Add Information to Models & Objects
The following sections provide an overview of functions for managing the properties of models, objects and connectors.
Properties
Models, objects and connectors have specific properties (attributes and relations). You can view and, if you have sufficient permissions, edit these properties. To increase the clarity and user-friendliness, related properties are aggregated in chapters.
Global Attribute Values vs. Model-Specific Attribute Values
In ADOIT the attributes of repository objects both have global values as well as model-specific values. A repository object that is used in a model after insertion contains the default values from the Object Catalogue. However, some of these values can be adapted specifically for the model without influencing the global values at all.
- Global Values: Properties that are identical in the Object Catalogue and in all models in which the object is used (e.g. name, description).
- Model-Specific Values: Properties that are specific to one object. Model-specific values that have not been specifically adapted in a model automatically use default values (e.g. colour, representation for some classes).
Open Properties
Depending on whether they belong to a model or an object, properties must be opened from different locations.
Open Model Properties
Every model has a set of properties. You can open the properties of a model from any editor:
- Click the Properties button in the menu bar of the model.
Alternatively, you can open the properties of a model from the Model Catalogue:
Select the model and press <Alt> + <Enter> or:
Right-click the model, point to Open, and then click Properties.
The model properties open in a freely floating window.
Open Object Properties
All object types are equipped with a set of properties as well. You can open the properties of an object from the graphical editor or from the Object Catalogue. Choose one of the following options:
Double-click the object or:
Select the object and press <Enter> or:
Right-click the object, point to Open, and then click Properties.
Additionally, you can open object properties from the tabular editor.
When opened from the graphical editor, the object properties open in a freely floating window. When opened from the Object Catalogue, the object properties open integrated into the main application window (docked).
When you open the properties of an object from the graphical editor, the model-specific attribute values of the object are displayed. When you open the properties of a repository object from the Object Catalogue however, its global attribute values are displayed.
These options also allow you to open the properties of a connector, if one was defined for it in the product configuration.
Dock/Undock Properties
When you open the properties of a repository object from the Object Catalogue, the global attribute values are displayed (see Open Properties for more information). You can choose to dock or undock the properties pane. This is especially useful when you need to compare attribute values between two objects by placing two floating windows side by side.
To undock the properties pane:
- Click the More button
at the
top right corner of the properties pane, and then click Undock 
.
To dock a freely floating properties window:
- Click the More button at the
top right corner of the properties window, and then click Dock
.
Edit Properties
Different types of models, objects and connectors have different types of properties. For simple attribute types, the value can be entered directly or selected. For more complex properties, input supports are available.
Switch between Read Mode and Edit Mode
It is possible to switch between a read mode and an edit mode when viewing or modifying properties. Read mode allows for quick browsing of all properties.
If you want to edit the properties, you need to switch to edit mode first:
- Click the Edit button
in the
menu bar of the properties pane.
To switch back to read mode:
- Click the Read button
in the
menu bar of the properties pane.
Open Chapter
Open a chapter in the properties to browse the attribtues and relations which are aggregated within. To show or hide a chapter:
- Click the chapter name.
Show Attribute Information
Each property has an info text that provides you with information about what it is used for. To view the info text:
- Click the icon
.
Manage Relations
You can manage the relations of objects or models while viewing or modifying their properties.
Add Relation to Model or Object
You can create relations easily by drag & drop without profound knowledge of the modelling language.
Proceed as follows:
- Drag the model or object you want to reference from the Explorer into the properties pane. ADOIT will show you which relations are possible and let you decide which one to create. You will then jump directly to the newly created relation.
If ADOIT recommends a specific relation, it will be shown at the top. Incoming relations are displayed on the right and outgoing relations on the left.
Alternatively, if you know exactly which relation you want to add:
Click Add New Target Object
or Add <object type> . A
dialogue window opens.Select the object(s) or model(s) you want to reference and confirm with OK.
When referencing a modelling object, the model in which the modelling object is maintained is visualised as well.
Create New Object and Establish Relation
To create a new object and establish a relation to it:
Click Create New Target Object
or Create <object type>
. A dialogue window opens.Enter a name, select an object type, and choose a target folder. Confirm with OK.
Delete Relation
To delete a relation:
- Select the relation, and then click Remove Relation target
.
Delete Relation and Referenced Object
To delete a relation and simultaneously delete the referenced object from the database:
- Select the relation, and then click Remove Relation target and delete it from the repository
.
If you modify relations between objects, you can use update all relations to display the modified connectors in the graphical editor.
Open Model or Object Properties
Click a referenced model to open it.
Clicking a referenced object opens its properties.
Open Model Properties
To open the properties of a referenced model:
- Click Open Properties
.
Open Properties of the Relation
To open the properties of the relation to a referenced model or object:
- Click Open properties of the relation...
.
Format Text
To apply formatting to a text attribute (e.g., a description) while working with a model's or object's properties:
Select the text you want to format, and then choose any of the options to change the font family, font size, text colour, or make the text bold, italic, etc.
You can copy formatted text from Microsoft Word into the text window. ADOIT recognizes the formatting and applies it to the text.
Check Change History
Depending on the product configuration, changes to repository objects are tracked in a change history. You can access the change history through the properties of an object:
- Click the More button at the
top right corner of the properties pane, and then click Change history
.
If you are not able to view the change history, please ask your ADOIT administrator to activate the change history in the ADOIT Administration.
Object Ownership
In ADOIT a user can be assigned ownership of a repository object . In order to do so, the user is assigned as Responsible business actor (property in the chapter "Organisation").
The object owner is responsible for the content of the object. They will be granted write access to the object, even if they usually only have read access.
End-of-Life Lookup
Have you already specified the end-of-life (EOL) date for a
System Software element? The AI
assistant in ADOIT can help you look it up, making it easy to determine and maintain EOL dates for
your elements.
Before using the AI-powered End-of-Life lookup, your ADOIT administrator must enable this feature in the ADOIT Administration.
To use the End-of-Life lookup for
System Software elements:
Open the properties of the
System Software element for
which you want to update the EOL date.In edit mode, switch to the "Lifecycle" chapter.
Click the End-of-Life Lookup button. The AI assistant will search the internet and attempt to retrieve the EOL date based on the name of the
System Software element.A results window opens. If the AI assistant successfully retrieves the information, the EOL date and its source will be displayed. Click Apply to save the date in the End of standard vendor support attribute within the "Lifecycle" chapter.
Shared Relation Ownership
Normally, a user has to have write access to the source object to create or delete a relation. When shared relation ownership is activated for a relation class, you may create or delete a relation between two objects if you have write access to either the source or the target object.
In ADOIT, relations have clearly defined start and end points thus defining source and target of the
relation. Taking the perspective of a source object, the relation can be classified as an outgoing
relation (icon 
). Taking the
perspective of the target object, the relation can be classified as an incoming relation (icon
).
When using the ArchiMate Application Library, shared relation ownership is activated for the core relationships:
Access
Accountable business actors
Aggregation
Assignment
Associated models
Association
Composition
Consulted business actors
Flow
Influence
Informed business actors
Realization
Referenced user
Replaced application components
Replaced system software
Requester
Responsible business actors
Serving
Specialization
Triggering
Vendor
Close Properties
To close the properties of a model or object:
Press <Esc> or:
Click the Close button
at the
top right corner of the properties pane.