Sparx Systems Forum

Enterprise Architect => General Board => Topic started by: Modesto Vega on August 13, 2025, 04:55:27 pm

Title: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Modesto Vega on August 13, 2025, 04:55:27 pm: Is anybody aware of any official content covering backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS, both major and minor.

For example, is Sparx EA version 17 compatible with PCS 5? Is version 16 compatible with version 6? Can the latest build of version 17 run on PCS 6.0?

The same question has gone to the Sparx support team.
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Geert Bellekens on August 13, 2025, 05:28:00 pm: I don't know of any official statements, but in practice EA is very good in maintaining compatibility between versions.
In fact so good that they will explicitly warn you when this is not the case.

Geert
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Modesto Vega on August 14, 2025, 02:29:35 am: Thank you Geert, just to be more specific we are currently running PCS v5.1.128 with a variety of Saprx EA v16.x builds. One of the reasons for the question is to gather some information/experience on adding Sparx EA v17.x to the mix without upgrading PCS.
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Geert Bellekens on August 14, 2025, 03:43:39 pm: Quote from: Modesto Vega on August 14, 2025, 02:29:35 am
Thank you Geert, just to be more specific we are currently running PCS v5.1.128 with a variety of Saprx EA v16.x builds. One of the reasons for the question is to gather some information/experience on adding Sparx EA v17.x to the mix without upgrading PCS.
I'm 99.9% sure that will work without a problem.

If it were my client I wouldn't even hesitate to install v17.1 and start using it.

Geert
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Modesto Vega on August 19, 2025, 06:03:59 pm: Official Sparx Systems response is below.

Quote
Please note that the latest version of Enterprise Architect (EA) is compatible with Pro Cloud Server (PCS) version 5.x.

However, we cannot guarantee that all functions will work correctly in this combination.

Therefore, we highly recommend upgrading to the latest versions to take advantage of enhanced features and bug fixes.

[..]

Kindly note that Enterprise Architect v17.x and Pro Cloud Server v6.x are the officially supported versions. Previous versions are no longer officially supported.

In short, it is compatible but not supported.
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Geert Bellekens on August 19, 2025, 06:43:45 pm: Quote from: Modesto Vega on August 19, 2025, 06:03:59 pm
In short, it is compatible but not supported.
The question here is, what does that mean?
How is "supported" different from "not supported"?

Geert
Title: Re: Backward and forward compatibility between versions of Sparx EA and PCS
Post by: Modesto Vega on August 20, 2025, 06:11:01 pm: Quote from: Geert Bellekens on August 19, 2025, 06:43:45 pm
Quote from: Modesto Vega on August 19, 2025, 06:03:59 pm
In short, it is compatible but not supported.
The question here is, what does that mean?
How is "supported" different from "not supported"?

Geert
Exactly, and with 4 releases of Sparx EA since May 2025 and 2 of PCS, upgrades have become too frequent and bigger job.