Messages

1

General Board / Re: Find in Project by ElementID or ElementGUID

« on: November 23, 2021, 08:45:35 pm »

With the help of this community I build up this mess of a query for finding a guid:
(because I wanted to know in which ea table it occured what I stumbled upon)
=> search for element ID is missing here!

Code: [Select]

select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, Diagram_Type as CLASSTYPE, 't_diagram' as CLASSTABLE, Name, diagram_id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_diagram' as source
from t_diagram where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, Object_Type as CLASSTYPE, 't_object' as CLASSTABLE, Name, object_id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_object' as source
from t_object where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Connector' as CLASSTYPE, 't_connector' as CLASSTABLE, Name, connector_id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_connector' as source
from t_connector where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Stereotypes' as CLASSTYPE, 't_stereotypes' as CLASSTABLE,  (stereotype + '&' + appliesto) as Name , '0' as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_stereotypes' as source
from t_stereotypes where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Package' as CLASSTYPE, 't_package' as CLASSTABLE,  Name , package_id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_package' as source from t_package where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Attribute' as CLASSTYPE, 't_attribute' as CLASSTABLE, Name, id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_attribute' as source from t_attribute where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Operation' as CLASSTYPE, 't_operation' as CLASSTABLE, Name, operationid as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_operation' as source from t_operation where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Attributetag' as CLASSTYPE, 't_attributetag' as CLASSTABLE,  (ElementID + '&' + propertyid + '&' + property) as Name, '0' as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_attributetag' as source from t_attributetag where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Objectscenarios' as CLASSTYPE, 't_objectscenarios' as CLASSTABLE,  Scenario as Name, object_id as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_objectscenarios' as source from t_objectscenarios where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Operationparams' as CLASSTYPE, 't_objectparams' as CLASSTABLE,  Name , operationid as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_operationparams' as source from t_operationparams where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'
union
select ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, 'Operationtag' as CLASSTYPE, 't_operationtag' as CLASSTABLE,  (ElementID + '&' + propertyid + '&' + property) as Name, '0' as t_id, ea_guid as guddi, 't_operationtag' as source from t_operationtag where ea_guid like '#WC#<Search Term>#WC#'


2

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / Re: Addin that "animates" a walk through of an activity diagram

« on: November 09, 2021, 10:27:07 pm »

Thank you for your hints.
While searching I somehow overlooked the buildin feature. Yet it does not fully meet my requirements - which is rooted in the meta stuff the addin is used for. (There the user has to make each step a decision how the current action worked out etc.)

And yes, I was considering to change only colour & thickness of the element's border as "highlighting". (Because I already found ways to do it and I wanted at least two colours anyway)

At first glance it might not need look fluid as it is clickwise anyway.

So I take home "save and refresh" is very likely needed - and maybe not always reliable. Especially the "show that element".
And once there is a decision to upgrad EA I for sure take a look at the new simulation feature.

Thanks for your time,
Shegit.

3

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / Addin that "animates" a walk through of an activity diagram

« on: November 09, 2021, 02:34:36 am »

Hi there,

I'm sorry for a rather complex question instead of a single problem. I just hope my main problem lies only in the beginning.

What do I want to achieve?

• an addin for my EA (13.5)
• that has some meta stuff that finds me specific activity diagrams
• and then I say "take this and start"
• and then it highlights any connector/action/diagram element that is currently processed
• and it - to some degree - moves the diagram so the current element is visible
• once finished, the diagram looks  as before
• the addin is not "overlaying" the EA like a modal dialog

So I click and thus decide which element to colourize, the EA does so and jumps around the diagram to show me this - and when I'm done all colour is gone.

What do I already have?

• written in C#
• use of tagged values to identify desired ADs
• getting along any element and going through step by step (= decisions are regarded to control the flow by clicking inside the addin, also going to next action is a click inside addin)

Some alternatives/extras

• Either highlighting only the current element or all visited one in this run (like in my example)
• more important of avoiding a modal dialog would be the visibility of the shown element
• exporting the changed diagram before closing the addin

So, I know how to read and set the colour of an element "in general" (explored the data model of .eap). I see that the EA jumps to an element in diagrams with e.g. "locate in current diagram" - and knows if the element is visible on my screen or not. The current addin is a modal dialog. Which is no problem to just relocate the addin on a second screen to see the diagram. Maybe that is even safer because the elements cannot be manipulated manually = diagram stays at is. Being unaware of existing "walk throughs" I also consider the "which AD to select in the first place" worth to create my own addin.

