Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect 15.2 Full Lifecycle Modeling and Design

Enterprise Architect Modeling and Design Tool Suite ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT 15.2

A new and significant release of Enterprise Architect which vastly expands the collaborative and mathematical capabilities of the tool, while streamlining and expanding many of the core modeling features. 

Work Together

When you are Far Apart
Read More...

Explore & Visualize

Fast & Accurate Modeling at your Fingertips
Read More ...

Simulate with Precision

Mathematical Tools & Integrations for Systems Engineers
Read More...
Download  Download Enterprise Architect 15.2
Registered users have immediate access to the EA15.2 installer


Trial Download  Download the Enterprise Architect 15.2 Trial
A fully functional 30 Day trial to kick-off your modeling


Working Together 'In the Model'

Seamless In-Model Collaboration

Enterprise Architect's collaboration features have been significantly improved to connect team members and keep the iterative processes of modeling and design alive and healthy.

The chat / instant messaging capabilities are now expanded to allow one-on-one conversations with any other user in the model, facilitating an instant and productive "in model" dialog. Expanding on the group chat feature introduced in previous versions, the new one-on-one mode promotes highly focused discussions within the model and in real-time. 
  

Setting Up Notifications

An all new notification system for chats and monitored discussions allows you to quickly and easily see when a new chat or discussion comes in that is relevant to you. Setting the new ‘Support Collaboration’ property on diagrams enables elements to show a notification icon when new chats and discussions have occurred and you are monitoring them.

To make use of this new mode for model chats,
  • Set the "Support Collaboration" property on a diagram
  • Place an Actor Element onto that diagram to represent a team member 
  • Specify their user logon ID in the Alias field
  • Notification icons will now appear next to that Actor when you have an unread message from them
  • Select an Actor with a 'New Chat' notification on a diagram to open the chat window to that conversation
  • While the chat window is visible, the diagram selection and active chat are synchronized. 
Working together in the model

New Collaborations Window

Stay in touch with your team at every moment with centralized communication via the Collaborations window
Stay in Touch and Keep Informed

The new Collaborations window collects together the running history and moment to moment changes of the four central aspects of model based collaboration. Manage hundreds of ongoing discussions and jump to the related model element in a single click, to always have context when discussing your model or business solutions.

  • The Reviews tab provides access to recent and historical activity within either the current review you are joined to, or all reviews (filtered by time or status)
  • The Discussions window provides a  (possibly filtered) view of model based discussions, giving you an instant window into team discussions around particular model elements.
  • The Comments window provides a history of all elements that have Comments attached to them. Comments are a great way to informally note down requirements, concerns, delays, decisions and other material relevant to an element that does not form part of the actual model.
  • The Chat window is a running list of most recent messages in the chat groups and personal chats you have subscribed to.
  • The Mail window displays the internal mail system for Enterprise Architect's repository which allows users to send and receive mail messages.


Collaborations Window
Chat and Discuss Collaborate with team members Collaborate with team members

Explore and Visualize

All new tools for exploring your model, finding your work in progress and visualizing information
Version 15.2 introduces new windows, new behavior and improved ways of maximizing your modeling time.  New tools such as the Focus window take you back into the model and keep you in touch with recent developments. Old favorites such as the Element Browser have been given a fresh new look and location.

Highlights
  • A new Focus Window empowers your modeling
  • The Inspector window lets you get into the smallest details
  • Dynamic charts - A huge new Chart API and built in JavaScript support
  • Dashboard diagrams automatically lay out charts (and other elements) in a selectable grid
  • The Google and AWS icon libraries are updated
  • DMN sees some cool new features

Streamlined & Improved Reviews

A clearer, more intuitive interface for model based reviews
Improved Reviews User Interface and Functionality
An improved UI and Filtering

Reviews now have a cleaner user interface with extra filtering configurations. This allows you to pinpoint the desired review by its status, or show all reviews created, both current and past. The user interface has also been enhanced to easily identify reviews that have been locked but not approved by all approvers.

