Extending UML

Enterprise Architect enables you to create models using UML. However, it also enables you to go much further, extending the scope both of your modeling and of the UML components you use, as outlined below.

Requirements Management

Gathering requirements is typically the first step in developing a solution, be it for developing a software application or for detailing a business process. Requirements are essentially 'what the system must do'. The requirements management built into Enterprise Architect provides full support for defining, organizing and managing the requirements that drive the project.

UML Stereotypes

Stereotypes are an inbuilt mechanism for logically extending or altering the meaning, display and syntax of a model element. Different model elements have different standard stereotypes associated with them. You can also define your own stereotypes.

For further information on stereotypes, see the UML Stereotypes topic.

UML Profiles

UML Profiles are a means of extending UML, which enables you to build models in particular domains. A Profile is a collection of additional stereotypes and Tagged Values applied to elements, attributes, methods and connectors, which together describe some particular modeling problem and facilitate modeling constructs in that domain.

For further information on Profiles, see the UML Profiles topic.

UML Patterns

Patterns are groups of collaborating Objects/Classes that can be abstracted from a general set of modeling scenarios (that is, parameterized collaborations). They generally describe how to solve an abstract problem, and are an excellent means of achieving re-use and building in robustness.

For more information on Patterns, see the UML Patterns topic.

MDG Technologies

The Model Driven Generation (MDG) Technologies enable you to access and use the resources of a specific technology within Enterprise Architect. Interfaces to some technologies, such as BPMN and Iconix, are integrated with Enterprise Architect, whilst interfaces to others such as Eclipse and Visual Studio can be added separately. You can also link to technologies that you have created yourself.

For more information on MDG Technologies, see the MDG Technologies topic.

Business Modeling

Modeling the business process is an essential part of any software development process. It enables you to establish the broad outline and procedures that govern what it is a business does. As the Business Process Model typically has a broader range than just the software system being considered, it also enables you to clearly map what is in the scope of the proposed system and what is to be implemented in other ways.