Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 6.0 of our Living EAM Platform

Our release 6.0 of the Living EAM Platform is now available. The new version contains the following features and improvements:

  • Overview pages – Display of descriptions of dependencies
    • The descriptions/context information of the referenced elements of dependencies can now be displayed within overview pages.
  • Analysis – Support for additional SPARQL functions
    • Additional functions such as HOURS, MINUTES, SECONDS can now be used in SPARQL queries. REGEX can now also be used outside of filters.
  • Analysis – Export and import of queries
    • Queries from the analysis module can now be exported to files and imported from files.
  • Visualizations – Export and import of visualizations
    • Visualizations can now be exported to files and imported from files.
  • Platform – Additional options for database connections
    • Instead of individual parameters, the database can be configured using a full qualified JDBC-URL (applies to configuration with VCAP or environment variables).
    • The configuration via environment variables now supports the declaration of any other connection parameters.
  • Miscellaneous
    • Various dependent libraries have been updated.
    • Please note that this version requires the following minimum requirements: Java 11 and Tomcat 9.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 5.1 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 5.1. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Overview pages – Display of query results
    • Query results can now be embedded into overview pages.
  • Overview pages – Search in functional selection field
    • Selection fields for functional dependencies now allow search in enumeration mode. In addition, it is now possible to search via the IRI reference.
  • Visualizations – Legend in cluster map visualization
    • The cluster map visualization now can be configured to show a legend for additional information values.
  • Excel Import – Save current mapping
    • After defining a data mapping for importing Excel files, the mapping can be saved in a configuration file. This eliminates the need for reconfiguration when importing other identically structured files.
  • Parameter selection for queries
    • The selection and changing of parameter values ​​for queries is now done directly above the analysis results without additional clicks and need for a dialog window.
  • Simple queries without limit
    • Any number of properties/dependencies can now be selected for simple queries.
  • Miscellaneous
    • In the course of the Log4j problem, further dependent libraries have been updated.
    • Compatibility with Postgres 13 has been checked and ensured. When updating, please note the relevant information in the installation instructions.
    • Please note that Java 11 will be mandatory for the next version.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 5.0 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 5.0. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Overview pages – structure elements
    • Complex relationships between two architecture elements are typically modeled using structure classes. When using overview pages, editing these structure elements are now supported using a new editor. The new structure elements component can be added using the configuration of overview pages.
  • Context information
    • With lists or trees of individuals as well as for serveral visualisations (cluster map, bar chart, pie chart, radar chart), context information are shown instead of descriptions if they are configured for the specific architecture element.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 4.3 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 4.3. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Visualizations
    • Graph layout map: In the graph layout map, you can now filter the classes or object properties which should be included in the graph. This gives you a more precise control over the information displayed.
    • Bar chart: We have technically revised the bar charts with this release. Different data sources and a range of layout and configuration options are now available.
  • Overview pages – graphical display of dependencies
    • In the component for the graphical display of dependencies for a class, you can now filter the object properties to be shown. In addition, you will also find the options to save the visualizations as PNG or SVG files in the overview pages.
  • Formatting and validation of data properties
    • The previous option for configuring data property patterns – for example, to display data properties as links – has been revised and split into the configuration of formatting and validation of data properties. The configuration for formatting supports different formats for numbers as well as date values depending on the data type. Additional prefix and suffix options allow the compilation of desired strings, which can also be displayed as links. When entering a value for the data property, you get a preview of the formatted value. Data property validation allows you to check the input of property values – either based on predefined or user-defined patterns.
  • Scheduling jobs
    • Controlling when which jobs should be executed in the Living EAM Platform is now done via the user interface. As an administrator, you will find corresponding configuration views in the administration view “Platform” to modify the settings.
  • Rewriter
    • The rewriter now supports explicit casts to xsd:integer and xsd:decimal data types in the select clause. Functions and mathematical operators can now also be used in the order clause.
  • Performance
    • In this release we have continued to work on the performance of the application and implemented improvements.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 4.2 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 4.2. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Performance:
    • In this release we have focused on application performance and have achieved noticeable improvements in loading different views and loading data for visualizations. We have optimized the response to SPARQL queries with A-Box constants especially for PostgreSQL.
    • For database connections, individual connection parameters for a database session can now be set using the configuration files. This extends the possibilities for performance optimization.
  • Configuration of user providers via the user interface:
    • External user providers (e.g. LDAP, OIDC) can be completely configured by the administrator via the user interface. With the update to the new version, existing configurations are automatically migrated and immediately visible in the user interface.
    • When using external user providers, the username can now be configured to be case insensitive. Please note that users who have already been created, may have to be consolidated via a provided activity.
  • REST API for OWL exports:
    • Ontologies can now also be exported to OWL via the REST-API.
  • Further adaptations:
    • User interface refinements: placeholder texts for empty descriptions have been unified and are now slightly set off from normal text. The structure of the detail pages of architecture or ontology elements is now slightly more compact, as the space to the IRI has been reduced.
    • Open matrix editor: In tables showing object properties, you can now directly open the matrix editor after selecting an object property.
    • Cross-Site Scripting: In the description of individuals as well as in text gadgets for the dashboard we have limited the HTML elements that are displayed.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 4.1 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 4.1. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Editing:
