Linking to Word Documents from EA diagrams

[EricP]

What I need is to be able to generate documentation within my EA diagrams, and then import that documentation into a master Word document (a software design description).  For example, I may have an activity diagram that shows some aspects of my software design.  What I need is to be able to create a textual description of that activity diagram, have it show on the diagram (or at least be clickable from it), and have it appear in the SDD master document, so that any changes I make in one place (master document, or EA diagram) show up in the other place.

I got about halfway through the "Working with the RTF Generator" white paper before I got a headache and started spacing out.  I also read through all the Help notes I could find that seemed like they had anything to do with what I need to do, and nothing seemed to apply.

Can anyone point me to documentation that will explain how to make linked document sections that link from Word to EA?  

I'm (still) using EA 7.1.833, because so far it has done everything I need it to do and I don't like upgrading my tools in the middle of a project... and anyway, I've read through some of this forum and see that 7.5 (some builds) has problems with the RTF generator.

I'm also using Word 2000 for the same reason (it does everything I need done and I've already given Gates way too much of my money).

Any help would be greatly appreciated... thanks.

[skiwi]

Eric
keep the headache pills handy, in my (limited) experience the RTF editor and document generation has a very high learning curve.

From what I have been able to achieve the only way to do what you want is to create all the associated text in EA (ie in the notes fields of the elements, diagrams, packages etc), and/or in linked RTF documents.

Then bind then all together using a master document and document templates.

Finally have a hissy fit getting styles, ToC, page headers and footers, and outline numbering working and looking the way you want. (you can, its just hard - and its not word or open office or close).

[EricP]

From what I have been able to achieve the only way to do what you want is to create all the associated text in EA (ie in the notes fields of the elements, diagrams, packages etc), and/or in linked RTF documents.  Then bind then all together using a master document and document templates.

Good evening, skiwi.

Yup, that's my problem... I've read through everything I can find on the topic and I just can't figure out how to do that.

[fwoolz]

Ah, how sad it is to see a promising feature fail of its promise! The RTF generator is close enough to doing what you want to be appealing, yet arcane and persnickety enough to frustrate the h*ll out of you. It would be great if Sparx would move the whole template creation process to a Word document template add-in (+ OpenOffice equivalent) with flexible model query capability behind it. BTW - I STILL can't get outline numbering & TOCs to do what I want! I frequently wind up turning to database queries and reports (some with VBA code behind them) to do the job.