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Configure Packages

In order to configure a Package to save and load in XML format to a named file, you use the 'Package Control Options' dialog to flag the Package as being controlled and to set a number of options. These options include setting the XMI filename to save to/load from, the type of XMI to import and export, and whether to export and/or import the XMI in a batch process. When the Package is configured, this is indicated by a small colored rectangle on the left of the 'Package' icon in the Project Browser, as shown for the RQ01: Formal Requirements Package.

Access

Select a Package in the Project Browser, then:

Ribbon

Configure > Version Control > Package Configuration

Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl+Alt+P

Configure a controlled Package

Option

Description

See also

Control Package

Select the checkbox to indicate that this is a controlled Package.

For all packages, create placeholders for external references

Select to force all XMI 1.1 imports of this Package to exclude incoming relationships and instead create external references.

This overrides the 'Create placeholders for missing External References during XMI 1.1/2.1 Import' checkbox in the XML Specifications options for a user, if that checkbox is not selected.

XML Specifications

Version Control

Leave this field set to '(None)', to manage the Package under XMI control.

The 'Package Control Options' dialog is also used in adding a Package to Version Control and, in this context, is described under the Version Control section.

Configure Controlled Package

XMI Filename

Type or browse for the path and XMI file name into which to export the Package data and from which to import it.

You can also enter Local Path Substitution strings; for example, an XMI local path definition where:

     myLocalPath="C:\Documents and Settings\John\Desktop\EA Models"

So that %myLocalPath%\CIM.xml is equivalent to:

     C:\Documents and Settings\John\Desktop\EA Models\CIM.xml

UML/XMI Type

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the type of XMI to be generated; options include:

  • Enterprise Architect XMI 1.1
  • Enterprise Architect XMI 2.1

For complete import/export round tripping of Packages, currently only Enterprise Architect XMI 1.1 is supported. This format uses additional Tagged Values to store the model's UML 2.x information.

Version ID

Type the version number you want to apply to the Package.

This field is the same as the 'Version' field on the Package 'Properties' dialog; any change to either field updates the other.

Owner

Defaults to the name of the Package owner; if necessary, type or select a different name.

Use DTD

(Optional)  Select the checkbox to use a Data Type Definition (DTD) for the imports and exports.

(This option is not available for the Enterprise Architect XMI/UML 1.3 or Rational Rose/Unisys UML 1.3 types.)

The UML DTD

Log Import/Export

(Optional)  Select the checkbox to log import and export activity to a log file.

Batch Import

(Optional)  Select the checkbox to mark the Package as a Batch Import Package.

Batch Export

(Optional)  Select the checkbox to mark the Package as a Batch Export Package.

Include sub-packages

(For an Enterprise Architect XMI/UML 1.3 export)  Select the checkbox to include the entire sub-Package hierarchy of this branch in the exported XMI (default).

Deselect the checkbox to include only the immediate contents of the Package in an XMI export (XMI stubs).

OK

Click on this button to set the Package Control options and close the dialog.

Notes

  • In the Corporate, Unified and Ultimate editions of Enterprise Architect, if security is enabled you must have 'Configure Packages' permission to configure controlled Packages and Package properties
  • For batch import, the file date of the XMI file is stored; you can bypass the batch import if there is no change - that is, the file date of the last import matches that of the current file

Learn more