Sparx Systems Forum

Enterprise Architect => Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools => Topic started by: LeoRuijgrok on August 16, 2019, 07:19:20 pm

Title: Archimate Import Model Exchange File - update not create
Post by: LeoRuijgrok on August 16, 2019, 07:19:20 pm

In our organization we have registered our IT Components in an external administration. We are currently creating Archimate models in Enterprise Architect to describe our current state architecture. With the ‘Specialize – Archimate – Import Model Exchange’ File function we managed to upload all our applications (> 2000) as Application Components with the right attributes.

However, elements are constantly being updated in the external administration and we would like to update them in Enterprise Architect as well, preferably with an update batch instead of manually doing this. Importing another second file always creates new elements, while we would like to update the existing ones, because if we delete the previous elements, they disappear from the diagrams we have created.

What is the best way to update these elements, with the requirements to use an external (updated) file? We can modify the import files as we like (only delta’s or full load), we are in control of that,  but we just do not know how to update the elements in Enterprise Architect.

Does someone have a suggestion here?
Thanks in advance!
Leo Ruijgrok

Title: Re: Archimate Import Model Exchange File - update not create
Post by: Geert Bellekens on August 16, 2019, 07:52:31 pm

I'm afraid there's no easy solution to that.

The problem is that your external import file doesn't have the ID's of EA's elements, so it doesn't know that something already exists.
Possible solutions:

- Import it to another folder and then run a script that merges the two imports. You'll still have to find a way to solve renames of elements.
- Use CSV import, using the guid column to allow for updates
- Use XMI import. Make sure to include the EA guid's to allow for updates.
- Write your own import script from scratch (not that hard, I've done a couple of those in the past)

Geert

Title: Re: Archimate Import Model Exchange File - update not create
Post by: LeoRuijgrok on August 16, 2019, 11:42:04 pm

Thanks Geert, this gives a good direction!

I was thinking in exporting it back from EA into a file so I know at least the EA guid's per application.
So when running the 2nd import I can at least correlate that to existing elements.

I will start experimenting with the suggestions you have made.

Regards, Leo