Newbie Help : Multiple Projects Best Practice

[theArchitect]

Hi,

I'm presently looking at EA for our corporation. However, I'm having difficulty in understanding how I would setup EA so multiple users can have access to various projects.

If I have 2 projects and a DBMS repository; would I basically create under the root Model a new node for each project? And create the appropriate diagrams underneath the projects node?

Such that when a developer connected to the server (through EA) they would see ALL projects shown under the root node in the Project Browser within EA?

If this is correct; could someone confirm? I'm assuming a New Model (root Node) would be used for each project root?

What would the best practice be say to ensure a use case for a specific piece of functionality could be copied between projects? Is it just a cut and paste operation?

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks

[theArchitect]

To expand on what I mean; for the 2 projects I mentioned in my previous post would I have the following hierarchy configured as seen in the Project Browser window?

Project A (which is a new model, root node)
 --New View (e.g. Simple)
   --New Diagram, Element or Package as appropriate
Project B (which is a new model, root node)
 --New View
   --New Diagram, Element or Package as appropriate
 --New View
   --New Diagram, Element or Package as appropriate

I'm assuming that if this is saved to the DBMS repository; all developes using that repository will see the entire hierarchy.

To prevent updates by anyone; I can then add user security to the appropriate packages/models?

Thanks

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Use of search should reveal some possible solutions...  Or at least start you thinking about multi-project issues.

Paolo

[dcstewart]

I am struggling with the same issues in setting up a repository.

The way it seems to be working is that you have a database per EA project or lump all your projects into a single solution (not effective).

If I have a single DB for each project, then I can't leverage common components, resources, people, etc across all of my projects without setting it all up again.

Is there documentation on setting the repository up? I have found the doc on the mechanics (SQL scripts, etc), but not from a process/best practice perspective.

Thanks.

DS

[theArchitect]

That's the way I understand the repositories working; which for me means setting up a single database and having all projects within that database.

Could someone confirm whether this is correct and the way the respository has to be configured?

Thanks

[dcstewart]

Is this forum monitored by EA?

or if Paolo F Cantoni, EA Guru, works for EA, then I think we need more than Zen/Fortune Cookie answers like the one posted.

======================================================
Use of search should reveal some possible solutions...  O at least start you thinking about multi-project issues.
======================================================

While this is deep and mystic, it still leaves the post unaddressed.

DS

[mikewhit]

There are many useful posts in the forum and I imagine Paolo (who does not work for Sparx - those people have a different sidebar logo) is aware of their existence but would rather you looked for them than he searched for them and then posted links to the pages.

A common pattern is for a posting (sometimes containing the word 'newbie' in the Subject line) to pose a question that people who frequent the forum know has an answer within past postings. It is clear that the poster has not searched the forum.

Use the search page with some appropriate search keywords and specify days = 99999, it is highly unlikely that your enquiry has not been addressed previously, particularly from a new user. (Especially the one about the red triangle on a diagram!)

In fact maybe someone should suggest to Sparx that any posting containing such a Subject line be automatically translated into a Search request

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Is this forum monitored by EA?

or if Paolo F Cantoni, EA Guru, works for EA, then I think we need more than Zen/Fortune Cookie answers like the one posted.

======================================================
Use of search should reveal some possible solutions...  O at least start you thinking about multi-project issues.
======================================================

While this is deep and mystic, it still leaves the post unaddressed.

DS

I like fortune cookies and if you use EA for a significant period, you'll need zen-like patience and equanimity.

It is instructive that the Sparxian also felt a search would be of use - since they didn't reply either.

Mutli-project (whatever that may mean in any given context - as Project is probably them most abused term in EA, with at least three different and sometimes overlapping meaning) management with EA (or any modelling tool) is non-trivial and very context specific.

Use search and then elaborate if any of the existing answers don't help.

If no one is around when a menu item falls, does it make a sound?
Paolo

[«Midnight»]

If no one is around when a menu item falls, does it make a sound?

Generally not Paolo. Most menu items only drop down a ways.

David

[dcstewart]

I guess my asumption (maybe bad) is that most have already searched before posting. I have searched and searched and searched. Not only the forum but all the white papers and documentation. Now I will set things up the best way I see and change it (if possible) when (If) I learn more and better.

I mean no offense, but answering a post with "go fish" (meaning use the search) is not worth the effort and is not productive. We are all professionals that know how to use forums and searches. I did all of that before replying to theArchitect's post, that's how I found theArchitects post that I added my comments to.

There is a lot of information in this forum and a lot of great people who create the content. I look forward to finding my answers here in the future.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

I guess my assumption (maybe bad) is that most have already searched before posting.

Our long-term experience is that this is NOT often the case.

I have searched and searched and searched. Not only the forum but all the white papers and documentation.

There is considerable evidence that the search function is no longer working.  It took me 5 attempts to find the relevant post (see below) - and I KNEW it was in there since I posted it!

Now I will set things up the best way I see and change it (if possible) when (If) I learn more and better.

NO, you can propose a set-up and we can comment if you wish.  The point is, we need to know if you have searched - because you MAY find a suitable mechanism.

I mean no offense, but answering a post with "go fish" (meaning use the search) is not worth the effort and is not productive. We are all professionals that know how to use forums and searches.

The overall evidence is to the contrary (using foirmus and searches - can't comment on professionalism). And in any event, as with all of EA the interface to this BB is somewhat unique and I've alluded to the fact that the search function may be breaking down.

I did all of that before replying to theArchitect's post, that's how I found theArchitects post that I added my comments to.

We're not to know that...

There is a lot of information in this forum and a lot of great people who create the content. I look forward to finding my answers here in the future.

See if this mechanism is helpful [size=13]Get package ends with: root import package already[/size] - sorry for the funny title, but it wasn't my original post.

BTW the search string was "All Some Repository" search for items posted by PaoloFCantoni - NOT what you would have used.  But then, I knew those words were in the posting!

I guess part of the problem was that we long-termers KNEW the information is in the forum, but since we've never gone looking for it it isn't obvious to us that it's not so easily locatable.

Paolo

[Eric Johannsen]

Whether you want one large repository for all of your projects or one repository per project boils down to two basics:

• Operational Considerations
  
• Traceability
  

Operational Considerations

• Do I want all users to be able to view stuff from all projects?  Are there IPR/security issues?
  
• How much work will it be to maintain multiple repositories?  Database backup effort?  Uptime considerations?
  
• Are there geographical issues?  Will people access the repository(ies) from around the world?  Will all people access the same projects
  

Traceability Considerations
Traceability is perhaps the most powerful feature of EA.  If things from your different projects relate to each other (perhaps a common set of shared use cases, common requirements that the projects work together to realize, etc) you can only get satisfactory traceability by placing the projects in the same repository.

Eric Johannsen
http://www.canoniccorp.com