From my basic understanding of ARIS IT Architect, one can not create new connections, only renaming existing ones.
However, in the filter import screen, under Help for step 1, there is a checkbox called "import method extensions" that states:
" Imports the method extensions, e.g. new connection types, from the export file into the configuration. All user-defined method extensions are saved in the file."
This piqued my curiosity, it sounds like one can create method extensions which could potentially include new connection types, maybe even new association types.
Have any of you created your own connection types before? how did you go about doing it?
Thanks.
Lu Wang
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by Alexander Cherednichenko
Posted on Wed, 09/02/2009 - 08:12
I think it is an error in a help. It is impossible to create the new connections types and assignments
I'm dissappointed in the inability to create my own connection types within ARIS since my metamodel depends on it. Is there anyway around that, what if really want to relate two symbols where no relationships (1..n degree) are defined between the object types they represent.
I'm also having trouble reporting out all the connections contained within the Entire Method, what's the best way to get to the complete list of connections other than running a filter report?
Lu unfortunately there is no way around adding new relationships.
The list of all relationships can be found in ARIS administration under configuration/methods/connection types. Right click on a connection there and go to properties. Under information you will find the applicable model types and object types for that connection.
there is a full list of all connection types in the ARIS method reference document on the installation media. You might be aware of this and I am aware that you are actually asking for the object types supported by each connection type.
Well, the ARIS method reference already comprises more than 5700 pages, of which the list of the connection types is 22 pages long. The list of the object types alone is 17 pages and that of the object symbols is 72 pages. There is a full list of all connection types and assignment relationship types allowed in each model type in chapter 3.2 of this document. This chapter alone has got more than 3200 pages.
So, what are you going to do with this list in practice? You are not going to re-engineer all the knowledge that went into this configuration during more than 25 years. You want to solve real world problems you have in your business.
When you take your meta-model and consider some improvement you come to the conclusion that you want to model a relationship between two concepts (represented by symbols in some model types) that were not related directly before. So you identify the stakeholder, who will maintain this relationship, consider the model types this stakeholder is responsible for so far, identify the model type where this relationship should be placed (or you identify it will be a new model type to be introduced to your meta-model). Now it comes to selecting the ARIS connection type to use. Try to formulate the relationship between the concepts in your natural language (e. g. plain English) and see what you can find in the list. Maybe try a few synonyms for this term. Browse through the existing connection types. When you have a candidate check if
- you already use this connection type elsewhere in your method (then you should not rename this CT)
- the translations of the connection type to other languages you use work well for these concepts to be related. There are homonym connection types in English, that may not be homonym in all translations.
- the usage of the connection type in other model types of the Entire method links somewhat similar concepts as the ones you intend to connect.
All this you can find out in the method configuration of the ARIS method in ARIS Architect. Only after you have excluded this way, that ARIS does not have the proper connection type in store for your purpose I would go and want to create my own. Then you can choose the most exotic connection type, rename it in all relevant languages and insert it to your method. That is just as good as creating your own.
A belated follow-up question: is there a way of finding out what connection types an object type (and its symbols) support in which model types, apart from going through each and every connection type in the complete list and opening the dialogue for Information (May occur between objects, May occur in models)? I can see no means of filtering the Connection type list in the Method adminstration for participating object types.
For a configured method filter, I can get this from the Output filter information report, but I'm not allowed to run that for the entire method.
When wondering about what part of the full method I should look into extending our current method filter, this would be rather useful. The ARIS method reference PDF is a bit hard to get that kind of overview from!
A related query to extending the Method: how can I allow multiple FAD assignments?
The Function object allows only a single FAD to be assigned to it, but I have variant FADs for a single function (depicting different regions that perform the same function slightly differently, e.g. generating different output). I want to be able to assign these FADs so that navigation immediately shows multiple assignments (and users don't have to hunt for variants or use the "superior model" functionality).
I'm looking for options. I see that Quick objects and Structural Element objects are allowed to have multiple FADs so there must be a way around the "one object, one FAD assignment" rule. But Quick and Structural Element objects are not allowed on FADs or EPCs so I can't use them for navigation.
Can I change the one Function-one FAD assignment rule in the Method? If so, where? (I've tried everything I know)
It it's not possible to assign multiple FADs to a single Function, is there a way to allow Quick or Structural objects on FAD?
