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Version: 17.0

New Features in ADOIT 17.0

ADOIT 17.0, the latest version of our powerful Enterprise Architecture (EA) suite, is now available! This release is packed with exciting new features and enhancements, including the brand new ADOIT Administration, and the new commenting feature that makes collaboration in ADOIT easier than ever! Whether you're an experienced user or new to ADOIT, this update has something for everyone. Read on to learn what's new in ADOIT 17.0!

New Features for All Users

Comments

The new commenting feature replaces the collaboration component known from earlier ADOIT versions.

View Comments

When you and your colleagues create comments on a model or object, they are displayed in the Comments pane on the right side of the program window. All conversations are listed here.

Comment bubbles and Comments pane

Additionally, comments are shown in the graphical editor along with the objects they refer to. A bubble will appear next to each object in the model. The number in the bubble shows how many comments an object has bubble with number. Objects with no comments display a bubble with a plus icon inside bubble with plus sign.

Comments can be shown and hidden at any time.

Add a Comment

Add a comment to a repository object or a model as a whole in the Comments pane.

Add Comment button

Or comment on a specific modelling object directly in the graphical editor. To do this, all you have to do is click on the bubble next to the object bubble with plus sign.

Replies and Mentions

As other users respond to a comment, you will be able to see the entire conversation, with the original message at the top and replies below it.

A comment and replies

You can use @ to mention someone, and they will receive an email notification.

Mention in comment

Automatic Notifications

You will receive email notifications when you are a part of a conversation and someone posts a new reply, or when a comment is closed or reopened. You will also be notified if you are responsible for an object or model, and someone writes a comment.

Edit or Delete Comments

You can edit or delete your own comments. Additionally, if you are responsible for an object or model, you can delete comments.

Resolve Comment

When a discussion is finished, you can resolve a comment. The entire conversation will be hidden from the Comments pane, but will not be deleted.

You can switch back and forth between showing open and closed comments at any time.

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For details, please refer to the section "Comments" in the User Manual.

Workspaces: Improved Visibility

Workspaces have been improved in ADOIT 17.0 to make it easier to manage and maintain them.

Improved Visibility

Previously, workspaces were only accessible within the "Workspaces" scenario and remained invisible in other ADOIT scenarios such as "Design & Document" or "Read & Explore".

In ADOIT 17.0, workspaces are fully visible and accessible as objects in the Explorer, giving access to useful functions. By simply opening the properties of a workspace object, you can view important information such as members, elements within the workspace, and more.

Workspaces as objects in the Explorer

Thumbnail View on Start Page

ADOIT now shows thumbnails of your most recently opened elements and your favourite models and objects on the start pages of the "Design & Document" and "Read & Explore" scenarios.

Prefer the list view? No problem. You can easily switch between the two layouts using the Show list icon Show list icon and Show tiles icon Show tiles icons.

Thumbnails

Improved "New" Area

The New icon New area has been enhanced to provide even better guidance. Now, elements in the recommendations list display additional information, offering insights into their purpose. Furthermore, the icon sizes have been adjusted for clearer visual comprehension.

New area

Create Chart Templates

Ever wished you could save a chart configuration to use again and again? Now you can!

With admin privileges, you can save your chart configurations as templates. This feature not only allows you to reuse your configurations, but also to make them available for others. You can also perform administrative tasks, such as renaming or deleting both user-created and predefined templates.

Manage templates

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For details, please refer to the section "Manage templates" in the User Manual.

Accessibility Mode Now Available

Accessibility mode enables users with impairments to utilise ADOIT more effectively. Enabling this mode applies focus indicators to interactive elements and opens models in the tabular editor by default, instead of the graphical editor.

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For details, please refer to the section "Accessibility Mode" in the User Manual.

Additional Improvements to Existing Features

In addition to these more major changes, ADOIT 17.0 also includes numerous minor improvements, including:

Matrix Charts: Select Any Object Type for Rows

Previously, only object types from the dataset could be selected for the y-axis (= rows) in matrix charts. This restriction has now been removed and you can select any object type.