    • Move individuals: To reorganize your ontologies, you can now move individuals between different ontologies and easily reassign the class of an individual. Use this feature for example to separate active from retired systems.
    • Create data and object properties: Within the create dialog of data and object properties you can now define whether the property should be functional. For object properties the dialog also includes invers functional.
    • Language mapping for Excel import: When defining the mapping for Excel imports you can specify the target language for data properties and annotation properties with appropriate data types.
    • Delete ontology: Using a new maintenance activity you can now delete a complete ontology. Note that this operation cannot be undone.
    • Ontology information: Within the module Living Semantic Platform for each ontology statistical information are shown in the tab “Information”.
  • Visualisation:
    • Pie and radar chart: The visualisation types pie chart and radar chart have been technically refined. You can now utilize different data sources as well as change the chart using various layout and configuration options.
  • Additional Changes:
    • Move groups of queries and visualisations: For moving folders within queries and visualisations we added a specific action to the toolbar. Additionally, you can also use drag&drop to move folders.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 4.0 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 4.0. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • UI-based Configuration:
    • Starting with this new release the configuration of Ontology-related functions are no longer done using XML files on the server but using the user interface. Within the view of each ontology element there is now a new tab “Configuration” within the module Living Semantic Platform.
    • For ontology classes you can edit overview pages for editing individuals, quality metrics including the definition of rules, display of context information and the assignment to architecture layers. For designing overview pages, we provide a visual editor including a preview. It also includes additional elements to visualise individuals on overview pages such as a visualisation of dependent individuals using a graph chart. Furthermore, overview pages can now be assigned to specific roles. The configuration of data properties includes the display of values as links (data property patterns). For individuals the definition of visualisation colors is now supported using the configuration mechanism.
    • For transferring configurations between different stages, the configuration of an ontology element can be exported and imported.
  • Editing:
    • Show quality metric for all individuals of a class: If you have assigned a quality metric for an ontology class, you can now show the metric for all architecture elements within the architecture class view. Using a new ontology maintenance activity, the recalculation of the quality metric for all individuals of a selected class can be scheduled.
    • Detail page for annotation properties: For editing annotation properties a detail page like those for data and object properties has been added. Within the new detail page all annotations for the selected annotation property are shown and additional means for defining annotation properties are provided. The included SPARQL editors now also include annotation properties for auto complete suggestions.
    • Import of excel files: When importing data from excel files, the way IRIs are generated for new individuals can now be customized.
    • OWL export: The OWL export now allows for creating an export from single or multiple ontologies. When you are exporting a single ontology, you can now select in detail, which ontology elements should be included in the export.
  • REST-API:
    • Fine-grained access control for the Editor API: The Editor API now checks for two additional permission: create/edit and delete A-Box elements of an ontology. These new permissions can be assigned to roles within the user management.
    • Session API: The new Session API returns information about the roles and permission of the user that is sending the query.
    • History API: The history can now be queried based on all changes within the last n days. Also, all the data returned for each changed is now provided separately – i.e. IRIs and labels for subject, property and object / value are included as explicit elements in the API result.
  • Additional Changes:
    • Technical updates and performance optimizations: We have updated the libraries for full-text search and optimized the performance within the application.
    • Metamodel translations: The translations to specific metamodel elements of the default LEA architecture model has been refined.
    • UI refinements:  The breadcrumb links of architecture classes and elements now include the architecture layer. Also, multi selection has now been enabled for T-Box elements at several dialogs.
    • Visualisation of cluster maps: If you are using SPARQL queries as data source ORDER BY clauses are now recognized for sorting the elements within the visualisation.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 3.3 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 3.3. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Business Model Canvas:
    • We have added new elements to our Living Enterprise Architecture metamodel to describe business models based on the Business Model Canvas. Accordingly we provide configurations for an overview page as well as for quality checks.
  • Editing:
    • Improvement for the editing of architecture elements and individuals: In selection dialogs for architecture elements or individuals we now support multiselections by holding the CTRL-key. Moreover, mutiple new elements can now be created without closing the creation dialog.
    • Handling of mutiple ontologies: In case you have multiple ontologies within your installation, the ontology name can now be show within selection dialogs of T-box elements. Also, in overview pages and selection dialogs elements of other ontologie can be excluded.
    • Analysis: The number of results will now be shown in the title of a query. For simple queries the description of indivduals for the selected class can now be included in the result. Within SPARQL based queries specific columns can now be formatted as color or as date.
    • Query: In the query view you can now access a history of queries so you can access queries that have been executed in the past. Also, the number of results will now be shown.
  • Visualisations:
    • Graph chart: Symmetric object properties are now visualised with an bidirectional arrow within our graph charts.
    • Geolocation: We have revised our geolocation chart and now also supoprt the export to SVG or PNG format.
    • Process chart: In addition to small optimizations wrt. the rendering of roles, we now support the visualisation of gateways. Please note that additional model elements within your architecture metamodel are required for this features.
  • REST-API:
    • Get information of an individual: When calling the API method GET /editor/individual you can now specify the number of assertions that should be returned for the query. Thus, you can now control the amount of results produced by the call.
  • Additional Changes:
    • Adoption of Java modules (projekt Jigsaw) instead of OSGi: The new release includes first changes to our modular application concept that will be based on the new Java modules system instead of OSGi. This ensures that our platform is technologically up to date.
    • Updated system requirements: Starting from release 3.3 we now support PostgreSQL 10.x as well as OpenJDK 11.x.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 3.2 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 3.2. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Visualisations:

