema Composer
- Charts
- Model views

Geert

[ChrisMW]

Thanks Geert, I remember from some time ago that one upgrade came with some message that if you moved up, the old one would not really work anymore. But can't remember which version it was and now I'm starting to even question if it was EA. Even so, it might be a good idea to have this kind of info somewhere, even if it is something I have to remember in order to not mess up someone else's repository.

I had already decided just to copy the EAP, open it in 12.1, poke around, change a few things, and give it back to see if 7.5. could still make sense of it. But these pragmatic approaches have their limitations, in a commercial setting I'd like a better assurance. Ah well, if they don't mind the risk, I don't mind trying......

[Geert Bellekens]

Chris,

You're not going to screw anything up. The worse that could happen is that you make something they cannot see or interpret correctly.

But on the other hand, if you want to be sure that they can use everything you do, you could simply install version 7.5 as well.
Installing multiple version is fine as long as you rename the Program Files(x86)\Sparx System\EA folder into something else.
I currently have 5 different versions "installed" in folders called EA v10, EA v12.0.1215, EA v12.1.1224, etc...

All you need to do to switch versions is to rename the one you need to EA.

Geert

[TomO]

Hey Chris,
Geert is correct - their model should remain intact, just be mindful of the newer features if you are going to contribute and want them to see your contributions.

Others include:
Element Discussions
Database Builder
Some Documentation Templates (fragments)
Roadmaps
Kanban etc.



I believe we have really only had one release that affected the backwards compatibility, that was from version 3.1 to 3.5 in late 2002.

[RoyC]

The Kanban feature in Release 12.1 has the facility to create sub-lanes. If you are using this facility and you or someone else opens the diagram in an earlier release of EA, the sub-lanes are permanently deleted and you'd have to create them again in release 12.1.

Of all the features and facilities across all the releases, that's the only one I can find that might not survive you opening a model using different releases.

[ChrisMW]

Thanks everyone, I might just take up the trouble of keeping more than one version on my machine. It's good all the previous versions are easily downloadable.