Reviews can now also be locked by a configurable Element Status. Locking removes the capability for a Review to be edited. This provides you with unprecedented control over a Review’s life-cycle. For example, you can lock all reviews with a status of 'Complete' or 'Reviewed' to preserve the decision making process for the current element for future reference. Reviews that have been locked by Element Status are easily identified by an '!' indicator on their icon.

To access the configuration for lock status see the Ribbon: 'Start | Configure | Model | Options | Review Status Locks'

Navigation of elements in a review has also been streamlined.
  • The Reviews view contains all the elements in the review, along with the Elements, Approvers and Review Topics.
  • Browsing the element list with the Collaborate window open, switches context selection in the Collaborate window to display the selected Review.
  • You can now filter the reviews using the context menu option 'Show by Status'.
  • The Review history has been moved into the Collaborations window
  • Use Approval filters in the Review History to determine approval state

Explore, Find, Trace and Revisit in Record Time

Power up model navigation and quickly find your work in progress
Focus Window: Find your special places, recent files, and favorite items
New 'Focus' Window

The Focus window is a new tool to help you rapidly move through the model and find the places and items you are searching for. Three tools that were previously scattered throughout EA, plus one new tool, provide a central and convenient toolset to help you achieve your goals.

Together these tools help you find your special places, recent files, and favorite items. Get back into the model in record time and stay in touch with recent developments.

What's in the 'Focus' Window
  1. The Model Views window. Create searches, pin favorites and navigate to the places that are important to you.
  2. The Working Sets window. Access working sets to define the layout of your work area.
  3. A new Quick Find window. Simple search capability that lets you find elements or diagrams in record time.
  4. The Recent window. Instant searches that let you see what has been changing in the model in recent history. Stay in touch with recent developments.
  5. The Revisit window. Open up that diagram, external file, document or window that you were working with in the recent past.


Deep Dive into an Element's Detailed Structure

A user friendly way to navigate the project browser while inspecting elements
New 'Inspector' Window

The new Inspector window takes the Element Browser window out of the Project Browser and puts it into its own dockable window. Now it is possible to navigate the model and view element details at the same time. Selecting an element in the Project or Context browser will now automatically load the Inspector window with the detailed structure for you to browse and further edit and explore.

The Trace Window.

A Traceability view has been added to the Inspector Window view to help navigate the dependencies and connections of a currently selected element. The Trace window combines with other capabilities within the Inspector window to provide a powerful means to explore and inspect.

Integrated with External Elements

The Element Browser and External Element Browser have also been combined into the new Inspector Window. This provides a user friendly way to navigate the project browser while inspecting element features.

When you select an External Element from another system that is linked into this model, you can see selected details from that element as well. You will only see the External Element browser when you are connected to an external source element from Data Integrations.

Where to Find It

The Inspector window can be accessed from the Ribbon menu: 'Start | Desktop | Design | Explore | Inspector'
Learn more...

Huge New Library of Scriptable Dynamic Charts

Exciting new API classes and functions allow you to select chart types, set data and configure styling
Enterprise Architect now ships with an all new JavaScript chart library that can be used to describe charts, their types, data and styling. This library can be called by an element with the SSDynamicChart stereotype and provides a chart that is filled via a script. Dynamic charts are refreshed whenever the diagram they are on is opened or refreshed, so the data is automatically up to date.
The new Behavior code editor view can be used to view and edit the script (Alt+7). This script will run automatically during diagram load to display the chart.

Streamline your Dynamic Chart creation
Streamline your chart creation via the included MDG Technology for Dynamic Charts. This technology includes the diagram type, accessible from the new diagram menu, plus a toolbox full of example charts to help you rapidly create your dashboards via drag and drop.
Learn more...
Dynamic charts from scripts and simulations
Dynamic charts from scripts and simulations

Elegant Dashboard Views

Dashboard Layout, two column fit width
Dashboard layout, one chart consuming entire view Dashboard layout, one column infinite scroll
Automatic sorting and layout of chart and graph elements

Create impressive reports or track KPIs, metrics and other key data points relevant to your business with the new Dashboard style for diagrams. Enable the option in the properties window and your charts and graphs will be automatically sorted and laid out based on your chosen layout style.

