MDGs the Next Steps

By Phil Chudley Dunstan Thomas Consulting

Assuming you have a basic MDG, we can up the ante and add some extra features to the MDG to really make it sing.

In this session I will cover

Speeding up the process of Generating the MDG using a script (which I will make available for attendees can download)
Deploying an MDG via Import to Model
The basics of shapescripts and common reasons as to why you might want to use a Shapescript in an MDG
Creating and including Patterns in an MDG
How to create a Model Wizard and incorporate the Wizard into the MDG
Including other artefacts such as Documentation Templates, Model Searches and Scripts

Session Recording

Downloads

Script to generate an MDG - Import to your repository as Reference Data (xml)

Questions and Answers

Is it possible to access/test inherited tags within a shape script?

yes, it should be possible since the tag name would be same in the sub class

MDGs the Next Steps Last year I had problems finding the recording. Culd you point me at last year's session as well as of course this year's?

I believe sparx india will post all the recordings in the Sparx EA Forum ... at least that�s

Great presentation - I learned some new hacks. How about addind "New version number" to your MDG generation script?

I have that on my TO DO list if I can can find a way to update the MTS file within the script. I believe I can with some XML processing

Will shapescripts be carried over to Prolaborate, and rendered the same way there?

Yes, as shapescripts affect the rendering of an element / connector on a diagram, the diagrams in Prolaborate should display the elements correctly using their shapescript.

BTW I once got a summer student to create industry-standard icons using shape scripts - we were able to publish the model diagrams directly from EA. An excellent, but under-used MDG tool.

Cool ... there is a feature in the shapescript that allows an image to be overlayed onto the element

I use this in my MDG development process, and sometimes want to identify which version of a script is loaded in a particular EA instance. How can you show the current version in the EA GUI? Thanks

That's a good question ... I know the version number is in the MDG XML file, but it's not displayed in the repository resources .... the only way I know is to use the Specilaize Ribbon -> Manage Tech and in the dialog scroll down to your MDG and in the display it will show the version

Shape script trick: IMHO, why muck around with the browser and copy-paste in the GUI, when you can write a script smile?

Indeed, I used this trick to discover how certain shapes were implemented by Sparx Systems .... for example the Cog Wheels in a BPMN Task element
MDGs the Next Steps:
You may be interested in this, if you have not found it also:
https://github.com/GeertBellekens/Enterprise-Architect-Shapescript-Library

Speaker Bio

Phil Chudley

Principle Consultant and Sparx EA Expert

I have been using EA for 15 years and no specialise in Scripting, MDG development and Publishing Models