Starting questions

• "is it possible?" ;-)
• How to jump to an element of a diagram by the addin - and maybe only move the diagram if less then 20 pixel is from element to "next" visible border = how to determine the visible border?
  
• Would this temporary colouring require to save and reload the current diagram? (If yes, I need to set a list of old element configuration and reapply them while closing the addin - otherwise just "discard changes and reload".)

Thanks,
Shegit

my example:
start -> -> -> ->

4

General Board / Re: Re-use of parts and relationships

« on: August 13, 2019, 01:30:13 am »

sorry for giving maybe false hope, I myself have neither knowledge nor experience about UAF.
I was more hoping for a "rewording that induces possible design flaws on its own"

For a UML class/ object diagram it would look like the blue elements are instances of their specific class.
(key crtl pressed while dragged with mouse -> dialog opens)

And I assume, EA just offers information flows as a general connection type, I'm quite unsure if the UML would say this flow needs to be "inherited" by the object/ instance.

5

General Board / Re: Re-use of parts and relationships

« on: August 12, 2019, 06:50:46 pm »

Do I understand it correct that:

• you have a hierarchy of elements (example shows compositions only)
• there you have no problem that attribute of super element is visible in sub element
• then you have "normal" connectors = no hierarchy connectors like generalize/ specialize - is it a simple "association"?
• and your problem is, that if element A is connected "normal" to element B - you see no attribute from element A on element B?
• or your problem is, that if you put all relevant elements for a specific view ("chat") into a new diagram and you miss all "normal" connectors if there are sup elements connected "normal" to each other?

-> would it be possible to get a comparison to show which connections are visible and which are missing in "new view" while being present in "main view"?

6

General Board / Re: V15 beta - where have all the menus gone THIS time ?

« on: August 06, 2019, 10:57:41 pm »

Of course, if you happen t have the correct visual style (Microsoft Office 2016) you get the find command function on the top bar, although it only takes you there and doesn't tell you where it is for future reference

That bugs me that only this style offers that feature always visible.
In my preferred style (with horizontal scroll bars in project browser) I need to use dropdown of the EA icon (top left)  and then type into Search field.

With release of Microsoft Office 2007 & 2010 they made an interactive help public, where you typed in the old command (-2003) and get an animation where to find the new one.

This "type command here and we search it for you" is nice for rare used features.
(and is necessary for me for any system setting in Win10)

7

General Board / Re: How to "restore" a dialog to pop up next time?

« on: August 05, 2019, 09:11:58 pm »

Thanks a lot, _drag_ with Ctrl pressed works.

I guess I oversaw this because my initial way starts with a right click on diagram, not with dragging.

Need to remind it better, used it years ago already.

8

General Board / How to "restore" a dialog to pop up next time? [solved]

« on: August 03, 2019, 01:03:30 am »

Hi there,

I want to do this:
- rightclick on diagram
- "Insert Other Element ..."
- select an activity and press OK
- activity gets inserted

What is missing? - The dialog box that offers me some inserting options.
(like object nodes which are now missing)

In this case like "show all object nodes" (it is called similiar)

How to restore this dialog? Or any other that I once decided to "don't ask me again" and now want to be asked again?


In settings I tried "Reset BPMN Prompts" (Diagram -> Behavior) - did nothing here due to no BPMN.
The help from insert dialog leads to https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/modeling_tools/instanceclassifier.html which has no talks about.

Thanks, Shegit

9

General Board / Re: How to use Parameter Sets for Action Pins?

« on: August 01, 2019, 04:36:59 pm »

- in general, all object & control flows need to be present with their token, otherwise the action will not fire.
- and all outgoing object flows will get tokens once the action finished
- so in case I have 3 objects flowing into 3 action pins, all three need to be present.
- in case I have 2 objects flowing out of 2 action pins, two object flows will start once the action finished

As far as I understand the specs, it simply says:
- a parameter set is a grouping of one or more object flows - and I need either one to proceed.
-> for incoming it is in example: either two object flows (upper group) OR three other object flows (lower group) are satisfied to fire the action
-> for outgoing it is in example: two object flows will be satisfied as a result of this action. either upper two, or middle (3&4) or lower (4&5) , and then only these will transmit an object once the action is finished.

At first I thought there is a hidden decision.
Then I realized - CallBehaviors are also actions, thus a linked activity will have these decisions and will then provide different output.

10

General Board / Re: How to use Parameter Sets for Action Pins?

« on: July 31, 2019, 04:27:25 pm »

thanks for insight & the ideas.

Well, my main aim is to have a set of object flows that are in "or"-relation.