From one chart element to many, elements are automatically laid out to fill the entire viewing area.

There are multiple layouts to choose from - pick the best for your chart types.

Use a continuous style for a scrollable view showing a larger number of elements.

Chart positions can be manually dragged and dropped and will automatically snap into place with all other charts forming around it.
Learn more...

A full and updated implementation of the Google Icon Library

Leverage the Google Icon Library

The MDG Technology for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides all of the graphics (icons and images) necessary to model GCP architecture diagrams.

The icons and images are provided by a handy Model Wizard framework pattern.

The Google Web Images pattern contains over 250 Image Assets that can be dragged-and-dropped onto diagrams to create or expand your cloud architectures.
Learn more...
Google Icon Library

Leverage the Amazon AWS icon library in your models

AWS Icon Library
Model Amazon architectures with complete freedom of expression, using the new and improved MDG Technology for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Architecture, which provides all of the icons and images required to model AWS architecture diagrams.

The icons and images are provided by a handy Model Wizard framework pattern.

The Amazon/AWS Web Images pattern contains over 350 Image Assets that can be dragged-and-dropped onto diagrams and used to complete your architecture diagram and make your reports look professional, accurate and stunning.
Learn more...

Leverage the Azure icon library in your models

AWS Icon Library
Enterprise Architect now comes complete with a set of symbols/icons to visually represent features of and systems that use Microsoft Cloud and Artificial Intelligence technologies.

The icons and images are provided by a handy Model Wizard framework pattern.

The Azure Symbols/ Icons  can be dragged-and-dropped onto diagrams and used to complete your architecture diagram and make your reports look professional, accurate and stunning.

New Ways to View DMN Rules

Crosstab support for DMN decision tables (see DMN 1.2 Specification Figure 8.9 - 8.11):
The new crosstab DMN decision table layout supports selecting an input row to define the header for the CrossTab layout in the DMN expression window. There are additional new features for moving rows and merging cells in the decision table, as well as highlighting of the related entries when simulating. All providing more powerful options for laying out and simulating your DMN Expression.

Merged Input Cells in Decision Table improved:
  • New In-place editing of merged Decision Table cells
  • Merged Decision Table cells now highlighted when simulating
  • Decision Table display now uses a consistent column width when changing orientations
New ways to view DMN Rules

ArchiMate 3.1 Model Exchange File Format

Enterprise Architect now fully supports The Open Group's ArchiMate Model Exchange File Format. This standard defines a file format that can be used to exchange data between tools and/or systems that wish to import and export ArchiMate models.

ArchiMate Exchange Files enable exporting content from one ArchiMate modelling tool or repository and importing it into another while retaining information describing the model in the file and how it is structured, such as a list of model elements and relationships. 
Image description

Mathematical Tools for Simulation

Integrations, Solvers and new Tools to Expand your Simulations

Version 15.2 is a major upgrade for systems engineers, technical architects and others wishing to couple their modeling and simulation work in Enterprise Architect with MATLAB, Octave, Modelica and more. All new "Solver" classes and a hugely expanded maths library in the JavaScript engine provide a new and significantly expanded Simulation capability.
Mathematical Tools for Simulation

Its All About the Math

New Integrations and Solver classes.  An expanded Math library, new Dynamic Charts and much more.
Solver classes let you invoke arbitrary mathematical functions from MATLAB or Octave at run time using a simple structured Solver API. Now you can link these powerful mathematical tools directly into your running simulation.

Custom model export to MATLAB tools such as Simulink and Stateflow provide a platform for modeling and simulating advanced mathematical models and architectures.

Improvements to the OpenModelica integration and new ways of interfacing with GNU Octave further expand the options available to the Systems Engineer looking to take their active, state and parametric models to the next level.