Never Accidentally Close a Model Instead of the Right-side Pane Again!

Due to widespread feedback, we've introduced an X button for closing the right-side pane.

Right-side pane

Explorer: Collapse Selected Groups

Select "Collapse selected" to collapse a group along with all its subgroups. This is useful as a reset, clearing any previous expansions made on subgroups. When you expand the parent group again, only the immediate level will open, as if the group had never been expanded before.

Collapse selected command

Saved Query: Name Displayed Above the Search Results

When you execute a saved query, the name of the query is now displayed above the search results.

Generate Images in JPG Format

You now have more flexibility in choosing the image format that best suits your needs when exporting models in the graphical editor as graphic files. In addition to generating images in PNG or SVG format, ADOIT now also supports generating JPG files.

Generate images in JPG format

Dock/Undock Notebook is Making a Comeback

Due to popular demand, the dock/undock option is making a comeback in ADOIT 17.0. This feature was originally removed during the huge user interface redesign in ADOIT 12.0. However, we received feedback from our users that they missed the convenience of being able to easily compare attribute values between two objects side by side. We listened to your feedback and are bringing back this feature.

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Some users have had access to this convenient feature for a while now: it was also integrated into the hotfixes ADOIT 15.1.8 and ADOIT 16.0.3.

For details, please refer to the section "Dock/Undock Notebook" in the User Manual.

New Features for Users of the ArchiMate Application Library

Represent Objects with Custom Uploaded Images

To make EA content more communicable to business and management level stakeholders, you can now upload custom images to represent ArchiMate elements in the graphical editor. Once an image is set for an element, it will be displayed across all models where that element is reused, replacing the standard representation.

Represent objects as uploaded images

New Properties

This feature introduces new attributes for all ArchiMate elements, including Application Component icon Application Components and Business Actor icon Business Actors. These attributes are located in the Notebook chapter "Representation" under the "Visualisation options - external graphic" group:

  • Image (upload or URL): Upload an image. Optionally, you can provide an image URL.

  • Show image: Enables or disables the display of the uploaded image, reverting to the standard representation when turned off in the model context.

  • Show image as thumbnail: Available only when Show image is activated, this option lets you display the image as a thumbnail alongside the element.

Uploading and Customizing Images

To upload an image, open the Notebook of the ArchiMate element from the Object Catalogue. This ensures you are working with global attribute values, which need to be updated.

Upload image

By default, uploaded images may display a background color and an icon representing the element type in the upper right corner. To show only the uploaded image, open the Notebook of the ArchiMate element in the graphical editor to access the model-specific attribute values. Then, in the "Representation" chapter, set the Color to white (#FFFFFF) and clear the Show icon check box.

Customise image

You can now easily visualise links between ArchiMate elements and their associated models directly in the graphical editor. When a model is linked to an element (using the Associated models relation in the Notebook chapter "General"), a clickable link can be displayed on the element. To enable this feature, simply activate the new Visualise associated model link attribute in the "Representation" chapter.

Display links to associated models

Format Name as Vertical Text

All ArchiMate elements, apart from Grouping icon Groupings, now feature a Rotate Text attribute (in the Notebook chapter "General"). Selecting this attribute rotates the element’s name from a horizontal to a vertical position. This feature provides greater flexibility in how you present objects, helping you achieve the desired layout and appearance in your models.

Format name as vertical text

Reduced Minimum Width & Height for ArchiMate Elements

We've reduced the minimum width and height for all ArchiMate elements, allowing for more compact and flexible designs. The width has been decreased from its previous minimum by more than half, making it easier to fit elements into smaller spaces while maintaining clarity in your models.

Reduced minimum width for ArchiMate elements

Hide Icons in ArchiMate Elements

ArchiMate elements are typically displayed as boxes with an icon in the top-right corner. You now have the ability to hide this icon for a cleaner look. To do so, simply clear the Show icon option in the "Representation" chapter of the Notebook.

