Connection types

Connection types are templates for connections. A connection is the graphical representation of a relationship between two objects in a model. Use connection types to define which objects to connect, the attributes to use for the connections, the models to assign to the connections, and the models that include the connections (read more?).

If you have the ARIS Enterprise Admin license privilege and the Configuration administrator function privilege, you can rename and modify connection types. You cannot create or derive connection types. Because default types are mandatory in ARIS Method, and customized types are renamed default types, you cannot delete those two types.

To manage connection types, click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Configuration Configuration > Conventions > Connection types.

You can modify items indicated in the Type column as:

  • Unchanged original (Default)

  • Modified item that was based on an original (Derived)

  • Item that was changed by an authorized user (Customized)

  • Item that was added to the default ARIS Method (User-defined).

You cannot modify items of the Default (not configurable) type.

To continue using user-defined or customized method items from previous ARIS versions, you must import the previous filters that contain all user-defined and customized items. These items are created and thus become visible only due to the filter import. You must restore the databases of previous versions on your current tenant after the filter import.

On the Connection types page, you can find all the connection types that are included in the ARIS Method of this tenant. Use the Filter filter to find the type you want to continue with.

The name of a connection type is related to the orientation of a connection. The names listed are the active names. The active name is identical with the name of the connection type. The active name indicates that the connection runs from the source to the target object. The passive name is the names of connections running from the target to the source object.

You can do the following:

Modify connection type

If you have special modeling requirements that are not covered by the provided ARIS Method items, you can modify connection types. You can rename connection types and change the set of attributes, connection assignments, and model types that allow connections of this type. You cannot create or derive connection types.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

    All attributes are displayed in the language with which you logged in.

  3. Select all configuration languages that you use on this tenant.

    Use configuration languages to specify the names and descriptions of all items that are managed in the Configuration section for this tenant, such as method items, filters, templates, font formats, content type sets, and evaluation scripts.

    The Configuration administrators create the set of configuration languages that are available on a tenant.

  4. Enter the attribute values, such as Name and Description. You cannot edit certain attributes that are set by the system, such as Original name, API name, or GUID.

    Warning

    You must enter all values in each language. If you do not enter the name and description in a language, users who log in with this language will not be able to find this filter because (Untitled) is displayed as the filter name.

    You should also change the passive name. When renaming, use the original passive name as a reference.

  5. Click Connected objects to view the objects that users can connect using this connection type. You cannot modify the set of objects.

  6. Assign the required attributes that you want to make available for connections of this type.

    1. Click Attributes to select the attribute types that you want to make available for this connection type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked attributes. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

    2. Select the Show all view.

    3. To assign the required attributes,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

      Use the Filter filter to quickly find attributes or sort the columns. If you are looking for attributes you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

    4. Click Assign # s_icon_conn_assign.png Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected attributes are listed and shown as Assigned items assigned.

    5. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment # s_icon_conn_remove_assignment.png Remove to delete selected attributes from the connection type.

    6. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

  7. Select the model types that you want to allow users to assign to connections of this type.

    1. Click Assignments to select the model types that you want to provide as assignments for connections of this type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

    2. Select the Show all view.

    3. To assign the required models,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

      Use the Filter filter to quickly find model types or sort the columns. If you are looking for model types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined, Derived, or Customized keywords. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

    4. Click Assign # s_icon_conn_assign.png Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected models are listed and shown as Assigned items assigned.

    5. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment # s_icon_conn_remove_assignment.png Remove to delete selected connections from the model type.

    6. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

  8. Click Connected objects to view which connections are available between model objects. You cannot modify the set of connections.

  9. Click Used in model types to view the models in which connections of this type are available. You cannot modify the set of models.

  10. Click Apply.

  11. Add the connection type to the method filter that users should use for login.

The connection type is updated and available for all users of this tenant who logged in with the method filter that contains this connection type.

Use other attributes in connection types

If you want to change the set of attributes that users can see or specify, proceed as follows.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

  3. Click Attributes to select the attribute types that you want to make available for this connection type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked attributes. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

  4. Select the Show all view.

  5. To assign the required attributes,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

    Use the Filter filter to quickly find attributes or sort the columns. If you are looking for attributes you configured, filter the list using the User-defined keyword. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

  6. Click Assign # s_icon_conn_assign.png Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected attributes are listed and shown as Assigned items assigned.

  7. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment # s_icon_conn_remove_assignment.png Remove to delete selected attributes from the connection type.

  8. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

All selected attribute types are available for connections of this type.

Assign other models to connection types

If you want to change the set of models that can be assigned to connections, proceed as follows.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

  3. Click Assignments to select the model types that you want to provide as assignments for connections of this type. The Show only types assigned view displays all locked model types. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

  4. Select the Show all view.

  5. To assign the required models,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

    Use the Filter filter to quickly find model types or sort the columns. If you are looking for model types you configured, filter the list using the User-defined, Derived, or Customized keywords. If you click a header, the column entries are sorted.

  6. Click Assign # s_icon_conn_assign.png Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected models are listed and shown as Assigned items assigned.

  7. Check the assignment. Click Remove assignment # s_icon_conn_remove_assignment.png Remove to delete selected connections from the model type.

  8. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

All selected models can be assigned to connections of this type.

Change Insert object setting for connection assignment

You can decide whether the model assigned to the connection contains related objects or if the assigned model should be empty.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

  3. Click Assignments to select the model type for which you want to change the setting.

  4. Selected items Select the editable model type and click Configure More.

  5. Click Enable 'Insert object' or Disable 'Insert object', as required.

  6. Click Apply.

The setting is changed.

Change Unique setting for connection assignment

Decide whether users can only assign one model of a type to the connection or if multiple models of a type can be assigned.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Click the entry that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

  3. Click Assignments to select the model type for which you want to change the setting.

  4. Selected items Select the editable model type and click Configure More.

  5. Click Enable 'Unique' or Disable 'Unique', as required.

  6. Click Apply.

The setting is changed.

Rename connection type

You can either change the name of a connection type in the current language or you can change the names and descriptions in multiple languages.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Selected items Select the name that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

  3. Click Rename Rename to change the name in the current language. To change the name and description in multiple languages, click Edit Edit, select the languages, and overwrite the current name or description in each language as required.

The names and descriptions are changed. For default ARIS Method items, the original names always remain so that you can easily reset your modifications to the default state.

Reset connection type name

You can reset the name of user-defined and customized connection types in the current language.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Selected items Select the name that you want to change. You cannot modify entries of the Default (not configurable) type.

  3. Click Rename Rename. The current name is displayed.

  4. Click Reset. The original name is used in the current language.

  5. Click Save.

The name is changed in the current language.

If you changed the passive name as well, make sure to reset this name to the original passive name as well.

Reset connection type

You can replace one or several of the customized connection types on this tenant with original connection types from the standard ARIS Method.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Connection types.

  2. Enter Customized as a keyword and Filter filter the list to find all customized types that you can reset.

  3. Selected items Select the items that you want to reset to the default state.

  4. Click Reset items Reset.

    Warning

    All selected customized method items are deleted and replaced by default ARIS Method items. Make sure that you exported method filters containing customized method items before you proceed. Then you can restore customized method items by importing the filters again.

  5. Click Reset to confirm the action.

All selected items are reset to the default state.