The new Dynamic Chart library lets you tightly bind charts to simulations, letting you visualize aspects of your simulations behavior by using the JavaScript engine to collect simulation data and feed it into a Dynamic Chart.

The Cephes math library has been totally reworked inside our Javascript engine and is now available for you to use within Simulations or for any useful purpose within EA.

And to make it all a little easier, EA will now let you view and edit JavaScript code for every element on a Diagram in the built in code editor. Simply press Alt+7 on a diagram to see each element, and the operations and behaviors available to javaScript and callable during simulation.
MATLAB integration with Sparx Enterprise Architect

Solver classes in JavaScript provide rich access to different tools

Version 15.2 now supports a new JavaScript construct called "Solver". We have initially provided solvers for integration with MATLAB and Octave through the built in JavaScript engine. Referencing and invoking functions in these external tools is both simple and intuitive, providing instant access to the rich mathematical libraries and capabilities exposed. Being part of the JavaScript engine these Solver classes are also immediately accessible to Add-In writers creating model based JavaScript Add-Ins.
Simulation Solvers
The Solver class allows you to use the functionality of external tools to perform complex tasks within your simulation. Each one integrates with an external tool to allow easy use of the functionality within that tool. Interchange variables between JavaScript and each environment easily
 
MATLAB Solver:
  • Integrate directly with the MATLAB API to use any of its calculation or charting functions
Octave:
  • Octave provides an alternative to many MATLAB functions
  • Integrates with an Octave interpreter to use any Octave functions
Solvers in Enterprise Architect

Integrate with MATLAB in multiple ways

Millions of engineers and scientists worldwide use MATLAB to analyze and design the systems and products that are transforming our world.

Enterprise Architect's MATLAB integration connects via the MATLAB API allowing your Enterprise Architect simulations and other scripts to act based on the value of any available MATLAB functions/expressions. Call MATLAB through the Solver classes, or export your model to Simulink, Simscape and/or Stateflow.
MATLAB Integration

MATLAB Simulink for SysML Simulations

Enterprise Architect now integrates with Simulink

Using Enterprise Architect 15.2, you can now run SysML simulations in Simulink as well as Modelica.  Enterprise Architect will translate a SysML model into the Simulink format and automatically run the simulation, plotting the outputs of the selected variables. The generated Simulink file can also be opened directly in Simulink allowing modification and fine-tuning of the simulation settings and output functionality.
  • Drag-and-drop access to common built-in Simulink library blocks directly through new Enterprise Architect patterns or reference your own custom built blocks with new SysPhS standard stereotype parameters.
  • The Simscape extension to Simulink is also supported to model physical systems with physical flows, allowing access to Simscape's vast array of library blocks across many different physical domains.
  • State Machine guided simulation is supported with the Stateflow extension to Simulink.
Learn more...
Simulink integration in Enterprise Architect
Driving Simscape from Enterprise Architect

MATLAB Simscape for Physical Systems

Use the Simscape extension to Simulink to model physical systems

Enterprise Architect can now translate SysML internal block diagrams into MATLAB's Simscape, which is an extension to Simulink, and instructs MATLAB to simulate and plot the requested outputs. This allows simulation of physical systems where components represent physical objects and flows represent physical substances or energy, for example water flowing from one tank to the next, or current flowing through a resistor.
Access the vast array of pre-built Simscape library blocks, or create references to your own custom library blocks.
Integration with Stateflow in Enterprise Architect

MATLAB Stateflow for State Machines


Guide your SysML simulations in Simulink with StateMachines

As well as simulating SysML Internal Block and Parametric diagrams, the new integration with MATLAB supports the translation of SysML StateMachine diagrams into MATLAB Stateflow diagrams and can be used in conjunction with Internal Block diagrams and Parametric diagrams to govern the flow of your MATLAB simulation.
  • Leverage the power of MATLAB to simulate your state diagrams
  • Easy export and run capability

Connect with GNU Octave's Advanced Math

Use the Octave 'solver' class to integrate with Octave

The open source Octave project provides a rich library of mathematical functions you can leverage in your models and in your Simulations

Example

An example of a Script in Enterprise Architect that calls Octave to perform a plot of the math function is shown in the image below. In this case there is a square wave generated and this is processed using a Fast Fourier Transform to give the amplitude of the harmonics that form the square wave.
  • Create an Octave solver in JavaScript
  • Invoke the math capabilities of Octave to guide simulations
  • Integrate with charts and other model elements
Enterprise Architect connected with GNU Octave's Advanced Math

New and Expanded Support for Modelica

Simulation of SysML diagrams using OpenModelica has been expanded with significant enhancements.

