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Version: 14.0

Working with Charts

Charts enable you to visualise objects and their attributes and relations in ADOIT. Large amounts of data are clearly displayed graphically and can be understood more easily.

Types of Charts

There are four types of charts in ADOIT:

Analysis: Dataset and Charts Combined

In ADOIT, you do not just create a chart, you create a comprehensive analysis. An analysis consists of a set of data and selected charts for visualisation. This means that you can easily create multiple charts from one data set. You can save an analysis for future use and even share it with your colleagues.

Create Beautiful Charts

It's easy to create attractive charts in ADOIT. Here is what you need to do:

  1. Start by creating a new analysis.

    • Go to   Analyse and create a new analysis.

    • Define the dataset. You can either use a search result or select your dataset manually.

  2. When you are satisfied with the initial dataset for the analysis, you can add and configure charts to visualise your data.

    • Select the chart type you want from the   Chart button.

    • Configure the chart in the side panel to visualise your data. You can customize the chart according to your wishes or simply choose one of the recommended templates for your data.

    • Optionally, make objects in your chart coloured to highlight some aspects of your data.

Available Charts

Let's take a look at the charts that you can create in ADOIT:

Box-in-Box

A box-in-box chart shows dependencies between different objects. The objects are arranged as boxes nested within each other.

A typical example is the representation of the hierarchy of company-related Capabilities.

 Example of a Box-in-Box Chart

Bubble

Using a bubble chart, you can visualise objects as bubbles in a two-dimensional grid. Two attributes represent the x and y axis and an optional third attribute can be used for the bubble size.

A possible use case is the evaluation of an application portfolio based on business fitness, cost fitness and strategic importance.

 Example of a Bubble Chart

Gantt

Using a Gantt chart, you can display the chronological sequence of objects on a timeline. Two attributes determine the start and end date of a bar.

One possible use case is the visualisation of the lifecycles of applications which are depicted as horizontal bars together with a timeline.

 Example of a Gantt Chart

Matrix Chart

In a matrix chart, dependencies between objects can be displayed in tabular format. You can define object types for the columns and rows and visualise the connections between the objects in the cells.

One possible use case is the visualisation of the interfaces of applications. For example, the Application Components may be placed in the rows and the Application Interfaces in the columns, with the Composition relations between them placed in the cells.

 Example of a Matrix Chart

The Analyses Page

The Analyses page serves as a starting point to run analyses on a data set of your choice. All analyses that have been created are listed here, and you can create new analyses.

 The Analyses Page

Open Analyses Page

To open the Analyses page:

  • On the toolbar at the top of the screen, click   Analyse.

Create New Analysis

See Create Analysis.

Open an Analysis

All analyses are shown in a compact list, sorted by date of last change.

  • To open an analysis, click it.

Create Analysis

Use one of the following options to create an analysis:

 Create Analysis Button

Use a Search Result

To create an analysis based on a search result:

  1. On the toolbar at the top of the screen, click   Analyse.

  2. Click the   Create analysis button, and then select From search result. The new analysis opens, with the Dataset tab selected.

  3. Perform a search. This works the same as when using the regular search function in ADOIT.

The search result will be used as the basis for the analysis. Now you can add and configure charts to visualise your data.

Manually Select Dataset

To create an analysis and manually select the dataset:

  1. On the toolbar at the top of the screen, click   Analyse.

  2. Click the   Create analysis button, and then select From manual selection. The new analysis opens, with the Dataset tab selected.

  3. Now do one of the following:

    • Drag the models and objects you want to add from the Explorer to the Dataset tab.

    • Click the   Add button. Select the models or objects you want to add, and then click OK.

When you are satisfied with the initial dataset for the analysis, you can add and configure charts to visualise your data.

Directly Create Charts

You've already picked data while working with ADOIT (for example, in the Explorer) and wish to generate charts straight from this data? This is also possible. You can choose from the following options:

 Create Charts Button

  • From the Search Function

    Perform a search using the regular search function. Click the   Create chart button, and then select a chart type.

