Notes input to describe database format issue

[Wolf K]

I am using EA to document my database dictionary.  The output for my customer is a generated RTF document.  In order to add sufficient field descriptions I use the 'Notes' field for the field element.  However, the format options are not really sufficient to document a field properly.  For example: I try to copy and paste a small table into the notes field (from Word) and all formatting is immediately lost.  Is there a way to have EA support better formatted notes?

[skiwi]

I wish
and good luck with that (see Memo tags allow rich text please )

At a minimum please submit a feature request

[Eve]

The recommendation is to use a linked document if you want tables as part of your notes.

[Wolf K]

I don't understand this suggestion.  I have about 100-150 feature classes and tables in my model with at least (estimate) 10+ attributes (columns) for each.  I want to print out a data dictionary for my customer and I in the data dictionary I want to show in the 'notes' column my 'formatted' explanation for that field.  You are suggesting that I add a 'linked' document, I am not sure how that would help me.  In essence I am writing my data dictionary now outside EA.  I thought EA would allow me to single source my efforts.

[qwerty]

Actually that is exactly what Simon suggests. You may consider to use automation to create the linked documents.

q.

[Mauricio Moya (Arquesoft)]

But linked documents exist per class/table (element), not per attribute/colum as required in this case.

[qwerty]

But linked documents exist per class/table (element), not per attribute/colum as required in this case.

Sure. So you have to create a more (or less) complex document inside the class which knows about the contained attributes. We all know it's crap but you likely can't hope for a meaningful solution in time.

q.

[Wolf K]

This is getting pretty complicated for a relatively simple task.  It looks like I am back to maintaining a separate data dictionary in word.  Unfortunately my customer insists that I add various business rules that affect most columns to the data dictionary, and the notepad style formatting supported by EA is not sufficient for this task.

[skiwi]

Woolf, get yourself and 100 of your friends, and all the EA trainers you know to each submit a feature request. You might get it by christmas, especially if your 100 friends are all EA trainers.