With the introduction of SysPhS, the definition of constants and variables are now in the model rather than in the simulation configuration, providing ease of use and compatibility with MATLAB simulations. A further compatibility to MATLAB is the introduction of StateMachine simulations using OpenModelica.

Simulation exports now create the complete corresponding Modelica diagram viewable and simulate-able in the OMEdit, meaning that the SysML Internal Block Diagram of a circuit, can now be viewed as circuit diagram with electronic components in OpenModelica.

For a wider usage of Modelica simulation there is now support for referencing existing Modelica library blocks, or custom user defined blocks within the SysML blocks, supporting reference to a wide range of components used in simulations.
OpenModelica
  • Now supports SysPhS for defining constants and variables within the SysML blocks rather than in the Simulation configuration
  • Supports showing the Block diagrams in the OMEdit - OpenModelica Connection Editor
  • Supports referencing existing Modelica library blocks, or custom user defined blocks
  • Now shows alias and notes in OpenModelica Connection Editor
Create blocks on the fly using the new SysPhS patterns ready to be simulated in OpenModelica. With the latest OpenModelica code generation you can view your SysML components in OpenModelica, as well as simulate plots.
Improved OpenModelica support
View your SysML components in OpenModelica
OMG's SysPhS Standard implementation

OMG SysPhS - An Open Standard for Integrating Systems Models with Mathematical tools

OMG SysPhS Standard

Enterprise Architect now also supports the OMG SysPhS standard(s), enabling you to stereotype variables and constants within a simulation and assign various options to those variables. This provides a visual approach to setting up a simulation by including the constants and variables in separate compartments on your blocks. It also has the added advantage of making the simulations easier to share as they are now model based.

Quick and Easy Access to all the Script Code behind your Simulations

New code editor capability supports the visualization of all the code and behavior scripts for all elements on a diagram.
Single Code Editor

Editing the Javascript code in behavioral models such as StateMachines and Activity diagrams has been improved to allow all the behaviors of such diagrams to be edited in a single code editor. The code editor for these elements include a structure tree allowing navigation and editing of any child element behavior.

Structure Tree

Previously one had to press F10 or bring up the properties dialog for every single behavior which required viewing or editing. Now every behavior can be edited in a single editor with a structure tree allowing quick navigation to child elements.


Updates to the Enterprise Architect Code Editor

All New Dynamic Charts based on Simulation Results

Create easy to read, visually informative charts from your simulations

  • Save the results of your simulation as visual chart elements
  • Charts populated by simulation results can be easily included in your reports
  • Share user friendly simulation results with stakeholders without requiring any additional simulation tools
Persisting Simulation results via the use of Dynamic Charts

JavaScript Engine now supports Advanced and Integrated Math Capabilities

The Cephes Math Library

The legendary Cephes math library has now been fully and tightly integrated into the JavaScript engine available with Enterprise Architect. This library is a collection of more than 400 high quality mathematical routines for scientific and engineering applications. This provides a huge range of mathematical potential for modelers wishing to take their engineering and systems models to the next level.
Learn more...
New inclusion of the Cephes Math Library
Download  Download Enterprise Architect 15.2
Registered users have immediate access to the EA15.2 installer

Additional Resources

Online User Guide: View the online Enterprise Architect v15.2 user guide
User Guide Library: View the Enterprise Architect v15.2 user guide in PDF
share this page share by email share on linkedin share on twitter share on facebook