At the moment it is the easy way of "this one or this one incoming" which might be solveable with a merge. I just need to ensure "same" object types coming in.

11

General Board / How to use Parameter Sets for Action Pins?

« on: July 31, 2019, 01:45:06 am »

As part of the UML I did not yet found a way to achieve Parameter Sets for Action Pins with the EA (v13.5):



Can someone please guide in case it is possible or confirm EA's inability?

Thanks, Shegit

12

General Board / Re: using eapx with EA v13 possible?

« on: July 25, 2019, 07:30:27 pm »

I found -> Preferences -> General -> "Use Jet 4.0 - requires restart"

hooking that on it displays a warning:


Doing so did _not_ allow me to open eapx directly, just the renamed .eap

Checking now from another PC with "unchanged setting" = no use of Jet4 still opens the eap.

Workaround seems to be just to enable Jet4 and to rename the file.

13

General Board / using eapx with EA v13 possible?

« on: July 25, 2019, 07:04:40 pm »

Question: what should I do to open an eapx file with EA v13.5 (Build 1351)?

context:
- I have partners that published an eapx on a team share
- I use eap and v13.5 until now.

the aim I hope for:
- stay on 13.5, open and edit .eap and .eapx "simultanously"

possible workaround:
- convince partner to use a .eap - and hope to get it used with my v13.5
- convince some responsible administrator of my company to upgrade...
- use free offered download to read eapx

=> what is possible, what is best?

As far as I understand https://www.sparxsystems.eu/enterprise-architect/release-history/ it was introduced in EA v14.

That would simply deny a usage with anything earlier.
-> If I create a new project, I get offered .eap & .feap - no .eapx.

in https://www.sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php?topic=42476.0 Geert Bellekens said it should work to open eapx with EAv13.
Just when I try to open the eapx file, I cannot select it as the EA file open dialog does not list ist (only eap & feap).

When I rename to .eap and try to open, my EA claims:
- Cannot overwrite existing file
or
- An error has occured: Unrecognized database format


https://www.sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php/topic,39464.msg248431.html suggests for me,
that there is a setting to enable or disable Jet4 support inside EA.

-> I just don't find any. In case there is this setting - where to find?

https://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/repositories/index.html suggests, I should be able to use a eapx repository sind June 2016, while https://www.sparxsystems.com/forums/smf/index.php/topic,38291.msg238327.html indicates that EA v13.5 was available after May 2017

The user guide on the other hand does not suggest for EA v13.5 that there should eapx be possible:
https://sparxsystems.com.au/enterprise_architect_user_guide/13.5/model_repository/createamodeloverview.html
in comparison to v14
https://sparxsystems.com.au/enterprise_architect_user_guide/14.0/model_repository/createamodeloverview.html

Thanks,
Shegit

PS: within Excel, I once was able to select Jet4 as database engine to get an .mdb imported - which was simply an eap renamed. I just can't remember the circumstances (excel version, click through path).

14

Uml Process / Re: how to "merge" object flows in activity diagram

« on: July 01, 2019, 07:04:13 pm »

@Eve:

Thanks for your retry.  I have a 13.5.1351 at hand.

Your quicklink way worked as well in my diagram.

My problem arised because I made the actions first and the object flows later (steps 7+). That is why this way might be still / was in old EA not working:

• Drop an action from toolbox.
• Drag quicklinker from action. Select Decision|Control Flow
• Drag quicklinker from decision. Select Action|Control Flow
• Repeat 3.
• Drag quicklinker from Action. Select Merge|Control Flow
• Connect action from 4 to Merge from 5. Select Control Flow
• Drag quicklinker from Merge. Select Action|Control Flow
• Right click on action. Select "new child element| action pin"
• Repeat 8 on any action twice, on last action (7) only once.
• Connect Action pins "according" Control flows for action (1), (3), (4).
• Drag quicklinker from action pin of action(3). Select Merge|Object Flow
• Drag quicklinker from action pin of action(4) and connect to merge(11)
• Drag quicklinker from merge(11) to action pin of last action(7)

The workaround:
Drag from toolbox "Activity Relationships" the Object Flow from Merge (11) to action pin of action(7).

What (in my EA configuration) also not works:
- Drag quicklinker from merge node to desired action: no question "control/ object flow?" like when from action to action. It just sets a control flow.

why the object flow later? Because my modeling process starts sometimes with control flows only

Thanks for your time, Shegit

15

Uml Process / Re: how to "merge" object flows in activity diagram

« on: June 28, 2019, 12:33:12 am »

the lowest action expects one object G.

the result of either transformation A or transformation B.