New ArchiMate 3 Connector Stereotype

[duncan.greenyer]

I created a profile that extends the ArchiMate_Serving connector with ArchiMate_Derived stereotype. Saved the profile. Created an MDG file. Added the MDG technology using the advanced button and path. However, the stereotype does not appear anywhere, its not in the list of ArchiMate 3 stereotypes or custom stereotypes. Any ideas on why this is would be really helpful. Thanks.

[Geert Bellekens]

First thing to check is to see if the profile in your MDG actually contains the stereotype.

To do that the easiest way is to check the Resources | MDG Technologies
Under your technology you should find an entry for your stereotype.

(you can even use that by dragging it to a diagram)

If that works, you might want to consider making a toolbox that contains your stereotype.

Geert

[duncan.greenyer]

I don't actually want a new connector, what I would like is to be able to add an extra ArchiMate_Derived stereotype to an existing ArchiMate connector so that I can have traceability from, say, a node to an application bypassing the interface. That way I will be able to create a traceability matrix between elements that are indirectly related, as-per the ArchiMate spec. If that makes sense.

[Geert Bellekens]

That's not how this works. Extends means you want to create a new stereotype that is a specialization of an existing stereotype.
This is generally used to add a number of tagged values to store some extra information.

Using two stereotypes on a single item is generally not recommended

Geert

[duncan.greenyer]

Sure, I can appreciate that its not recommended, however multiple stereotypes have been possible since uml 1.4. All I want is a way for my new stereotype to appear in ArchiMate 3 profile in this dialog: https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.2/model_domains/stereotype_picker.html I would maybe suggest that although stereotypes and tagged values are related a stereotype should be able to exist on its own without adding tagged values to the element but hey... regardless of the rights and wrongs is there a way to get my new stereotype into the picker under the archimate 3 section?

[qwerty]

Just read your last question: no. The Archimate section is for the Archimate MDG and you can not change it. You can make a copy of that for your own MDG.

q.

[duncan.greenyer]

Ok, plan b then 

In all sincerity, thanks for your time, patience and help.

[Arnoud_B]

Hi QWERTY following this track with interest as I am building my own ArchiMate MDG as well (thanks for your help in multiple cases to keep me moving) and I am interested in your statement: "You can make a copy of that for your own MDG".
Can you somehow make a copy of the complete ArchiMate MDG to change it? I am now extending it but that seems to create other problems (which might be solvable, but I am not sure).
One of the reasons that I extend the ArchiMate for instance is that I want to use the same icons in the toolbox and browser and I did not yet find a way to get those from the ArchiMate MDG into my own without extending. And there might be 101 other things in there that are a lot of work to create from scratch which I am not yet aware of (my knowledge of MDGs is still very limited).
If you know how to get to the MTS file of ArchiMate (the xml file is there but that is sort of the compiled version of it all) that would be VERY helpful.

[qwerty]

Sorry, I must pass. I'm pretty sure (though not much more than 50%) that in past EA versions the MDGs were not encrypted. But now they are. The MTS is just some (silly) way to keep parameters for creating a MDG and would not be helpful in any way. Having the model itself would be something else. But those were never published in any form. (It would be possible to create a model from the MDG in XML format but that would be a hell of work.)

q.

[Geert Bellekens]

If you want the icons, you can simply create those by taking a printscreen of EA, and then cutting a 16x16 bitmap of the required icon.
Make sure you make the background the color the magical RGB: 192 192 192 grey so EA will see that as transparent.

But I would not start from scratch if I was you. I would keep extending existing archimate sterotypes and add your own properties; possibly adding your own shapescript.

Geert

[Arnoud_B]

But I would not start from scratch if I was you. I would keep extending existing archimate sterotypes and add your own properties; possibly adding your own shapescript.

Yes that is still my angle of attack, however inheritance and overriding is a bit of a pain so I thought if starting from scratch that won't be a problem but it creates most presumably 1000 other problems ;-)

[Sunshine]

Want to create an ArchiMate MDG from Scratch? See this post
https://sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php/topic,46658.msg272819.html#msg272819