Messages

1

General Board / Re: Importing ERwin models

« on: April 19, 2016, 10:53:42 am »

Hi Madani,

Erwin has an export function which puts out Sparx formatted xmi files.
There are a number of options to play with, but the defaults work.
Then in sparx do an import from xmi.
All elements and relationships are imported, but for some reason, I have not been able to bring in diagrams. For me, diagrams have not been important, so I have not pursued them.

Hope this helps,
Hans

2

General Board / Re: Synchronize model with ERWIN

« on: April 18, 2016, 10:15:48 am »

Hi Simon,
many thanks for the explanation about GUIDs - I'm just that bit more educated now  .
It all makes perfect sense post your explanation. I was being naive in my expectations.
I guess my solution is to keep a mapping of the Erwin <=> Sparx GUIDs. I'm not sure if I'll then run that into a CSV file (with the Sparx GUID) using the CSV facility to do then find the elements or just python it all the way.

with thanks to all for the discussion.
hans

3

General Board / Re: Synchronize model with ERWIN

« on: April 14, 2016, 01:28:14 pm »

Hi Paolo,

hmm I'd always heard it as "hiding to nowhere".
But for those who prefer a "hiding to nothing" => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P35nX4ULTBs 

In any case, I am feeling a little defeated (but as the ancient expression goes: "man with compiler can always fix problem"). I'm not sure if the problem lies with Erwin putting out xml that Sparx can't work with fully (not sure of that, since Sparx brings in all the entities, subject areas and relationships fine) or if the problem is that Sparx just always generates it's own GUIDs and the 'strip guid' field is a placebo.

I'm still looking at the permutations of Erwin export. One of them actually puts the Erwin GUID into a field. This will let me keep the reconciliation - I've already got a python swiss-army-knife code to do various things, and this is doable.

regards,
Hans

4

General Board / Re: Synchronize model with ERWIN

« on: April 11, 2016, 03:24:37 pm »

Hi Paolo,
Many thanks for the quick and detailed response.
I tried seeing if there was a song called "Hiding to Nowhere" so I could cue it as a backing track, but that search turned up nothing but reference to a line in a Muse song. Now that's a hiding to nowhere 

In any case:
The model in Sparx is a mirror of the ERWIN model. The Erwin model is the canonical change-controlled model, and Sparx must contain that and no more (other than the links to other sparx modelling elements such as applications, Business Functions, services etc).
I have not found a way of importing the Erwin model into sparx while retaining the Erwin GUIDs as the Sparx GUID. As far as I can tell, it is the GUID that drives the package control diff/merge capability. I was pinning my hopes on that capability to drive the updates from Erwin into Sparx.
The name in Sparx is identical to that in the Erwin model. But alas, the Erwin model has changed entity names as well, so the entity Name is not a reliable reference.
Given that the sparx import does put the inbound GUID into a tagged value the mapping is there (that's one thing that is going right).

All in all, I think you have confirmed that I am heading into custom coding territory (and I really don't like coding to xml, mainly because I have not done a lot of it). I'm going to investigate the Erwin csv export and see if that is a more amenable approach.
The SQL bit is the easy one (I've got Thomas' book) - I've done lots of sql to the sparx database. It's the navigating the xmi model which is non-trivial.

Anyway, thanks again Paolo.
hans

5

General Board / Re: Synchronize model with ERWIN

« on: April 11, 2016, 01:07:53 pm »

Hi,
I'm doing a bump on this thread in the hope that there are some solutions.
I went quiet on the topic for a bit, but now the issue has to be sorted out in my company.
To reprise:

• I have an enterprise conceptual data model (not a physical database schema) that is maintained in CA Erwin.
• This Erwin model goes through a monthly update where adds/changes/deletes are applied to the Erwin baseline. This means that the Erwin internal reference (GUID) remains constant between releases.
• My problem is that I can't find a way to apply the updated Erwin model to the sparx imported model.
• I can't simply re-import the model and 'blow away' the existing one since I've now got thousands of relationships between the conceptual data model and other modelling elements (applications, ESB Services, Business services etc) that I cannot loose, or manually re-establish.

Since the model is conceptual, it cannot be represented as a physical database (thanks for yyour suggestion MMA) and even so, I would have the same referential issue between Sparx and Erwin regarding a unique key.
The issue I am facing is that I can't get the GUID to be the primary reference between Sparx and Erwin.
When I do an import, even with the 'strip GUID' unchecked, Sparx generates it's own GUIDs. Now I've lost my only consistent key between Sparx an Erwin.
I do notice that it generates a tagged value 'rose_uuid' with the input Erwin xmi.uuid - which at least gets the value into sparx, but only usable with custom code.
I have tried all sorts of exports from Erwin (including it's built-in Sparx export) and run into the same problem.

