Enterprise Architect: Which licence?

[cojak]

Visio makes fantastic diagrams but it is in no way a modelling tool. EA makes nice diagrams look awful but the logic and the rules engines are second to none. The best part about it is the plugin that you can buy to auto generate bullsh!t (sorry I meant architecture documents )

But you still need to know how to write good requirements and design good processes etc. Otherwise it's a good turd-polishing tool.

[bobspud]

Yes, I just realised you weren't talking about visual studio when I googled it. I have installed it so I will have a look tomorrow as I'm currently in visio hell.

Visio makes fantastic diagrams but it is in no way a modelling tool. EA makes nice diagrams look awful but the logic and the rules engines are second to none. The best part about it is the plugin that you can buy to auto generate bullsh!t (sorry I meant architecture documents )

[doodab]

You can get a 30 day trial doodab.

Yes, I just realised you weren't talking about visual studio when I googled it. I have installed it so I will have a look tomorrow as I'm currently in visio hell.

[cojak]

Sounds quite handy. Can I get an evaluation or does it come as part of action pack?

You can get a 30 day trial doodab.

[doodab]

Sounds quite handy. Can I get an evaluation or does it come as part of action pack?

[yasockie]

Thanks Geoffery, I'll just stick with the Desktop/Professional decision.

@yasockie.

I work on requirements, processes and data models. A repository allows me to enter the base information before I layer it with relationships, sequences etc.

I can use this then to model different business scenarios, look at the same data from different perspectives and make very quick changes without having the pain of updating various diagrams just because the client wanted to change the name of a report, or the priority of a requirement.

For example I can create a requirement list like a spreadsheet, but on command can convert the list into a relationship diagram. If I like the look of it on another command I can generate a rather impressive requirements report that will wow the client. And that's not talking about the relationships to other domains that I need to look at.

And as for process modeling, with I can use EA for BPMN, UML or Archimate (and several others I haven't bothered with), at the moment the client is using 1990's swimlanes, but I intend subverting that by using BPMN with them.

I'm not a whizzy Visio user but I view it as just a virtual pen and paper.

PS. Aris is a pile of poo in comparison.

Thanks for taking the time to explain that - I have to do all that too, except as you say, with Excel and Visio (or any other proprietary tool) it's not as nicely integrated as you just described and it is indeed a major pain to ensure that all changes are consistently reflected in all the places. Downloading the trial now

[cojak]

Ta Suity, Pro it is then.

[suityou01]

Thanks Geoffery, I'll just stick with the Desktop/Professional decision.

@yasockie.

I work on requirements, processes and data models. A repository allows me to enter the base information before I layer it with relationships, sequences etc.

I can use this then to model different business scenarios, look at the same data from different perspectives and make very quick changes without having the pain of updating various diagrams just because the client wanted to change the name of a report, or the priority of a requirement.

For example I can create a requirement list like a spreadsheet, but on command can convert the list into a relationship diagram. If I like the look of it on another command I can generate a rather impressive requirements report that will wow the client. And that's not talking about the relationships to other domains that I need to look at.

And as for process modeling, with I can use EA for BPMN, UML or Archimate (and several others I haven't bothered with), at the moment the client is using 1990's swimlanes, but I intend subverting that by using BPMN with them.

I'm not a whizzy Visio user but I view it as just a virtual pen and paper.

PS. Aris is a pile of poo in comparison.

Suity Ltd uses Professional edition. Most process simulators are not worth the hassle. For the £180 I paid this is an awful lot of tool for the money, even if the underlying "database" is Microsoft Access.

I can do data modelling, object modelling, bpm, data flows, state diags, sequence diags etc etc

Pro is all you need.

[cojak]

Thanks Geoffery, I'll just stick with the Desktop/Professional decision.

@yasockie.

I work on requirements, processes and data models. A repository allows me to enter the base information before I layer it with relationships, sequences etc.

I can use this then to model different business scenarios, look at the same data from different perspectives and make very quick changes without having the pain of updating various diagrams just because the client wanted to change the name of a report, or the priority of a requirement.

For example I can create a requirement list like a spreadsheet, but on command can convert the list into a relationship diagram. If I like the look of it on another command I can generate a rather impressive requirements report that will wow the client. And that's not talking about the relationships to other domains that I need to look at.

And as for process modeling, with I can use EA for BPMN, UML or Archimate (and several others I haven't bothered with), at the moment the client is using 1990's swimlanes, but I intend subverting that by using BPMN with them.

I'm not a whizzy Visio user but I view it as just a virtual pen and paper.

PS. Aris is a pile of poo in comparison.

[yasockie]

And as for visio as an alternative - EA is a modelling tool with an underlying repository and I always use it on client sites to support the work I do.

An honest question from me as I do quite a bit of modeling of various domains and processes too and I haven't had the change to try EA, instead I am stuck with another proprietary tool which in my case gets in the way more than it helps (too much focus on RDBMS modeling)
The integrated repository is I guess some small advantage for you, but what is it that it makes it such a valuable tool to you guys?
Is it the ability to preserve the mapping from requirements through the diagrams all the way to the code/deployment or something in that area?
In your business areas do you need to stick to some formal requirements, for example you have to use BPMN or UML notation?

[geoffreywhereveryoumaybe]

I wouldn't bother with the Business and Software Engineering Edition - the professional edition will support any modelling that you need to do. Have used similar tools with process simulators but never had a need to use them in earnest.

And as for visio as an alternative - EA is a modelling tool with an underlying repository and I always use it on client sites to support the work I do.

[cojak]

I use it to analyse businesses, diagrams are just a representation of that analysis.

[yasockie]

Do you just use it to draw diagrams?
If so what's wrong with Visio?

[cojak]

Well my trial period has run out but I like it enough for my company to buy the Desktop licence.

Before I do, I'd like to know if any BA's out there have forked out for the Business and Software Engineering Edition? Have you used the process simulators or are they like Aris; too complex to bother with?