An Enterprise Architect project is stored in a data repository. In Enterprise Architect Desktop and Professional editions, you work with a single file having a .EAP extension. In Enterprise Architect Corporate edition you can use a suitable DBMS database for project files.
Project Files
In Enterprise Architect Desktop and Professional editions, a single file with a .EAP extension is used to store projects. A .EAP file is a Microsoft JET database, so you can also open it using MS Access or any other reporting tool that can work with JET databases.
In Enterprise Architect Corporate edition, you can use a suitable DBMS database for model files. DBMS project files have the same logical structure as .EAP model files, but must be connected to using ADO/ODBC. See Connect to a Data Repository, below.
Whenever you launch Enterprise Architect, the first thing displayed is the Start Page. From here, you can create a new project, open a project and connect to a data repository (Corporate edition only).
Create a New Project File
On creating a new project, the Model Wizard enables you to select various model packages.
You can also add models to a project from the Project Browser window by:
| · | Right-clicking on an existing model and selecting the New Model or Add model using Wizard context menu options |
| · | Right-clicking on a package and selecting the Add | Add model using Wizard context menu option |
| · | Clicking on an existing model, pressing [Insert] and selecting the New Model or Add model using Wizard context menu options |
| · | Clicking on a package, pressing [Insert] and selecting the Add model using Wizard context menu option. |
Open an Existing Project
There are various ways to open a project in Enterprise Architect. New users are advised to explore the EAExample file supplied with Enterprise Architect.
Connect to a Data Repository
Note: This feature is available in the Corporate edition only.
Enterprise Architect enables you to connect to a data repository. Enterprise Architect currently supports the following data repositories:
| · | MS Access (in all editions - .EAP files are stored in Microsoft JET databases) |
| · | MSDE |
To create a new data repository, you must first create a new database with the DBMS management software, then run supplied scripts to create the logical structure. You should then use Enterprise Architect data transfer functions to move a project from a .EAP or DBMS model into the new project.