Hide icons in ArchiMate elements

Document Costs of ArchiMate Elements

We’ve heard your requests to extend cost documentation capabilities to more ArchiMate elements beyond just Application Component icon Application Components.

In response, a new "Costs" chapter has been introduced in the Notebook for the ArchiMate elements listed below, including the following attributes:

  • Investment cost

  • Operating cost

  • Currency

Here are the ArchiMate elements for which costs can now be documented:

Application Collaboration icon
Application Collaboration
Application Event icon
Application Event
Application Function icon
Application Function
Application Interaction icon
Application Interaction
Application Interface icon
Application Interface
Application Process icon
Application Process
Application Service icon
Application Service
Artifact icon
Artifact
Communication Network icon
Communication Network
Device icon
Device
Node icon
Node
Path icon
Path
System Software icon
System Software
Technology Collaboration icon
Technology Collaboration
Technology Event icon
Technology Event
Technology Function icon
Technology Function
Technology Interaction icon
Technology Interaction
Technology Interface icon
Technology Interface
Technology Process icon
Technology Process
Technology Service icon
Technology Service
Distribution Network icon
Distribution Network
Equipment icon
Equipment
Facility icon
Facility

Set the Lifecycle State of Application Services

Thanks to your valuable feedback, we have now added a Lifecycle state attribute to the "Lifecycle" chapter in the Notebook for Application Service icon Application Services.

Set the lifecycle state of Application Services

New Features for ADOIT Administrators

New ADOIT Administration

The completely redesigned and extended ADOIT Administration allows you to perform all administrative tasks directly from the browser, replacing the Administration Toolkit desktop application.

ADOIT Administration

The ADOIT Administration includes the following components:

  • Users: Create, edit, and delete user groups and users. Import and export users. Track administrative actions in the audit log.

  • Rights: Manage permissions for user groups and users. Grant or revoke access to content as needed.

  • System Roles: Create, edit, and delete system roles, and assign members to system roles.

  • Libraries: Update, import and export libraries. Manage the text resources of the metamodel.

  • Repositories: Manage Repositories. Import and export models, objects, repositories and migration packages.

  • Properties: A brand new module for extending the metamodel (more on this below). Add, change, remove and organise properties of object and model types.

  • Settings: Configure a wide range of library-specific features.

  • Licence: View licence information and add a new licence if necessary.

  • Authentication: Manage authentication mechanisms for users accessing ADOIT, as well as for connecting to the REST API.

In addition to the above components, the Tools menu grants access to advanced settings, including real-time monitoring of ADOIT's status, and the ability to perform maintenance tasks.

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For instructions on using all features of the new ADOIT Administration, check out the ADOIT 17.0 Administration Help.

Essentially, the functional scope of the listed components remains largely unchanged. While they boast new names and sport a modern user interface, they continue to facilitate the same administrative tasks.

However, some components and settings are new or offer a wider array of capabilities. These are described in the following sections.

Properties: A New Module for Extending the Metamodel

The Properties module, now available in the ADOIT Administration, provides you with the flexibility to tailor the properties of object and model types to meet your organisation's needs.

You have full control over the allocation of properties, allowing you to structure them into chapters and groups as needed. At the granular level of individual properties, you can effortlessly assign or remove existing attributes and relations, and even introduce new attributes to an element.

Properties page

Furthermore, you can modify default values for enumeration and Boolean attributes, and expand the value range for enumeration attributes. Additionally, you can change attribute help texts and specify which attributes are mandatory.

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The Properties module is available at no extra charge for existing ADOIT customers, but a new license is required. Please contact your ADOIT consultant to obtain one.

For details about using the Properties module, please refer to the section "Properties" in the Administration Help.

Clickable Banner

Add a link to your banner image effortlessly in the new ADOIT Administration. This will make the banner on the "Design & Document" start page clickable, guiding modellers to the desired page.

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For details, please refer to the section "Corporate Identity" in the Administration Help.