    • New visualization types: In addition to the familiar diagram types, bubble diagrams and time line diagrams are now also available. The graph layout map has been completely revised and offers various new configuration and display options.
    • Save visualization as image (PNG format): In addition to the SVG export, you now also have the option to save visualizations as images in PNG format.
    • Link KPIs: For each KPI tile you can now link to an analysis or to another visualization. The analysis or visualization is opened by clicking on a KPI tile.
  • Analysis:

    • Simple queries: The result display for simple queries is now individually configurable. In addition to the Excel export, a PDF export is now also available.
  • Dashboard:

    • Layout: For the Dashboard we have extended the available layouts so that you can create more individual entry pages.
    • Opening a visualization: You can open all visualizations in full screen mode from the dashboard.
  • Editing:

    • Fill level of an architectural element: Rules for quality metrics can be setup for architecture classes. These rules are displayed for each architecture element in a new “Quality” tab. The quality is determined each time an architecture element is edited.
    • Subscription of architectural elements: As a user, you can subscribe to individual architecture elements. An additional gadget is available in the dashboard that you can use to display changes to subscribed elements.
    • Overview pages: Configurable overview pages are now also available in the Living Semantic Platform module. The visibility of the generic overview page can be defined for each class and configured overview page. Within the generic overview page, the display of elements can be restricted to the current ontology.
    • Excel Import: The update mode can now be set for manual Excel import. The display of warnings has been improved.
    • Show/hide descriptions in selection dialogs: A toggle button allows you to activate or deactivate the display of descriptions for individuals in selection dialogs.
  • REST API:

    • Performance: The performance of various operations has been improved. In addition, the documentation and error handling has been improved.
    • History: Via the REST API you now have access to the history of individuals.
  • Help System:

    • The new version provides you with a revised help system. The contents of the help system have been slightly restructured and revised.
  • Further Improvements:

    • SSO with Kerberos: Now you can set up a single sign-on with Kerberos in Windows environments.
    • Forwarding with OIDC login: After the OIDC login, you will now be forwarded to the corresponding detail page if you have opened a link to a detail page.
    • Conversion of logos to SVG: By default, application and company logos are now displayed in SVG format. However, PNG images can still be used.
    • Rewriter optimizations: The regexp function for filtering results has been extended in Rewriter. Performance for handling larger queries has been improved.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.

Living EAM Platform by Softplant GmbH

Release 3.1 of our Living EAM Platform

We have just released Living EAM Platform version 3.1. It includes following new features and improvements:

  • Analysis and Visualisations:
    • Simple Queries: Create new architecture queries using guided selection fields. For simple queries SPARQL experience is no longer required.
    • Read Mode for Analysis and Visualisations: Starting with the new release, results of analysis and visualisations will be shown automatically. You can now switch to an editing mode to configure your analysis and visualisations.
  • Dashboard:
    • Shared Dashboard for specific Roles: Teams can now manage dashboards collaboratively. For specific user groups a default dashboard view can be configured. Thus you can provide an easy starting page for new users.
    • Text Gadget: Add explanatory text or links to any dashboard using the new text gadget to provide additional information to your users.
  • Cluster Map:
    • Additional Layout Options: Several new layouting options make our cluster map more flexible. Use horizontal/vertical as well as multiline/mulitcolumn layouts for cluster elements. Description of cluster elements can be added. Also, for cluster elements a minimum width and height can be defined.
    • Export as SVG: All cluster maps can now be exported to SVG, to reuse the chart e.g. in presentations. Exports for additional visualisation types will be added in further releases.
  • Process Chart:
    • Animation: Inputs/outputs as well as systems can now be animated within the chart.
  • Editing:
    • Show Descriptions: Within selection dialogs for each selectable or selected individual the description of the element will be shown. On the generic overview page the visibility of the description can be toggled within the user configuration.
    • Show Context Information for Architecture Elements: On the generic overview page as well as within selection dialogs contextual information can be shown instead of the default description. For defined classes the context information can be configured individually. E.g. for each application service the appropriate application can be shown as description.
  • REST-API:
    • For all A-Box operations there are now REST-APIs, so you can provide custom user interfaces for individual use cases based on the Living EAM Platform.
  • Support Tomcat 9:
    • Since this new release we add support for Tomcat 9.x.

Our contact persons are available for any questions regarding the new features of our Living EAM Platform. In case you need more information, we would be happy to provide you a test account for our tool.