Applying Process Guidance

Developing a model of a system or architecture can include any number of complex processes that require common, structured methods and carefully organized checkpoints at important stages. Enterprise Architect helps you to quickly set up the organization of such a process by providing a range of Process Guidance templates, each of which includes stages, annotated steps for the procedures at each stage, links to supporting information, and Checklists to be completed to ensure all the required objectives have been achieved before starting the next stage.

Each Process Guidance template consists of an Activity diagram, with Actions describing each step of the activity and one or more Checklists next to each Action listing the sub-steps. You generate a Package in the model, from a selected Pattern, and tailor the structure to match your own procedures. Users can then follow the procedures, starting from the initial node and working through each step, checking off each item on its checklists until the task is complete.

The range of process areas and procedures supported by this feature is extensive, and will be continually added to over time.

Access

The Start Page containing the 'Guidance' tab is automatically displayed when you open a model. If you close the Start Page at any time, you can return to the 'Guidance' tab using one of these methods.

Apply a Process Guidance Pattern

Using a Process Guidance Pattern to set up task guidelines is very easy.

In the 'Add To' field, click on the icon, and locate and select the Package to hold the task guidelines.

Then, in the main panel, click on the white arrow against the process area to select from, and expand the groups of Patterns until you locate the one to use. The corresponding Pattern diagram displays in the right-hand panel.

Click on the Create Guidance button. In the Browser window, the Pattern generates a Package and an Activity diagram named after the Pattern, and two child Packages containing the Checklist elements and process elements. You can edit these objects to tailor them to your specific process.

You can reduce the number of Patterns shown in the 'Guidance' tab, by filtering the list of Pattern groups displayed. Click on the icon in the left-hand panel heading to display the 'Filter Groups' dialog, on which you can clear or select checkboxes against each of the seven Pattern groups to show or hide them on the tab.