Getting Started with Enterprise Architect
Gerald R. Gray, PhD
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Disclaimer
• Not a celebrity spokes model
• Not a SparxSystems representative
Agenda
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EA Strengths/Weaknesses
Pre-requisites
Access
Setup & Configuration
Creating common OpenSG diagrams
Model Baselines
EA Uses and Benefits
• Supports IT system, software, and business processes
• Model, design, build, and test software
• Uses standard Unified Modeling Language (UML)
• Central repository for process and IT system information
• Interfaces with version control e.g. Subversion
• Fast, built-in or custom document generation & HTML
EA Weaknesses
• May be a poor choice for complex system diagrams
– Visio is “prettier”
– PowerPoint also an option
• Complex User Interface
– Extensive feature set may lead to confusion
– Time saving “tricks” difficult to learn
• Diagrams not useful if team doesn’t see value
– UML/BPM may be used currently at their site
– Some users intimidated by tool
Pre-requisites
• Sparx Enterprise Architect
– http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/
– $135 - $699 depending on version
• Subversion
– Command-line client (required)
• http://www.open.collab.net/downloads/subversion/
– TortoiseSVN (optional)
• http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads
Repository Access
• UCAIUG Microsoft SharePoint credentials
• Added to the Source Code Access group in the
UCAIUG SharePoint user management (Tony
Adams, Kay Clinard)
• Coordinate with the appropriate team, ie.,
OpenADE, OpenADR, OpenAMIENT
• Subversion can be used locally
Installation
• Install
– Enterprise Architect (v7.5 or greater)
– Subversion command-line client
• http://www.collab.net/downloads/subversion/
– TortoiseSVN (Windows)
• http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads
Working Directory Creation
• C:\OpenSG\Test\Working
– In Windows Explorer, right-click on
folder
• Using TortoiseSVN repo browse to:
– http://svn.ucaiug.org/svn/cimugrepo
• Enter credentials if prompted
• Right-click on folder in left-hand
panel
• Select Export… to directory created
above
EA Configuration
• Start Enterprise Architect
• Open the project
• From main menu select
– Project Version Control Version Control
Settings…
EA Configuration
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Create a unique name
Select type: Subversion
Point to working directory
Subversion exe path should prepopulate
– Click Save
EA Configuration
• Right-click on Package
• Select Package Control
• Select Add Branch to
Version Control…
• The key icon is added to
each package under
version control
Common OpenSG Diagrams
• Use Case
• Business Process (Activity)
– Integration Requirements
• Sequence Diagram
Adding a Use Case
• Project Browser
– New Package – grouping of diagrams
– Add new diagram: Use Case
– In the workspace add
• Actors, cases, associations
– Save changes, check-in package
Adding a Business Process
• Project Browser
– Add new diagram: Activity
– Open workspace, right-click for Swimlanes and
Matrix…
– Add swimlanes
– Add Activity and flows
Integrations Requirements
• Addition to the Activity diagram
– Typically a hand-off from the business user to the
architect/software
– Object flow between two activities, spanning actors
(swimlanes), between two systems
– Add requirement
– Right-click properties
• Type dropdown: Add Integration
– Change node to identify service name
Adding Sequence Diagram
• Project Browser
– Add diagram: sequence
– Open workspace
– Add Actors
– Add flows (asynchronous)
– Add returns (“Is Return” checkbox)
Manage Baselines
• Internal “version control”
– Can be used in conjunction with DBMS
– Corporate version required*
• Baseline can be added to each package
• Complements import/export of XMI
– Import XMI replaces everything in a target package
– Can be compared to XMI to replace only desired changes
Reference
• EA Free Trial
– http://www.sparxsystems.com/products/ea/trial.html
• Subversion Documentation
– http://svnbook.red-bean.com/en/1.5/index.html
• EA Tutorials and Online Help
– http://www.sparxsystems.com/resources/index.html
• Test Repository
– http://svn.ucaiug.org/svn/TestRepos/
Contact
Gerald R. Gray, PhD
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
ggray@epri.com