Application Investment Planning: Edit Surveys

In ADOIT 17.0, you can customise the surveys for assessing application fitness levels within Application Investment Planning workspaces. You have the flexibility to create, modify, or remove questions and answers, and adjust their placement, enabling a more precise evaluation of applications in alignment with your organisation's specific goals and requirements.

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For details, please refer to the section "Application Investment Planning" in the Administration Help.

Workspaces: Expanded Administrative Capabilities

In ADOIT 17, we've introduced a series of enhancements aimed at providing administrators with greater flexibility and control over workspace management.

Manage Permissions and Import/Export Capabilities

Workspaces are now available as objects in the Object Catalogue, making it possible to manage access permissions directly in the new ADOIT Administration. Through this change, workspaces can also be individually exported and imported into other ADOIT repositories if necessary.

Configure Default Save Location

Another significant addition is the ability for ADOIT administrators to choose the default object group for saving new workspaces. All users of the "Workspaces" scenario should have write access to this object group.

Prior to this update, the save location for new workspaces was predefined and defaulted to the "Objects" group, the main object group in the Object Catalogue. However, access to this default group is often restricted in customer environments, posing a significant barrier to workspace creation.

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For details, please refer to the section "Settings" in the Administration Help.

Settings for Comments

The settings for comments allow you to exactly define which relations indicating responsibility should trigger email notifications if someone leaves a comment on a model or object.

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For details, please refer to the section "Comments" in the Administration Help.

Set JPEG as Image Format

In ADOIT 17.0, you have the option to specify JPEG as the image format for contained images when printing models to PDF. Moreover, you can designate JPEG as the default image format for image generation, although ADOIT users can override this setting and generate images in PNG or SVG format as well.

Set JPEG as image format

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For details, please refer to the section "Printing and Reporting" in the Administration Help.

Removed Features

This section lists features that have been removed from ADOIT 17.0.

Administration Toolkit

The desktop application Administration Toolkit (aaws.exe) has been removed from ADOIT 17.0 and replaced with the web-based ADOIT Administration.

Database Administration

The tool Database Administration (adbinstws.exe) has been removed from ADOIT 17.0.

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For detailed instructions on how to create a database with SQL Server 2016/2017/2019/2022 or Oracle 19c, refer to the database manuals in the installation package in the folder "01 Installation Manual".

For detailed instructions on how to create a database with PostgreSQL, refer to Creating a PostgreSQL Database.

Set up System Users (Deprecated)

The deprecated authentication mechanism "Standard (System Users)" which allowed manually importing "system users" from the directory service Microsoft Active Directory directly in the Administration Toolkit is not supported anymore.

New ADOIT Connect for BPM/ADONIS Available

The "BOC Management Office Integration Interface (MOI)" for synchronising objects between ADOIT and ADONIS has been removed from ADOIT 17.0. Synchronisation is still possible via the "Integration Framework".

Migration from an Earlier Version of ADOIT to ADOIT 17.0

Changes to Software Requirements

Please note the following changes to the software requirements for running ADOIT when migrating from previous versions.

No longer supported:

  • Tomcat 8 and Tomcat 9

  • Java 8 and Java 11

Added support for:

  • Tomcat 10.1

  • Java 17

Upgrade ADOIT

The Installation Manual contains a number of migration guides that will help you upgrade ADOIT from an older version to version 17.0. Each guide contains all the steps that need to be taken, with everything explained in detail:

Migration from ADOIT 14.0 or Earlier to ADOIT 17.0 (ArchiMate Library)

If you are using ADOIT 14.0 or earlier with the ArchiMate Application Library, please contact your ADOIT consultant for assistance with the required steps.

Switch from Standard Library to ArchiMate Library

With ADOIT 16.0, the ADOIT Standard Application Library has been discontinued and is no longer supported. Are you using ADOIT 15.0/15.1 or earlier with the ADOIT Standard Application Library? To upgrade to ADOIT 17.0, you need to switch to the ArchiMate Application Library. Please contact your ADOIT consultant for assistance with the migration.

Install Hotfix

You are already using ADOIT 17.0 and want to install a hotfix? Here are step-by-step instructions: