Model types

Model types are templates for models that define which attributes are available, which object symbols a model can contain, and how these objects relate to other objects. If you define a set of model types for each tenant, you ensure that the appearance of all items complies with your company's corporate design (read more?).

Models are a collection of objects and connections. Models are graphic representatives of processes, structures, data, etc. of a company. Models, objects, and connections are described in detail by attributes. While objects represent activities, states, data, etc., connections represent how objects relate to each other.

Models are based on model types that specify certain rules, such as which connections are allowed between objects and thus, how they relate to each other.

If you have the ARIS Enterprise Admin license privilege and the Configuration administrator function privilege, you can rename model types or delete the ones you no longer want to use. If you have special modeling requirements that are not covered by the provided ARIS Method items, you can create your own ARIS model types.

To manage method types, click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Configuration Configuration > Conventions > Model 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 Model types page, you can find all model types that are included in the ARIS Method of this tenant.

You can do the following:

Create model type

If you have special modeling requirements that are not covered by the provided ARIS Method items, you can create your own ARIS model types. If you do not want to create a type from scratch, you can save time and derive your new type from an existing default type.

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

  2. Click Create model type Create model type.

    If you want to create a model type based on an existing one, select the base model type and click Derive symbol Derive model type.

    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.

  5. Assign the required attributes that you want to make available in models of this new type.

    1. Click Attributes to select the attribute types that you want to make available for this model type. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any attributes, 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. All available attributes (attribute types) are shown.

    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 model type.

    6. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

  6. Select the symbols that should be used to place model objects.

    1. Click Symbols and decide how objects should be displayed in models of this type. In the Show All view, select at least one object symbol that you want to make available. In contrast to the table you used to assign attributes, here the columns Object type and Symbol are additionally available. You can use these columns to quickly find the required symbols.

    2. Select a default symbol if required. The default symbol is used for the assigned object type if users insert this object in a model of this type.

      1. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

      2. Click Enable 'Default' or Disable 'Default', as required.

    3. Decide whether an object symbol represents a basic object or a satellite. Basic objects are mandatory model objects transporting information that is distinctive for the model. Basic objects are used to build the typical structure of a model. Satellites only contain additional information.

      1. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

      2. Click Enable 'Structural' or Disable 'Structural', as required.

    4. Click Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected symbols are listed and shown as assigned.

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

    6. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

  7. Decide which connections should be available in your new model type.

    1. Click Connections and decide how objects should be connected to each other in models of this type. For detailed information about how to connect object symbols and object types, click Information and use the required view.

      You can either select the connections from a list, or you can decide which object symbols or which object types are connected.

    2. If you want to select connection types that are available for a model type, click from all available connection types.

      If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      1. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

      2. To assign the required connections,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

      3. Use the Filter filter to quickly find connections or sort the columns.

    3. If you want to select connections that are available between distinct source object symbols and target object symbols, click between object symbols. This action is appropriate when object types provide multiple object symbols. In this case, you can decide how to connect objects that use a specific object symbol.

      1. Selected items Enable the source object symbols from which the connection should point. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

      2. Selected items Enable the target object symbols to which the connections should point.

      3. Selected items Select the required connection types. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      4. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

    4. If you want to select connections that are available between source object types and target object types, click between object types. In this case, users can connect objects using the selected connections regardless of which object symbols are displayed.

      1. Selected items Enable the source object type from which the connection should point. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

      2. Selected items Enable the target object types to which the connections should point.

      3. Selected items Select the required connection types. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

      4. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

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

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

    7. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

  8. Click Apply.

  9. Add your new model type to the method filter that users should use for login.

    You can modify the set of model types that you can make available to users with a filter.

    1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Filters.

    2. Click the filter that you want to update. You cannot modify the content of the Entire method filter, which automatically contains all method items available on the related tenant.

    3. Click Model types. The Show only types allowed view displays all items that users can use. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them. If you just created the filter from scratch, the list is empty.

    4. Select the Show all view.

    5. Selected items Enable the model types that you want to make available.

      Use the Filter filter to quickly find model types. 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 Allow Allow. In the Show only types allowed view, all selected models are listed and indicated as Assigned items allowed.

    7. Check the selection. Click Remove assignment # s_icon_conn_remove_assignment.png Remove to delete selected models from the filter.

    8. After you completed the action, click Apply.

    Users that have this filter assigned can use the selected model types.

The model type is created and can be used in filters. Your new model type is available for all users of this tenant who logged in with a method filter that contains your new model type.

Use other attributes in model types

If you want to change the set of attributes that are available in model types, proceed as follows.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 model type. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any attributes, 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. All available attributes (attribute types) are shown.

  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 model type.

  8. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

All selected attribute types are available in models of this type. Make sure that related filters contain the selected attributes.

Use other symbols in model types

If you want to change assigned object symbols, proceed as follows.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 Symbols and decide how objects should be displayed in models of this type. In the Show All view, select at least one object symbol that you want to make available. In contrast to the table you used to assign attributes, here the columns Object type and Symbol are additionally available. You can use these columns to quickly find the required symbols.

  4. Select a default symbol if required. The default symbol is used for the assigned object type if users insert this object in a model of this type.

    1. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

    2. Click Enable 'Default' or Disable 'Default', as required.

  5. Decide whether an object symbol represents a basic object or a satellite. Basic objects are mandatory model objects transporting information that is distinctive for the model. Basic objects are used to build the typical structure of a model. Satellites only contain additional information.

    1. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

    2. Click Enable 'Structural' or Disable 'Structural', as required.

  6. Click Assign. In the Show only types assigned view, all selected symbols are listed and shown as assigned.

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

  8. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

All selected object symbols are available in models of this type. Make sure that related filters contain the selected symbols.

Change Structural settings

You can decide whether an object symbol in a model represents a basic object or a satellite. Basic objects are mandatory model objects transporting information that is distinctive for the model. Basic objects build the typical structure of a model. Satellites contain additional information.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 Symbols and decide how objects should be displayed in models of this type. In the Show All view, select at least one object symbol that you want to make available. Use the Object type and Symbol columns to quickly find the required symbols.

  4. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

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

  6. Click Apply.

The setting is changed.

Change Default settings

A default symbol is an object symbol that is automatically used when users insert an object in a model.

A default symbol is the object symbol that is used to represent the object if users insert an object of this type into a model. You specify default symbols for object types and model types.

Object types

If you assign a single object symbol to an object type, you do not need to define a default symbol. You must specify a default symbol for each object type that can have multiple occurrences in a model, that is, the object can be displayed using multiple object symbols. In this case, the default symbol is displayed automatically when users place the object in a model. Users can add any other object symbols for modeling that are available for this object.

If the object definition has no information about the default symbol, the default symbol specified for the model type is used to create occurrence copies in a model.

Model types

If no default symbol is specified at an object type, the model generation function and the function for creating an occurrence copy use the default symbol specified for the model type.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 Symbols.

  4. Selected items Select an editable symbol and click Configure More.

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

  6. Click Apply.

The setting is changed.

Use other connections

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 Connections and decide how objects should be connected to each other in models of this type. For detailed information about how to connect object symbols and object types, click Information and use the required view.

    You can either select the connections from a list, or you can decide which object symbols or which object types are connected.

  4. If you want to select connection types that are available for a model type, click from all available connection types.

    If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

    1. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

    2. To assign the required connections,Selected items enable the controls in the Assigned column.

    3. Use the Filter filter to quickly find connections or sort the columns.

  5. If you want to select connections that are available between distinct source object symbols and target object symbols, click between object symbols. This action is appropriate when object types provide multiple object symbols. In this case, you can decide how to connect objects that use a specific object symbol.

    1. Selected items Enable the source object symbols from which the connection should point. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

    2. Selected items Enable the target object symbols to which the connections should point.

    3. Selected items Select the required connection types. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

    4. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

  6. If you want to select connections that are available between source object types and target object types, click between object types. In this case, users can connect objects using the selected connections regardless of which object symbols are displayed.

    1. Selected items Enable the source object type from which the connection should point. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry.

    2. Selected items Enable the target object types to which the connections should point.

    3. Selected items Select the required connection types. If you just created the model type but you have not yet assigned any connections, the Show only types assigned view displays all mandatory connection types that are locked. Locked items # Locked items are mandatory items. That means that you cannot remove or modify them.

    4. Select the Show all view to select the required types.

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

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

  9. If the assignment is OK, click Apply.

All selected connections are available in models of this type.

Get information about object symbols and connections

To change the set of assigned connections, you need knowledge of how to connect object symbols and object types. To get detailed information, use the views available on the Information pages.

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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 Information and use one of the views to find the relevant information.

    1. If you want to know which symbols you can connect with a connection type, focus a connection, click Connections with source and target, andSelected items select the connection type. Use the Filter filter to find a list entry. All source objects and target objects that you can connect using this as a the connection type are listed.

    2. If you want to know which connections to use to connect target symbols, focus a source symbol and click Symbols with outgoing connections, and Selected items select the source symbol. All related connections that can point out from the selected symbol are displayed. Selected items Select a connection type to see the related target symbols. In this case, the active names are shown because the connection points from the source to the target. The name of a connection type is always used as the active name.

    3. If you want to know which connections to use to connect source symbols, focus a target symbol and click Symbols with incoming connections, Selected items select the target symbol. All related connections that can point to the selected symbol are displayed. Selected items Select a connection type to see the related source symbols. In this case, the passive names are shown because the connection points from the target to the source.

The results are not displayed permanently. Make sure to take a screen shot of the screens. This will help you to change the set of provided connection types.

Rename model type

You can either change the name of a model 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 > Model 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 model type name

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

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

  2. Selected items Select the name that you want to reset.

  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.

Reset model type

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

  1. Click Application launcher Application launcher > Administration Administration > Conventions > Model 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.

Delete model type

If you no longer want to use a user-defined or a derived model type, you can delete it from the ARIS Method of a tenant. To prevent users from using a model type, you must remove it from the available method filters. In this case, you do not have to delete the model type from the ARIS Method of your tenant.

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

  2. Selected items Select the entries that you want to delete. You cannot delete entries of the Default (not configurable) type. You can delete only user-defined and derived types. Because default types are mandatory in ARIS Method, and customized types are renamed default types, you cannot delete those two types.

  3. Click Delete Delete.

  4. To confirm the action, click Delete.

The selected model types are deleted from the ARIS Method of this tenant.

Restore ARIS Method

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

  2. Click any method item, such as Model types.

  3. Click Restore ARIS Method Restore ARIS Method.

    Warning

    All user-defined and 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.

  4. Click Restore.

Only method items that are contained in the default ARIS Method are available on this tenant.