  • Based on a Selection of Objects and Models

    Select the models or objects for the chart, e.g. in the Explorer, in an editor or in a list. Right-click the selection, point to   Create chart, and then select a chart type.

  • For All Objects in a Model

    Open the model with the objects you want to analyse in an editor of your choice. Click the More button at the top right corner of the model, point to   Create chart, and then select a chart type.

No matter which method you used to directly create a chart, the procedure now continues in the same way. The new analysis opens. As the data is already available, the chart tab will be selected. The centre panel showing the selected chart will yet be empty. Configure the chart in the side panel to visualise your data.

Add Charts

To add a chart to your analysis:

  1. Click the   Chart button, and then select a chart type. The chart opens in a new tab.

  2. In the side panel, go to the Options tab to configure the chart (either select a template or configure the chart manually):

  3. Optionally, in the side panel, go to the Colour   tab and make objects in a chart coloured to highlight some aspects of your data.

The chart will be displayed in the centre panel.

Configure Box-in-Box

A box-in-box chart shows objects of different levels as boxes nested within each other. You need to choose the object types that are used on each level of the box-in-box chart and the relations that connect the levels.

  • A box-in-box chart needs at least two levels.

  • Each level must contain at least one object type.

  • Neighbouring levels in a box-in-box chart are connected by relations.

  • The direction of the relation is shown as an arrow in the configuration.

Example: Box-in-Box Chart Configuration

The configuration of a simple box-in-box chart could look like this:

 Example: Box-in-Box Chart Configuration

  • Application Component > Realization > Application Service

This box-in-box chart has two levels. The first level contains the object type Application Component. The second level contains the object type Application Service. The relation Realization connects the first level and the second level of the box-in-box chart. The direction is from the first level to the second.

To configure a box-in-box chart, use these options in the side panel on the Options tab:

Select Template

To get a quick start on creating a box-in-box chart, you can use a template:

  • From the   Select a template for your Dataset list, select the template you want.

The necessary options will be selected automatically. You can adjust them as needed.

note

Templates may produce charts with a specific, non-standard representation.

Add Element

To add a new level to a box-in-box chart:

  • Click the   Add element button.

For the top level, choose an object type. For each additional level, choose an object type and the relation that connects it to the previous level.

Select Relation

To change the relation that connects an object type to the previous level:

  • Click the Select relation button , and the choose a relation.

Remove Element

To remove a level from the box-in-box chart:

  • Click the Remove element button .

If the level has child levels, they will also be removed.

Hide Level

You can hide levels to visualise relations between objects that are indirectly related to each other through another object.

To hide a level in the visualisation:

  • Click the Hide level button . This button is a toggle. Click it again to show the level again.
Example: Hide Level

In the following configuration, the second level of the box-in-box chart is hidden:

 Example: Hide Level

  • Business Process < Serving < Application Component< Serving < System Software

In the visualisation, the objects of the first level directly contain the children of the hidden level (= the objects of the third level).

  • The Business Processes contain the System Software elements.

  • The Application Components are not visualised at all.

 Example: Hide Level

Customise Layout

You can specify how objects in a level which share the same parent object are positioned:

  • For each level, select the number of Boxes per row before a new row is started.
Example: Set Growth Direction

Growth direction for the second level of the box-in-box chart is set as follows:

 Example: Customise Layout

  • Horizontal, with 4 items per row

In the visualisation, four objects are placed in the first row, and then a new row is started.

 Example: Customise Layout

Configure Bubble

A bubble chart displays objects as bubbles on an area. The area is defined by two axes (x-axis and y-axis). Specify the type of objects to be displayed and the attributes for x-axis, y-axis and bubble size. The attribute for bubble size is optional; all bubbles have the same size when the attribute is not set.

Example: Configure Bubble Chart

The configuration of a simple bubble chart could look like this:

 Example: Configure Bubble Chart

  • Application Component, with the attributes Business fit for the x-axis and Cost fit for the y-axis.

This bubble chart helps you assess the fitness of applications.

