Topics

1

General Board / APQC Process Model

« on: November 17, 2018, 06:51:14 am »

APQC is a process framework for the full enterprise.

APQC's Process Classification Framework (PCF)® is the most used process framework in the world. It creates a common language for organizations to communicate and define work processes comprehensively and without redundancies. Organizations are using it to support benchmarking, manage content, and perform other important performance management activities.

https://www.apqc.org/pcf

For those who have requested it via PM I've published APQC process model on Git hub.
https://github.com/EASunshine/Sparx-EA

It utilises a custom Enterprise Architecture MDG that is also located there so you need to copy that into a folder and reference it via the MDG dialog set up in Sparx EA to get a proper view of the diagrams.
You also need to change preferences to show both alias and name to see both the ID and name. The ID is in the alias.

To access the metrics you need to enable the metrics window and you will see them when you click on certain process elements.
Enjoy 

2

General Board / Sparx EA V14 B 1419 Installation issue

« on: May 11, 2018, 12:58:36 pm »

Having a problem installing Sparx EA V14 Build 1419 – It goes through install script then stops with error about creating a temporary file to complete installation.

Just upgraded to the latest windows recently so not sure if its that or something else. Windows 10 Version 1803 Build 17134.48
Anyone else have similar problem?

Tried disabling virus protection as I also saw a notification saying "Unauthorised changes blocked" Controlled access folder blocked: C:Windows\...\svchost.exe from making changes to memory. However that didn't prevent the problem reoccurring when trying to install again.

3

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / Report element with associate risks

« on: February 01, 2018, 05:46:15 am »

So I'm looking that the report template editor the other day and in the report editor tree I see Package>Element>Risk and it got me thinking how does that work? I can Package>Element>Requirement works as each element can have embedded requirements but couldn't see how I would model risks associated with an element so that I can get it out in a report by ticking Package>Element>Risk in the report tree. Any thoughts guys?
The reason I'm asking is I use Archimate work packages for roadmaps and I've been asked to capture risks associated with each work package. I could just nest the risks under each work package but when I saw the report editor it got me thinking I'm I missing something.

4

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / How do you add a package to diagram via automation interface?

« on: January 19, 2018, 02:38:32 pm »

I'm trying to get a jscript to work that creates a diagram for each package and adds child elements and packages to the diagram.  I've managed to get the child elements to be added to the diagram but not the child packages.

I think its because I'm passing a Package ID to Diagram.Object.ElementID

theDiagramObject.ElementID( childElement.ElementID);
//Substituted the above code that works with element with this below
theDiagramObject.ElementID( childPackage.PackageID);

Here is a snippet of code

Code: [Select]

function AddDiagramToPackage(  thePackage )
{
    // Cast thePackage to EA.Package so we get intellisense
    var currentPackage as EA.Package;
    currentPackage = thePackage;

    var theDiagram as EA.Diagram;

    theDiagram = thePackage.Diagrams.AddNew( thePackage.Name, "Logical" );
    theDiagram.Update();

    var diagramObjects as EA.Collection;
    diagramObjects = theDiagram.DiagramObjects;
 
    // iterate through all child elements and add them to the diagram -THIS DOES WORK
    var elementEnumerator = new Enumerator( currentPackage.Elements );
    while ( !elementEnumerator.atEnd() )
    {
        var childElement as EA.Element;
        childElement = elementEnumerator.item();
var theDiagramObject as EA.DiagramObject;
theDiagramObject = diagramObjects.AddNew("","");
theDiagramObject.ElementID( childElement.ElementID );
theDiagramObject.Update();
  elementEnumerator.moveNext();
    }

    // iterate through all child packages and add them to the diagram -THIS DOESN'T WORK
    var childPackageEnumerator = new Enumerator( currentPackage.Packages );
    while ( !childPackageEnumerator.atEnd() )
    {
        var childPackage as EA.Package;
        childPackage = childPackageEnumerator.item();
childPackage.ElementID;
  var theDiagramObject as EA.DiagramObject;
theDiagramObject = diagramObjects.AddNew("","");
theDiagramObject.ElementID( childPackage.PackageID);
theDiagramObject.Update();

        childPackageEnumerator.moveNext();
    }

I've scoured the help but can't seem to see how to add packages to a diagram via the automation interface. Any thoughts/help welcome.

5

Suggestions and Requests / V12 to V13 UBitMenu

« on: June 23, 2017, 07:54:05 am »

Would it be possible to provide an extra tab in Sparx EA to show the old menus of V12 in a similar fashion to UBitMenu for Office
http://www.ubit.ch/software/ubitmenu-languages/

The reason why I ask why is that I'm getting it in the neck from all my users who've used V12 and earlier about the ribbon and not being able to find the menu items they've come to love.
I think this would great at helping those well established users of Sparx EA whilst providing the ribbon for the new users. Best of both worlds I think.

I'm sure it wouldn't take a developer too long to add that feature and would provide a means to alleviate the pain a number of users are experiencing. So please implement this idea soon as it was difficult enough to get these users off Visio, spreadsheets etc in the first place without them whinging on about the new user interface.

6

General Board / Where are diagram themes stored

« on: June 06, 2017, 06:55:31 am »

I've created a diagram Theme to align with our corporate brand but can't seem to find where they are stored. Initially I assumed they were stored in the repository but alas that was wrong as none of my colleagues can see the new theme in our central repository. I've looked in the AppData/Roaming/Sparx Systems and Program Files(x86)/Sparx Systems but can't find anything. Does any one know?