Is there a way to force Sparx to use the GUID (xmi.uuid) in the input xmi file. My hope is that if Sparx can be forced to use the import xmi.uuit as it's GUID then I can use baseline/package control diff/merge to manage the Erwin model updates.

If that does not work, then the only way forward that I can see is a custom script which maintains a mapping table of Sparx GUID<=>Erwin xmi.uuid. That's going to be really ugly and present a maintainability problem for my company.

with regards,
Hans

6

Suggestions and Requests / Diagram Filter - SQL/tagged values please

« on: September 27, 2011, 09:54:14 am »

I'm finding the diagram filters unfortunatley restrictive.
I'd like to request that I can filter on tagged value - or even better add the ability to filter using sql.
... even better - be able to re-use the model view - a single query can filter a model, or, when used in the scope of a diagram, those items on the diagram.
Hans

7

Suggestions and Requests / Re: Web interface into repository

« on: October 05, 2011, 12:28:57 pm »

Isn't that served by the project/documentation/html report function?
Or are you after a standard web-server function that dynamically serves content from a database?

Hans

8

General Board / Synchronize model with ERWIN

« on: December 14, 2015, 10:47:47 am »

Hello,
I have an enterprise reference model which is mastered in ERWIN.
I can import that model fine.

However, since this model is updated and released periodically, I need a capability to update the already imported model, rather than delete/re-import.
This is because a substantial number of relationships between this model and other element (Services, Applications, Business functions etc) have been created.

I've tried a number of different ways, but I am not having any luck.

ERWIN has a diff capability, but seems unable to put that out in xml/xmi format I thought of comparing a diff-file to sparx.

The model is non-trivial(~4000 model elements), so manually updating is not feasible.

I have this feeling that hacking some code to process the ERWIN xml file is the only way to go.

Has anyone got any hints?
With regards,
Hans

9

General Board / Model Search in Relationship Matrix

« on: October 30, 2014, 02:03:29 pm »

Hi All,

I am having troubles with even basic Model Searches using a Search Term in the Relationship Matrix.

I use the following SQL, which works fine in the standard search (crtl-f):

Code: [Select]

SELECT ea_guid AS CLASSGUID, Object_Type AS CLASSTYPE, Name FROM t_object
where Name LIKE '<Search Term>'
This is fine in the 'find in project'. However, it does not matter what variants of query I use (copying existing ones, variants using #WC# and so on), it will not work in the matrix view. I ether get all elements (like the search term is ignored) or no elements at all.

Strangely, some canned queries (like 'Recently Modified Elements') do work.

Any thoughts?
regards,
Hans

10

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 19, 2014, 09:07:46 am »

Hi Simon,

I'm not sure I follow your comment.

Are you saying that the import facility is not part of corporate edition?
If so, might I suggest that you amend the web site since I could find no such distinction.

Given that the Corporate Edition can do BPMN, that may be argument for the import being in scope for the corporate edition. ?
regards,
Hans

11

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 15, 2014, 04:00:43 pm »

Hi Aaron,
Many thanks for that.
I'll sit tight on the current supported version until I hear back from you (from the developers).
Thanks for your quick support on this!

regards,
Hans

12

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 15, 2014, 03:30:43 pm »

Hmmm.
I have the corporate edition.
Looking at the compare editions page (http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/products/ea/index.html) I can't see where import is called out as a difference.

regards,
Hans

13

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 15, 2014, 03:14:41 pm »

Hi KP, Roy,
I did a complete re-install (deleted old directories etc & installed to a different location).
Exactly the same behavior.
I did check and BPMN 2.0 was enabled. I tried disabling and the option disappeared from from the extenstions/import file tree. Re-enabling BPMN 2.0 made it re-appear.
I have also created a skeleton BPMN 2.0 Business Process view through the 'new model from pattern' option. So BPMN 2.0 is in and functioning.

Do I need to be in a particular spot in the model? A specific diagram or the like?
I'm stumped here.
Thanks for your help so far.
Hans

14

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 15, 2014, 02:56:10 pm »

Hi Roy,
Thanks for that suggestion.
I tried various imports/exports (package XMI, EMX, OWL) and all worked.
The file I am importing is in a directory I can access, Sparx is in a directory i can control (I am admin on the machine).
I might try uninstalling, reboot and reinstall.

regards,
Hans

15

General Board / Re: Import from BPMN 2.0 XML

« on: August 15, 2014, 01:53:28 pm »

Hi Aaron,
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I have a project open and selected a package.
Double-checked and same result.

regards,
Hans