To configure a bubble chart, use these options in the side panel on the Options tab:

Select Template

To get a quick start on creating a bubble chart, you can use a template:

  • From the   Select a template for your Dataset list, select the template you want.

The necessary options will be selected automatically. You can adjust them as needed.

note

Templates may produce charts with a specific, non-standard representation.

Select Object Type and Attributes

Choose which object type and attributes will appear in the bubble chart:

  • Object Type

    Specify what type of objects should be visualised in the bubble chart.

  • X-Axis

    Choose the attribute you want to show on the x-axis.

  • Y-Axis

    Choose the attribute you want to show on the y-axis.

  • Bubble Size

    Choose the attribute which determines the bubble size.

Choose Layout Options

Choose layout options to determine what the bubble chart will look like:

  • Reverse X-Axis

    Invert the x-axis so that higher values will be shown on the left and lower values on the right.

  • Reverse Y-Axis

    Invert the y-axis so that higher values will be shown on the bottom and lower values on the top.

  • Reverse Bubble Size

    Invert the bubble size so that higher values mean a smaller size and lower values mean a bigger size.

  • Show Bubble Names

    Specify whether the names of the objects should be displayed right next to the bubbles.

note

You can view a tooltip with the name of the object and other information when you position the mouse pointer over a bubble segment.

  • Show Elements with Missing Data

    Specify whether to show objects in the bubble chart where at least one of the selected attributes does not have a value defined.

Configure Gantt

A Gantt chart shows objects as bars on a timeline. Choose which object types to display in the Gantt chart and which attributes to use for the start and end dates.

Example: Configure Gantt Chart

The configuration of a simple Gantt chart could look like this:

 Example: Configure Gantt Chart

  • Application Component, with the attributes Valid from and Valid until to visualise a time period.

This Gantt chart visualises the lifetime of applications from the beginning to the end.

To configure a Gantt chart, use these options in the side panel on the Options tab:

Select Template

To get a quick start on creating a Gantt chart, you can use a template:

  • From the   Select a template for your Dataset list, select the template you want.

The necessary options will be selected automatically. You can adjust them as needed.

note

Templates may produce charts with a specific, non-standard representation.

Add Element

To add a new level to a Gantt chart:

  • Click the   Add element button.

Select at least one object type. To create a hierarchical structure, select additional object types as child elements and the relations that connect them to the parent level.

Select Relation

To change the relation that connects an object type to the parent level:

  • Click the Select relation button , and the choose a relation.

Remove Element

To remove a level from the Gantt chart:

  • Click the Remove element button .

If the level has child levels, they will also be removed.

Hide Level

To hide a level in the visualisation:

  • Click the Hide Level button . This button is a toggle. Click it again to show the level again.
Example: Hide Level

In the following configuration the second level of the Gantt chart is hidden:

 Example: Hide Level

  • Application Component < Serving < Application Interface < Composition < Application Component

In the visualisation, the interfaces between the applications are not visualised:

 Example: Hide Level

Select Start and End Attributes

Choose which attributes will appear on the x-axis:

  • Select start: Select the attribute that represents the beginning of the bar along the timeline.

  • Select end: Select the attribute that represents the end of the bar along the timeline.

Configure Matrix

A matrix chart in ADOIT displays connections (Matrix cells) between objects of the x-axis and objects of the y-axis. A connection can be:

  • a relation between x-axis object and y-axis object or

  • an object which is connected with the x-axis and y-axis objects by relations

You need to specify the type of objects to be displayed on the x-axis and y-axis, and the object type or relation for the Matrix cells. If you want to choose an object type for the Matrix cells, you must define how it is connected to the objects of the x-axis and y-axis.

Example: Configure Matrix Chart

The configuration of a simple matrix chart could look like this:

 Example: Configure Matrix Chart

  • Application Interface < Composition < Application Component

This matrix chart shows the composition of interfaces as a table with Application Interfaces in the columns and Application Components in the rows.