7

General Board / Sparx EA V13.5 Beta

« on: May 19, 2017, 07:19:56 am »

Great news - I received an email from Sparx Systems about pro cloud release and Sparx EA V13.5 Beta.

- Build web and mobile friendly navigation diagrams for web ea users to navigate your model easier
- create formal reviews and manage review process from EA
- specify the elements in a review
- join colleagues in the discussion
Lots more ...

I've down loaded the V13.5 beta and I've looked on line to find out more about "lots more..." but can't find anything. 
I guess the supporting material is not ready yet. Not even a mention on the forum

8

General Board / Search result in system output window

« on: April 19, 2017, 09:22:57 am »

I've got a user who has some how got the search results to appear in system output window. I guess they ticked a box in some dialog or something. Is there any way to change it back so it appears in a tab window where the diagrams are located again as per default. I've searched the help and gone through all the ribbons but can't seem to find out how to to do it.

9

General Board / Sharing Model Searches

« on: April 06, 2017, 09:17:09 am »

I have a need to share model searches so I can put a link on a diagram when double clicked displays a list of objects kind of like a catalogue. I managed to get this working from my login but my colleagues using other login accounts can't see the same searches. We are using Sparx EA V13 with SQL Server repository.
Is there anyway I can share searches so my colleagues can get the list of objects too?
Does anyone know where these searches are stored?

10

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / MDG Migration

« on: June 22, 2016, 01:19:27 pm »

I need to migrate packages, elements and diagrams of an existing model created using one MDG technology to another MDG. Worked out all the mappings etc and managed to convert element and package stereotypes using JScript but having difficulty with diagram types.

The MDG Technology diagram type seems to be stored in t_diagram.StyleEx ="... MDGDgm=MDG Diagrams::DiagramType;..."
So initially I tried reading diagram.StyleEx in Jscript then converting to string, doing a replace the storing back into diagram.StyleEx followed by diagram.Update(). The styleEx was changed but after the update() call it reverts back. The update method returns True indicating success so no errors reported.
The code looks something like this

Code: [Select]

...
        var currentDiagram as EA.Diagram;
        currentDiagram = diagramEnumerator.item();
var style = String(currentDiagram.StyleEx);
style= style.replace("MDGDgm=Old MDG Diagrams::Old Diagram;","MDGDgm=New MDG Diagrams::New Diagram;");
currentDiagram.StyleEx=style; //Updates StyleEx ok to "MDGDgm=New MDG Diagrams::New Diagram;"
currentDiagram.Update(); // Reverts back to "MDGDgm=Old MDG Diagrams::Old Diagram;"
...

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated coz I'm stumped.

11

Automation Interface, Add-Ins and Tools / Mass Conversion of Classes to Packages

« on: April 27, 2016, 11:00:33 am »

Problem:
I've received a model which has lots of classes nested within each other. Upon review I realise these should have been modelled as packages. There are a few hundred of these classes that should have been packages. For each layer of nesting there is a diagram showing an overview of the classes for the next level down. There are about 40 diagrams.

Outcome:
I'd like to convert the classes to packages preserving the hierarchy and the diagrams.

Tried:
Exporting CSV and search and replace from class to package on Type column followed by import. Result was creating of packages but left original classes which were in diagrams. Nearly there but not quite.

Has anyone done this before and if so how?
If not any ideas - looking for inspiration

12

Suggestions and Requests / Alternative deployment of image library

« on: November 11, 2014, 06:53:31 am »

It would be good to deploy the image library as an MDG as part of the build like BPMN,Archimate etc. The advantage is that you don't have to download it separately and its available in any model when its enabled. Saves having to import into the model too.
I've found over the last few years I've been in several organisations and they all want to access the image library without having to import it so that's the solution I came up with. Seems to work well for the user base.

13

Suggestions and Requests / Merge components

« on: October 31, 2014, 01:34:01 pm »

One of the common problem when modelling with a team of many people is that two people sometimes create the same object. It would be a really great feature to be able to merge objects. Something like dragging an object with the ctrl or shft key pressed in the project browser and dropping it onto the another of the same type. A dialog would pop up saying do you want to merge with options of overwrite target or source (for properties and tag values). Sparx EA would then merge the two objects into one, replacing the instances in diagrams and combining relationships with other objects.
This would facilitate rationalisation of objects when working large teams.

14

Suggestions and Requests / Alternative Images

« on: March 30, 2011, 01:53:40 pm »

It would be great if when using notations like ArchiMate to be able to create a diagram with alternative images using the same elements.The current behaviour of EA is to disable alternative images when there is a shape script defined for the stereotype.

The reason for this feature in case you were wondering is that I have two types of audience for my diagrams. The IT Staff who can understand ArchiMate and the business such as CIO, CFO, CEO and their persective teams who prefer graphics. Ideally I would like to create the model using Archimate and create some informal views using the same elements for the business but with graphics representing the elements instead of the formal Archimate Notation.  

I would be interested to know if anyone else would like that feature.

15

General Board / New Image Library?

« on: April 24, 2014, 08:08:02 am »

I watched the webinar the other week showing the new features of Sparx Enterprise Architect V11 and in that I thought I saw a casual reference to a new image library. The webinar isn't available at present to double check so I thought I would ask on the forum. Now that V11 has been released I can't see anything about a new image library. Did I imagine it or is there a new image library on the way?