Sparx Systems Forum

Enterprise Architect => Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools => Topic started by: andersd7 on September 18, 2022, 06:18:46 pm

Title: Is anybody using the C4 MDG Profile in anger?
Post by: andersd7 on September 18, 2022, 06:18:46 pm
Hello,
I am in the process of writing an EA script to allow you to create C4 models via PlantUML script.. very similar to https://modelhelper.home.blog/2019/03/10/create-a-sequence-diagram-using-plantuml/ (https://modelhelper.home.blog/2019/03/10/create-a-sequence-diagram-using-plantuml/)

is anybody using the free C4 MDG profile provided by LieberLieber? 
https://www.sparxsystems.eu/c4 (https://www.sparxsystems.eu/c4)

Interested in your thoughts..

thanks,
David.
Title: Re: Is anybody using the C4 MDG Profile in anger?
Post by: Richard Freggi on September 19, 2022, 12:57:09 am
Um um...
it depends what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve with the diagram.
If you already have a test script and you just want to convert it into a diagram I see the value of these things.  But up to now I never found myself in that scenario.
I my situations the diagram was never the end goal, it was just a means to think, share point of views with others, understand their feedback in a way that made sense in the context, try out different things and the gradually build my model (requirements - data structures - enabling systems).  To do this I never had a text description to start with, I gradually think about each steps, check out a few related classes and methods, building as I go changing things on the fly (often collaborating with someone in a Zoom call).
So personally I think the standard UML profile for sequence diagrams is best.
Title: Re: Is anybody using the C4 MDG Profile in anger?
Post by: andersd7 on November 29, 2022, 08:27:48 pm
Seems that there is not much demand for C4 modelling in EA..

Nevertheless.. I had a bit of fun building VBscripts to exchange C4 models in and out of EA using PlantUML.

Managing layout was a challenge.. but I am reasonably happy with how it works.

Funny what you get used to.. The scripts helps you build a diagram very quickly without all the clicking..

See https://modelhelper.home.blog/2022/11/28/how-to-simplify-c4-modelling-in-ea/ (https://modelhelper.home.blog/2022/11/28/how-to-simplify-c4-modelling-in-ea/) for the writeup..