To configure a matrix chart, use these options in the side panel on the Options tab:

Select Template

To get a quick start on creating a matrix chart, you can use a template:

  • From the   Select a template for your Dataset list, select the template you want.

The necessary options will be selected automatically. You can adjust them as needed.

note

Templates may produce charts with a specific, non-standard representation.

Select Object Types and Relations

Choose which object types and relations will appear in the matrix chart:

  • Columns

    Choose the object types you want to show on the x-axis.

  • Cell

    Select at least one relation that connects the objects of the x-axis and y-axis OR an object type and the relation that connects it to the objects of the x-axis. You can select multiple relations or object types.

  • Rows

    Choose the object types you want to show on the y-axis. What needs to be selected depends on the type of connection chosen for the cells. If the connection is a relation, you can select an object type that is a valid source or target for the relation. If the connection is an object, you can select an object type AND a relation that connects it to the cell objects. You can configure multiple connections.

Choose Layout Options

Choose layout options to determine what the matrix chart will look like:

  • Hide "No references" column

    Specify whether to hide the "No references" column. This column is only available if objects are displayed in the cells. It lists all cell objects which are not connected to x-axis objects.

  • Hide "No references" row

    Specify whether to hide the "No references" row. This row is only available if objects are displayed in the cells. It lists all cell objects which are not connected to y-axis objects.

  • Hide columns without cell objects

    Specify whether empty columns should be shown in the matrix chart.

  • Hide rows without cell objects

    Specify whether empty rows should be shown in the matrix chart.

  • Colour cells with multiple occurrences

    Specify whether cell objects that occur multiple times in the matrix chart should be highlighted using slim vertical bars.

Apply Colouring to Charts

You can make objects in a chart coloured depending on the value of an attribute to highlight some aspects of your data. For example, Application Components in a matrix chart could be coloured green if their strategic importance is high and red if their strategic importance is low.

To apply colouring to charts, use these options in the side panel on the Colour tab:

  • Enable Colouring

    Click the Enable colouring button to enable colouring. All other options in this panel are inactive unless you click this button.

  • Select Element

    Choose the object type you want to colour.

  • Select Attribute

    Choose the attribute whose value determines how the objects in the chart will be coloured. Underneath, you will see all of the potential colours and how they are assigned to the attribute values.

  • Reverse Colours

    To invert the colour scheme, click the Reverse colours button .

  • Change Colours

    To change colours, click the colour circles.

Delete Chart

To delete a chart:

  • The More button is activated when you hover over the chart tab. Click this button to open a drop-down menu, and then click Delete.

Charts with a Special Appearance

Templates may produce charts with a specific, non-standard representation.

note

The availability of these templates depends on the Application Library and product configuration.

Application Planning (Gantt)

A changed visualisation is available for Gantt charts based on the following templates:

  • ArchiMate Application Library: "Application Component Roadmap"

  • ADOIT Standard Application Library: "Application Roadmap (Applications)" respectively "Application Roadmap (Domains - Applications)"

This visualisation shows the lifecycle of applications (Application Components or Applications) in great detail. Multiple attributes are displayed for each bar (= object). This allows you to see at a glance:

  • When the implementation of an application starts

  • When an application becomes productive

  • When an application is decommissioned

  • When an application replaces another

 An &quot;Application Component Roadmap&quot;

Technology Planning (Gantt)

A changed visualisation is available for Gantt charts based on the following templates:

  • ArchiMate Application Library: "System Software Roadmap"

  • ADOIT Standard Application Library: "Technology Roadmap" respectively "Application - Technology Roadmap"

This visualisation shows the lifecycle of technologies (System Software or Technologies) in great detail. Multiple attributes are displayed for each bar (= object). This allows you to see at a glance:

  • When the implementation of a technology starts

  • When a technology becomes productive

  • When a technology is decommissioned

  • When a technology replaces another

Access (Matrix)

A changed visualisation is available for Matrix charts based on the following templates:

  • ArchiMate Application Library: "Read-Write Matrix"

  • ADOIT Standard Application Library: "Business Object x Application (CRUD)"

