IDEA is a number of tools for modeling Data Architecture in Sparx Enterprise Architect. IDEA stands for Integrated Data Entity Architecture and offers an integration of conceptual, logical and physical architecture. In addition to viewpoints and scripts and automation, there is an example development of a data catalog.
What is special about the IDEA AddOn is that it is an Open Source product. On the other hand, it is the community that determines the functionality. The community meets periodically to exchange ideas about functionalities and a backlog is compiled based on this.
For IDEA we developed a number of screens and scripts to simplify the process of data modelers in a three layer architecture. Think of generators of a physical model based on a logical model, placing mappings between attributes, refactoring models etc.
This IDEA Web Publication Platform (WPP) platform allows organizations to easily publish a Sparx EA repository with data models via a simple web interface. This site provides an example application of a simple data catalog and a number of layered data models.
Example repository with elaboration of viewpoints, an example three-layer architecture with a conceptual, logical and physical data model. A set of scripts, reports and search screens
An e-learning for using and configuring the IDEA AddOn for Sparx Enterprise Architect. A webvideo is recorded for every functionality in IDEA.
An playlist with instruction videos about using and configuring the IDEA AddOn for Sparx Enterprise Architect. This is a continuously updated list of videos with scenarios of the usage of the open source IDEA AddOn.
Generate mappings in a form with grids based on your diagram content
Refactoring of attributes in a datamodel based on propagation of attributes
Deduplication of screens based on the name, stereotype and version number
Aid for release management in a DTAP configuration of models.
Web based environment for an IDEA repository for non modelers and other stakeholders.
The IDEA AddOn is an open source initiative (under EUPL license). This means that you can download the components and software and use it without any license costs. The community is requesting for functionalities and these will be implemented by us in a future version.
The community is therefore essential for us. There is already a small group of organisations actively participating in this community. When you want to become an active member of the IDEA community or want to request functionalities please do not hesitate to contact us.