Extand standart ArchiMate technology

[Alex9329]

Hi!

My name is Alexey. I started to wort with Sparx not so long time ago. I found out how to create my own MDG Technologies with custom elements, taggs and so on. But my question is how can I extand the existing MDG Technologie in Sparx. For example I would like to add new taggs in element - Application Component for the ArchiMate 2 technology. How can I do that?

Or maybe I can export the existing technology and then edit it, save as profiles and create my own MDG Technology file that will be the same as ArchiMate 2.

Thank you for your answers.

[qwerty]

You can't (directly). Either you edit the MDG source XML files and butcher them to your needs (not really recommended). Or you extend them in your own MDG thereby adding whatever tagged values you need.

q.

[KP]

Or you extend them in your own MDG thereby adding whatever tagged values you need.

Alexey, you don't say which version of EA you are using. Hopefully it is a recent version, because the functionality to do what you want to do was added at EA 13.0

You can add tagged values to an existing stereotype by using the redefines Generalization. See the help file topic "redefine_ster_other_prof" (ribbon|Start|Help|Go to Help Topic, and paste "redefine_ster_other_prof" into the dialog - without the quotes).

You will need an abstract stereotype "Archimate2::ArchiMate_ApplicationComponent" and a stereotype "ArchiMate_ApplicationComponent", with a redefines Generalization between them. The stereotype "ArchiMate_ApplicationComponent" will hold the additional tagged value declarations. Once you have built and deployed your technology, you will need to set the technology "Active" after which every Archimate2::ArchiMate_ApplicationComponent you create should have the additional tagged values you defined. Synchronizing tagged values should add them into all existing elements.

I hope this helps.

[Alex9329]

Hi! thank you for the answer. I made everything but it doesn't work. If you can help me using skype it will be great...
But still I can not understand - I save it as a profile and generate my own MDG Tech. How it will be applied to the other technologies (Archimate 2)?

And also another one question - When I create MDG tech file, generate it, import, I begin to work with my customized Technology. Then I would like to change it a bit, for example, create a new tag for one of the elements. Again I go to the MDG that I have already created, make the changes (edit existing tech). Import it and what I see. My new tag will be applied to new elements, but for the other elements that I have already created it won't ne applied. How can I apply my changes to the already existing elements of my customized technology?

And also I would like to understand whether I can edit everything using scripts.

[qwerty]

...
I hope this helps.

http://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/modeling_tools/redefine_ster_other_prof.html

q.

[KP]

But still I can not understand - I save it as a profile and generate my own MDG Tech. How it will be applied to the other technologies (Archimate 2)?

For redefined stereotypes, you have to go to the MDG Technologies dialog, select your technology and click the "Set Active" button. Then you can carry on using the Archimate 2 technology and your modifications will apply to it.

My new tag will be applied to new elements, but for the other elements that I have already created it won't ne applied. How can I apply my changes to the already existing elements of my customized technology?

Right-click your stereotype in the Diagram Toolbox and select "Synchronize Stereotype". It will update all tagged values in all existing elements with that stereotype.

[Alex9329]

Thank you very much.
Still I have question with the connection between elements. I would like somehow to set in the element the link with other elements and then when I drag elements to the diagram the link will appear automatically.
Example:
In Application Collaboration element I have chosen somehow (somehow means not using Relation Matrix and links on diagram, maybe I can define Special Tag for the elements and import it in my MDG technology. I saw the tag "reference" for ex) that it is related to Application Component_1 and App Comp_2. Then I decided to drag these 3 elements on the diagram.