Need a link/path to an EA diagram so I can open the diagram@model from MS Word

[avi10000]

Hi,
I want to be able to obtain a link/path to an EA element or diagram and save it an external file, e.g., Word file that I am also working with,...

... such that I can click the link in Word so it opens the EA app and puts focus on the specified element in the Project Browser and/or opens the specified diagram.

I have heard there is a way to create "shortcut files". What are these and will they help me for my need?

Thanks
Avi

[shimon]

Hi,
Open the diagram (or diagrams) that you want opened when opening the shortcut. Click on the EA Icon in the upper left corner of the Ribbon and choose save as shortcut. A dialog box will open, giving you the option of naming the file and choosing which diagram you want to open.
You can put this link into a Word ( to Powerpoint) document.
Hope this helps,
Shimon

[qwerty]

While the above will work it will also mess up your file system. I once used the diagram guid and an add-in to navigate. It' not a one, but two click solution, but worked well enough (given that you are working in a single repository - mainly).

q.

[avi10000]

Thanks to shimon, querty for the answers.

> While the above will work it will also mess up your file system.
Symptoms?
Messes up the system 100% every time? Or is there a failure rate?

shimon, you have any comment on the above experience?

[avi10000]

>  I once used the diagram guid and an add-in to navigate.

Can you recommend a good add-in for this ?

(I remember that years ago I was an ardent use of a certain windows-os control & catch tool. For some reason I stopped using or needing it and no longer remember it's name.)

Edited:
reworded "use" to "user"

[avi10000]

Is this an EA add-on?

(Wrt to a Windows utility I'm not at all sure that my company IT will like anybody installing such a utility.)

Edit:
Fixed grammar

[Geert Bellekens]

My EA Navigator has a "navigate to guid" feature. https://bellekens.com/ea-navigator/

Geert

[shimon]

Thanks to shimon, querty for the answers.

> While the above will work it will also mess up your file system.
Symptoms?
Messes up the system 100% every time? Or is there a failure rate?

shimon, you have any comment on the above experience?

Hi,
I agree that my solution means having EA shortcuts in a path that is accessible to all people expected to use this Word file. It also implies that all these people have EA installed ( this can also be called messing up your Windows environment).
In my experience, there are many external files used, produced by or referenced by the EA model. Therefore it makes sense to have a structured directory on a File server ( or whatever means you are using for sharing files) for the purpose of EA. In this case you are not messing anything up on your file system, but are using it sensibly.
If by chance you take the route of having everything stored in the EA repository (embedded Word, Excel and PowerPoint files) I definitely would not suggest messing up your file system with shortcut files that may be deleted or moved.
Sincerely,
Shimon

[qwerty]

Basically my solution worked like Geert's add-in, but it was specially made for guid navigation (it could open anything in EA from a guid but you had to have open the very model). This worked well and I would recommend the approach.
Regarding messing up: you will have a file for each link you need. Just count the links you need and you will know when it becomes messy.

q.

[avi10000]

My EA Navigator has a "navigate to guid" feature. https://bellekens.com/ea-navigator/

Thanks