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Controlled Packages

A Controlled Package is a Package configured to save and load in XML format to a named file; the XML output is UML 1.3 compliant XMI, with Enterprise Architect extensions to support diagrams and additional model elements. Controlled Packages are a powerful means of 'externalizing' parts of an Enterprise Architect model.

Package XML is standard XMI-compliant output that can be loaded into any XML viewer, or used by any XML-based tool to perform manipulations and extracts, such as document or code generators.

Controlled Packages appear in the Project Browser with a small colored rectangle to the left of the Package icon, as shown for the CIM Package:

Using Controlled Packages you can support:

  • Widely distributed development by having team members submit Packages in the form of XML for import into a central Enterprise Architect repository
  • Version control, by writing model elements in XML text files suitable for version control using standard version control software
    Using XMI this way, you can manually connect to third-party version control software outside the Enterprise Architect environment; Enterprise Architect internally supports the configuration of version control through SCC and CVS
  • Import and export of model elements between different models
    For example, a Class library can be re-used in many models and kept up to date in target models using Controlled Packages, reloading Packages as required when new versions of the Class model become available

Notes

  • If you are importing an XMI 1.1 file that was previously exported with a UML_EA.DTD (Data Type Definition) file, the UML_EA.DTD file must be present in the directory into which the XMI file is being written; an error occurs if the UML_EA.DTD file is absent
  • When you select to apply a DTD during an XMI 1.1 export, the UML_EA.DTD file is written to the output directory into which the XML files are written (unless the UML_EA.DTD file is already present in the directory); no error is generated if the UML_EA.DTD file is not present in this directory during the XMI export

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