You find standard SQL somehow old, limited, difficult to learn and has a lot of dialects? You think a Compiler can find a lot of your typos, Then give LINQ to SQL a try. You have two possibilities:

• LINQPad  as an interactive query and debugging tool, database independent, C#, F#, VB
• Develop your Add-In with LINQ to SQL

The main advantages of LINQ for SQL are:

• Database independent
• Combines the benefits of SQL like and Code (C#, F#, VB)
• IntelliSense, Autocomplete, let the Compiler find your typos
• Powerful Debug as you know from C# & Co.
• LINQ provides a rich Eco-System (SQL, XML to name a few)

The LINQPad:

Ready to use Scratchpad to run, debug and visualize your Find and Debug for all your EA Databases. Show the code for the above grid:

IntelliSense, Autocomplete:

Let the Compiler find your typos.

Export to Excel:

Steps with LINQPad:

• Create a new connection to your EA Database
• Assign the connection to the query at hand

Look inside:

• Combine queries and Code
• EA Databases supported
• Arbitrary complex queries without the limitations of SQL
• Edit, Debug, Visualize
• C#, F#, VB, LINQ (XML, SQL,..)

Add-In with LINQ to SQL:

You find two examples to tinker with in AddInSimple (part of hoTools). In essence:

• Determine Database and connection string
• Run LINQ query to DataTable
• Output DataTable to EA Model Search
• Enjoy

The results:

Start with AddinSimple and EAExample.eap.

Control Code:

The Query:

Summary:

LINQ to SQL is the solution for complex queries:

• Interactive query tool LINPad
• In your Add-In to easily handle complex queries database independent
• Database independent
• IntelliSense and AutoComplete
• Compiler verifies against EA Database (no typos, type safe)
• Comprehensive debug features

From viewpoint EA user:

• Find in EA - everything without SQL limitations
• Verify your EA models
• Make metrics of your EA models

Write it once and use it for all your EA databases - regardless of location or type. Just connect your query with the new Database.

References:

• AddInSimple to show the basics
• LINQPad for SQL
• LINQPad for command line, call from EA
• LINQPad predicate builder
• LINQPad Tips & Tricks by Dan Clarke
• LINQ to SQL driver
• Tips&Tricks
• Implementation

This and more you can see at https://github.com/Helmut-Ortmann/EnterpriseArchitect_hoTools/wiki/LinqToSql.

I appreciate your experiences and feedback!

Kind regards,

Helmut

Creating Charts in Enterprise Architect to Aid Decision Making

Date: September 2014

Mr Scott Hebbard, Communications Manager at Sparx Systems, will show how Charts in Enterprise Architect can help you manage projects, communicate strategy, identify trends, track KPI's and make informed decisions.

In this webinar you will learn how to:

• Place Charts and Graphs on diagrams, group them to display an interactive project dashboard and include them in generated reports
• Source data from the model, from specific Packages within the model, or from a custom SQL query that extracts the information from the model
• Create burn down charts and time series graphs that are automatically updated by Enterprise Architect on a regular basis.

Register Here ...