UML & SysML modelling languages

eaUtils 1.13.3 (build 1710-4) addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect has been released this month with the following enhancements:

• Reduced the number of menus:
  • sort elements in a package or element: moved each option (sort by alias, tagged values, stereotype, name) to a drop down list,
  • sort elements or generate aliases according to the elements in a diagram: moved "top to bottom" and "left to right" options to a drop down list.
• Improved the settings window.
• Close Windows with the ESC key.
• Improved navigation between eaUtils windows and the settings window.
• New Portable Installation edition when Windows admin rights are not granted.

eaUtils 1.13.3 is available to download from eaUtils.com.

eaUtils 1.12 (build 1612-4) addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect has been released today (10/03/2017) with the following enhancements:

• Added a sort by modified or created date on diagrams within a package or composite element
• Generate Alias: added an option to generate the alias for elements matching a single, selected stereotype. This can be useful e.g. for Archimate diagrams. This may be coupled with the object type restriction.
• Improved locking control rules (element locks with or without security)
• New sorting option: Sort numbering sequences including prefixes (e.g. REQ-1.1, REQ-1.2, REQ-1.10, REQ-1.15, REQ-2.0, REQ-2.1...) (asked by pli)
• Package Tree Sorting popup window not closed when do ne to allow reviewing processed packages.

eaUtils sorting features update the elements tree position from a package or element. Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect applies a default sorting order based on the name of the elements. However to achieve a better management and more efficient use of the elements from within the Enterprise Architect project browser, it can be useful to have alternative and enhanced sorting options e.g. based on the alias, stereotype, tagged value, or according to the layout in a diagram.

This article illustrates a new feature introduced in eaUtils 1.11: sort elements within a package tree, using one of the available options (alias, stereotype, name, tagged value). Further information on all eaUtils sorting features are available from eaUtils Help.

eaUtils 1.11 (build 1601-3) addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect has been released today (27/02/2016) with the following enhancements:

• New option to sort elements in a package tree: when enabled eaUtils lets you select the packages within the tree to process (see screenshot below).

• Custom Tagged Value support in eaUtils Sort By settings (when a different Tagged Value from the predefined eaUtils BrowserOrder needs to be used).
• Improved popup windows with including a summary of the current settings and a status box (see below).

• New Generate Alias option to increment the starting number.
• Improved Security Lock controls.
• Bug fixes: removed packages from the diagram sorting, renamed Trailing zeros with Leading zeros.
• Improved Breadcrumb: prevent creating a hyperlink on the diagram itself.

eaUtils demonstrates how Sparx EA API makes it possible to implement additional features via a custom addin - extension. If you have any need related with the implementation of an addin for Enterprise Architect, please feel free to contact me via email (guillaume[at]umlchannel.com).

eaUtils 1.11 is available to download from eaUtils.com.

The first official release of eaUtils 1.10 addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect is available!

This free add-in provides a number of features to help in the daily use of Sparx Enterprise Architect. The current version includes features to sort elements from EA Project Browser, generate elements alias with reference values according to their order in a diagram, and generate a "breadcrumb trail navigation" on a diagram.

eaUtils demonstrates how Sparx EA API enables customisation or achieving new features via add-ins, scripts, MDG, and UML profiles.

If you have any need related to the implementation an add-in for Enterprise Architect, please feel free to contact me via email (guillaume[at]umlchannel.com). 

16/12/2015 - version 1.10 (release 1511-7)

• Sort elements from a selected package or composite element...
  • by Alias
  • by the Tagged Value “BrowserOrder”
  • by Stereotype
  • by Name
• Apply the default sorting order on a selected package or element
• Sorting feature settings: enable case sensitive and extract integer from string values
• Sort a package elements by the order displayed from top to bottom, or from left to right, on a diagram selected from the project browser (optional: ignore external elements)
• Generate elements alias values according to their order in a diagram (top to bottom, or left to right)
• Generate the breadcrumb trail on a diagram selected from the project browser
• Update eaUtils settings
• Check for update
• About eaUtils dialog window
• Open the online help section

eaUtils 1.10 is available to download from eaUtils.com.

This is the second review of the newly released eaUtils addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect, following the breadcrumb trail feature review. The covered eaUtils feature aims at generating alias values on elements in a diagram, according to their position from top to bottom, or from left to right. eaUtils also provides an option to clear the alias from all package elements displayed in a diagram.

eaUtils help section examples have been re-used here.

Navigating between a large number of opened diagrams within a Sparx Enterprise Architect modelling project can be cumbersome. When a composite element such as an activity, use case, or BPMN2 subprocess is opened, going back to the initial diagram is not easily supported in Sparx EA. This issue is not only valid when one uses Sparx EA tool, but also when an HTML export is used via a web browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, IE).

A workaround involves creating a diagram hyperlink back to each associated or linking diagram; eaUtils addin provides a Breadcrumb Trail feature that automatically generates all possible hyperlinks within an active diagram.

In the example below, a BPMN2 process has been defined via a composite BPMN diagram:

This article illustrates the use of eaUtils Breadcrumb trail feature to generate a link back. Note: this feature makes even more sense when multiple hyperlinks are created, so the user doesn't have to look up for each linking diagrams.

I started several months ago a personal project with the aim to release a free to use addin for Sparx Enterprise Architect: eaUtils. This add-in is intended to gather features that have addressed a number of situations I came across over the past years in my daily use of Sparx EA.

Most eaUtils features come from scripts that were initially written in Enterprise Architect. Some of these scripts have been shared via articles published on this blog, and improved since in this add-in. eaUtils was launched with the aim to gather all scripts in a Sparx Enterprise Enterprise Architect add’in for maintenance, installation, and diffusion purposes.

eaUtils version 1.05 features (beta 3 - release 1511-5):

• Sort elements from a selected package or composite element...
  • by Alias
  • by the Tagged Value “BrowserOrder”
  • by Stereotype
  • by Name
• Apply the default sorting order on a selected package or element
• Sort a package elements by the order displayed from top to bottom, or from left to right, on a diagram selected from the project browser (optional: ignore external elements)
• Generate the breadcrumb trail on a diagram selected from the project browser
• Update eaUtils settings
• About eaUtils dialog window
• Open the online help section

eaUtils Beta 3 is available to download from eaUtils.com.