Drilling through models? Just how do you do that in Aris Express?

Hi Ken,

it is true that an ARIS Express file only contains a single model. However, each object has a link attribute, which you can use to link to another ARIS Express file. The user simply clicks on this link attributes and the new model comes up. So I think your P0 requirement is fulfilled ;-)

Cheers,

Sebastian

Hi Ken,

Express has BPM beginners as target group.

Thus, it is clear that some functionalities are not part of. We're getting asked quite often things like "Why is model type A not part of it or object type B"... or "why is functionality X is not included..." but we need to focus on our target group.

We provide tools for professional usage also, which surely would fulfill all your needs, but I hope you do understand, that a tool for free, without any repository support etc etc is not able to fit to all your needs for professional usage in big sized projects.

It is right: Express provides a fast and easy entry into BPM modeling (at least, this is acknowledged by a nice count of users), but it was never meant to replace professional tools.

So I hope, we're not getting bashed... especially, since we're going to bring all modeling improvements into our products for professional usage.

Bye,

Frank

And then it's a free tool. Even if it has just10% of the capabilities of a professional tool, it's not sold for 10% of the price, it's sold for 0. And was the reason for creating this community which has a big value in itself. And growing. So, Ken, may be your expectations need adjustment. I think this initiative needs encouragement and support. Let's save our wishes and complaints for the professional edition.

Cheers

Ivo

Sebastian, thanks for pointed out my user error there and navigating me to the feature.  I'll poke around and make it work.  I wish I would have taken German class more seriously now.

You are right, Ivo.  Just causal banter to spice up your beta forum.  Us process people can be so serious. Didn't mean to be inflamatory and will tone it down in future.  I've adjusted my title appropriately and called out my own user error in not identifying the linking feature.  The tool rocks overall.  I am enjoying using it, and I think our business users will enjoy it too.

Frank, you guys aren't being bashed.  Just thinking about deployment to get a maximum number of business users on board.  You've overcome a ton of pushback business users have with other tools. Far from being bashed, you should be applauded.

Sebastian,  Quick Question.... I successfully added the link attribute.  How do I actually insert the link?

Hi,

I'm not Sebastian, but as my time zone is better suited to answer you quickly:

Copy/Paste the link path into the link attribute field.

Alternatively use the 'three dots' button on the right hand side of the atrribute field to browse and select the intended link target.

Regards

Thorsten

Hi,

you can find a small video showing how to add a link attribute. You can display it in the model either by dragging it from the attribute panel to the model or using the property dialog of the object. The video shows the second approach.

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/arisexpress/media/videos/aris_express_model_assignment.wmv

We will add this video next week to our Youtube channel.

Cheers,

Sebastian

Guys,

I've tried the linking functionality.  Does it only provide a specific link?   I store the files on a server.   I am thinking that If I then sent these files in a folder to a colleague for use on their system, the links would be broken, no?

Best regards,

Ken

ADDITIONAL DETAIL:  I could only figure out how to do absolute links vs. relative links.  The only way I could think to enable another person to click through the nested set of flows I created was to create the links on the root of the D: drive and tell the recipient to install the files in exactly the same place.  Am I missing something?  Is there a relative link method in the manual when it comes out?

Hi Ken,

of course it is your governance task to take care of the link structure. For example, you could map a folder containing the ARIS Express files to a certain virtual harddisk drive. Or all files are located on a central server.

Sebastian

Hi !

Is it possible to add several links on one object, linking it to several other models (1 to many instead of 1 to 1) ?

Thanks

Alex