This visualisation shows how applications (Application Components or Applications) can act upon Business Objects. The following icons are used:

Read-Write Matrix

  • Read: Application can read a business object

  • Write: Application can write a business object

  • Master: Application is considered as master of a business object

  • Violation: Application can write data without being the master of a business object

 A &quot;Read-Write Matrix&quot;

Business Object x Application (CRUD)

  • Create: Application can create a business object

  • Read: Application can read a business object

  • Update: Application can update a business object

  • Delete: Application can delete a business object

  • Master: Application is considered as master of a business object

  • Violation: Application can create, update or delete data without being the master of a business object

View Dataset or Charts

After creating an analysis, you can switch between viewing the dataset and the charts:

 View Dataset or Chart

  • Click the Dataset tab or the tab representing the chart you want to see.

Adjust Charts

Charts can be refreshed, renamed and zoomed in or out.

Refresh Chart

To refresh a Chart:

  • Click the More button at the top right corner of the chart, and then click Refresh  .

Rename Chart

To rename a Chart:

  • Click the More button at the top right corner of the chart, and then click Rename  .

Zoom in and out of a Chart

To zoom in and out of a chart:

  • Click the icons or to increase or decrease the zoom value.

  • Click the icon to fit the chart to the window size.

Manage Dataset

Use the Dataset tab to view the current dataset and to choose the data you want to use.

 The Dataset Tab

Change Dataset Based on Search Result

To change a dataset that is based on a search result:

  • Change the search string or the search options and filters.

Change Dataset Based on Manual Selection

To change a dataset that is based on a manual selection, choose one of the following options:

  • Add Models or Objects to the Dataset

    Drag the models and objects you want to add from the Explorer to the Dataset tab or:

    Click the Add button . Select the models or objects you want to add, and then click OK.

  • Remove Models or Objects from the Dataset

    Select the models and objects you want to remove, and then press <Del> or:

    Click the Add button . Select the models or objects you want to remove, and then click the icon .

Export Chart

To export a single chart as an Excel spreadsheet (XLSX format), PDF or image file (SVG and PNG format):

  1. Open the chart you want to export.

  2. Click the More button , point to Export   , and then select an export format.

In all four formats, the graphical representation of the chart and the legend are exported. Additionally, when exporting an Excel spreadsheet, the objects included in the chart are listed on a separate sheet. When exporting a PDF, you can select the page layout and the page orientation.

note

In addition to exporting a single chart, you can also share the entire analysis with other users.

note

Due to technical limitations of the browser, when exporting a very large matrix chart as an Excel spreadsheet, the graphical representation may not be included.

Save Analysis

You can save an analysis (= specific data and selected charts) to view it again later and share it with other users. Analyses are stored in the Model Catalogue.

The following options are available:

Save

To save changes to an analysis:

  1. Click the Save button in the menu bar of the analysis.

  2. Enter a name for the analysis and define a target group if you are saving it for the first time.

Save as

To create a copy of the analysis with a new name:

  1. Click the down arrow symbol in the Save button .

  2. Select Save as   from the drop-down menu.

  3. Change the name of the analysis.

  4. Define the target group for the new analysis.

  5. Click OK.

note

If an analysis only allows read access, the Save button is replaced by the Save as button in the menu bar of the analysis.

Close Analysis

To close an analysis:

  • Click the icon at the top right corner of the open analysis.

Find Analysis

Here are some tips to find an analysis in ADOIT:

  • Model Catalogue: Analyses are stored in the Model Catalogue in the Explorer. You can browse the folders or use the search to find the analysis you're looking for.

  • Analyse   : In the "Design & Document" scenario and the "Explore & Contribute" scenario, on the Analyses page, all analyses are shown in a compact list.

  • Architecture Diagrams: In the "Explore & Contribute" scenario, the Architecture Diagrams dashboard lists all analyses in the database.

Delete Analysis

To delete an analysis:

  • Right-click the analysis in the Model Catalogue, and then click Delete.