Sparx Systems Forum
Enterprise Architect => Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools => Topic started by: bilon on May 08, 2025, 12:03:00 am
-
We are currently upgrading from mix of versions 12 and 13 to version 16. In the version 16 we face the problem with visibility of our MDG in the "More tolls" of the Toolbox. We can't see it there. But we can see it in the "Find toolbox item" window. Are there any changes in handling of MDG technologies between versions 13 a 16?
Here are some pictures.
v12 More tools menu: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E7IsYwTt0RhyVCcegK_Nqut_DOeGHOS9 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E7IsYwTt0RhyVCcegK_Nqut_DOeGHOS9)
v16 More tools menu: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ykB1GWbYyPA8u7K1p1zH5twumRtRE-Ao (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ykB1GWbYyPA8u7K1p1zH5twumRtRE-Ao)
v16 Find toolbox item window: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IMBhI3zDa0wW5aFRSeGBQU_bHl7eWLol (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IMBhI3zDa0wW5aFRSeGBQU_bHl7eWLol)
v16 MDG technologies: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18YsfRAggtwBmtR-eYztNr2p3Cn_lZrPA (https://drive.google.com/file/d/18YsfRAggtwBmtR-eYztNr2p3Cn_lZrPA)
-
Probably due to the perspective you have selected.
Geert
-
I don't think so. I selected All.
-
Hello bilon,
The 'All' does not mean 'everything', but all MDG Technologies that are included in the currently defined Perspective sets. If I understand correctly, if you do not add your own Perspective and add your own MDG to the Perspective, 'All' will not include your MDG.
I think Geert's comment is spot on.
-
Hi Bilon,
Under Perspectives (Design\Portals\Perspectives), do you see Model based-sets or Personal listed there? Is your MDG listed anywhere under those 2 groups?
Our MDG shows under Model based-sets.
Geert/Takeshi - Frankly, I do not fully understand the concept of perspectives in Sparx EA. I know it is there, I know people talk about it but I still not fully understand the role and Sparx Systems categorisation.
-
Geert/Takeshi - Frankly, I do not fully understand the concept of perspectives in Sparx EA. I know it is there, I know people talk about it but I still not fully understand the role and Sparx Systems categorisation.
Neither do I. ;)
-
Thank you for making me not feel so lonely ;)
-
Geert/Takeshi - Frankly, I do not fully understand the concept of perspectives in Sparx EA. I know it is there, I know people talk about it but I still not fully understand the role and Sparx Systems categorisation.
The way I use it is to create a single perspective with all the MDG we use in an organisation, and then create a perspective set that includes only that one perspective.
That perspective set is then set as the default one for all users.
This ensures us that noone will start modelling using stereotypes from some weird niche MDG that nobody else ever heard of.
Geert
-
Hi all,
Thank you for your responses. Like Modesto and Takeshi, I must say that I do not understand the concept of perspectives. I have no idea what to do, to be able to work with my MDG. To open it every time through the "Find toolbox item! window is very clumsy.
@Modesto Vega, unfortunately I can't see my MDG in the groups mentioned by you, they are both empty.
-
Hi all,
Thank you for your responses. Like Modesto and Takeshi, I must say that I do not understand the concept of perspectives. I have no idea what to do, to be able to work with my MDG. To open it every time through the "Find toolbox item! window is very clumsy.
@Modesto Vega, unfortunately I can't see my MDG in the groups mentioned by you, they are both empty.
Are you sure you have actually have an MDG technology?
Back in the day it was more common to simply have a UML profile and import that.
That doesn't really play nice with the perspectieves and stuff, since they sort-of assume each UML profile is packaged into an MDG technology.
If you don't have an MDG technology, it's pretty easy to create one, but you'll need to setup diagram types and toolboxes to use it easily.
Geert
-
You can see, in the last picture I posted, activated technology called BIF. So what else I should do?
-
You can see, in the last picture I posted, activated technology called BIF. So what else I should do?
Does your MDG include a diagram extension and a toolbox?
If you expand your MDG in the resources tab, you should see something like "UML Profiles", "Diagram Types" and "Toolboxes"
Geert
-
I'm not sure what you mean with resources tab. I found a tab titled "Resource Allocation", but it is empty.
-
One of the tabs on your project browser is called "Resources" (the others are Project, Context, Diagram)
It's where you find docgen templates, MDG's etc...
Geert
-
Yes, I've finally found it under System Technologies. My MDG contains only UML Profiles and Scripts.
-
Yes, I've finally found it under System Technologies. My MDG contains only UML Profiles and Scripts.
That is the reason why you keep searching for the toolbar.
Create a diagram type, and a toolbox, and link the diagram type to the toolbox.
That way you always get your toolbox when you open a diagram of your type.
Alternatively you could pin your toolbox so it is visible regardless of the diagram type, but I would consider that less then ideal.
Geert
-
Because I never did the activities you mentioned, I would have many questions to you (how to create diagram type and what would be its context, how to create toolbox and so on) but I must go back to my first post and repeat my question. My technology is normal activated MDG, so why it is not visible in the default toolbox menu, as it was in the previous versions of EA?
-
My technology is normal activated MDG, so why it is not visible in the default toolbox menu, as it was in the previous versions of EA?
I guess because your MDG technology doesn't actually define a toolbox.
See https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/17.1/modeling_frameworks/mdgtechnologies_2.html (https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/17.1/modeling_frameworks/mdgtechnologies_2.html) for more info on how to build your own diagram types and toolboxes.
Geert