No Installation Addins in EA. A deep dive into Model Add-ins

By Arshad Ahamed Sparx EA Consultant, specialised in Extending and customizing Sparx EA

Model Add-ins is a recent addition to Sparx Features. These add-ins are more flexible and easier to configure. Distributing model add-ins across the team has been made simpler as everything is modelled and created directly in a repository.
Learn How to create and work with the model-based add-ins in a Sparx EA Repository.

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Questions and Answers

How to protect the packages related to model add-ins from incidental updating or deletion by non-authorized users?

You can lock it will EA default securities setting like applying some locks to the package.
There is also an option will be to keep the packages related to model-add-in definition in a separate model (accessible only by Admins), pretty much how we with MDG definition. A more advanced option will be to use the 'Row-Level' security.

How do you create custom context dialog? (Component)

I used EA's default API (AddPropertiesTab) to but the dock-able window and the contents in that window are built thorough some standard XML formats suggested by Sparx. No custom dialogs.

I've managed to create a really simple add-in: Display the name of the diagram when it's closed. It took me three goes (I use JScript rather than JavaScript), so I had to disable and re-enable the add-in three times. What workflow would you recommend for developing add-ins? I am thinking that it might best to get code snippets working in the EA Script editor and then cut and paste into the appropriate Add-in operation or behaviour.

Yes, if we are going to handle more complex logics in the scripts, we might require breakpoint in debugging. In that case i would suggest to use the EA script editor and then get it into Behavior editor.

Limitations statements were useful. Can the Add-in's communicate with a separate executable?

Yes, it is possible. Please refer the attached image, I have executed notepad from model add-ins.

Can an add-in be shared with users through an MDG? I'm thinking through including in a Model Pattern (wizard) that would add the element to their repository.

Yes, if the complete XMI of the core element is configured in the MDG as patterns then it is possible. References which i used is

All these events can be used in model add-ins
https://sparxsystems.com/resources/user-guides/automation/enterprise-architect-add-in-model.pdf
Reception Properties
https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.0/model_domains/properties_window_for_receptions.html

In the latest version of EA , some improvements related to model add-ins has been included like improved behavior editor , direct reloading option etc.