Software Modelling in Visio Std. vs. Pro (logical network diagrams?)

[Yechezkal Gutfreund]

We need to create simple (not even necessarily UML compliant) block model
diagrams of our .NET C# projects
(class hierarchies, illustrate inter-network communication between models,
and timing diagrams).

Our previous developer used a MAC utility called GRAFFLE. Which produced
awesome color and 3D diagrams. Unfortunately, that is a Macintosh only tool.

We are now considering Visio. But which version? Looking at the version
charts we see we DON't care about the database features, but what specific
tools are included in this two PRO only features:

* Software diagramming with reverse engineering

[i.e. what specific tool is there here?]

* Logical network diagrams

Can anyone fill me in more clearly what these tools are (I have access to
the demo version).


--
==================================
Yechezkal Gutfreund
Chief Scientist
Kesser Technical Group, Inc.
==================================

 

[Al Edlund]

well, for a start there are three editions of visio that should be
considered when working with software development. There is standard,
professional and enterprise architect. The primary difference between
standard and professional is the amount of automation available (wizards)
across the tool in the form of
add-ons.
The software modeling/ reverse engineering is reading source code and giving
the class objects back so
that the user may diagram there relationships. There is no automated
flowcharting for application logic.
In the EA edition which comes with VS.NET enterprise architect you gain the
ability to export the class
definitions.

Logical network diagrams are merely stencils with high level objects that
can be used to create a view
of the network. There is no network autodiscovery in the tool anymore.

hope this helps,
Al

 

[Crack]

Hi Al,
I am interested in your comment "There is no network autodiscovery in the
tool anymore."
Why would this be the case?
I have used visio 2000,2002,2003 and have not seen any network auto
discovery functionality.
Are Networks becoming too complex to draw via automation?
or, are automatic renditions to limited in the amount of information that
can be displayed?

Hand crafted Network Diagrams are difficult to produce and satisfy all
clientel, therefore I assume the output of the autonetwork discovery function
had similar issues.

well, for a start there are three editions of visio that should be
considered when working with software development. There is standard,
professional and enterprise architect. The primary difference between
standard and professional is the amount of automation available (wizards)
across the tool in the form of
add-ons.
The software modeling/ reverse engineering is reading source code and giving
the class objects back so
that the user may diagram there relationships. There is no automated
flowcharting for application logic.
In the EA edition which comes with VS.NET enterprise architect you gain the
ability to export the class
definitions.

Logical network diagrams are merely stencils with high level objects that
can be used to create a view
of the network. There is no network autodiscovery in the tool anymore.

hope this helps,
Al

We need to create simple (not even necessarily UML compliant) block model
diagrams of our .NET C# projects
(class hierarchies, illustrate inter-network communication between models,
and timing diagrams).

Our previous developer used a MAC utility called GRAFFLE. Which produced
awesome color and 3D diagrams. Unfortunately, that is a Macintosh only
tool.

We are now considering Visio. But which version? Looking at the version
charts we see we DON't care about the database features, but what specific
tools are included in this two PRO only features:

* Software diagramming with reverse engineering

[i.e. what specific tool is there here?]

* Logical network diagrams

Can anyone fill me in more clearly what these tools are (I have access to
the demo version).


--
==================================
Yechezkal Gutfreund
Chief Scientist
Kesser Technical Group, Inc.
==================================

 

[Al Edlund]

I have no direct knowledge of why MS dropped the product, I would suspect
that it was a business (networking) that they did not feel they could get
the return on for what it took to be there. Autodiscovery (networks, ad,
etc.) was dropped in mid-2002.

The problem with network tools is that if you have a small network (only a
couple of hundred devices and servers) you rarely want to ante up what a
good tool costs, and if you have a large one you're not going to get it all
on one diagram anyway. The fluke tool that is included in the resource kit
that MS sells is a nice single site tool for most small network needs
although it lacks a lot of what was available in VENT (things like the
ability to write code against the database VNOM model). I ended up building
my own solution (discovery and drawing).

Al

Hi Al,
I am interested in your comment "There is no network autodiscovery in the
tool anymore."
Why would this be the case?
I have used visio 2000,2002,2003 and have not seen any network auto
discovery functionality.
Are Networks becoming too complex to draw via automation?
or, are automatic renditions to limited in the amount of information that
can be displayed?

Hand crafted Network Diagrams are difficult to produce and satisfy all
clientel, therefore I assume the output of the autonetwork discovery
function
had similar issues.

well, for a start there are three editions of visio that should be
considered when working with software development. There is standard,
professional and enterprise architect. The primary difference between
standard and professional is the amount of automation available (wizards)
across the tool in the form of
add-ons.
The software modeling/ reverse engineering is reading source code and
giving
the class objects back so
that the user may diagram there relationships. There is no automated
flowcharting for application logic.
In the EA edition which comes with VS.NET enterprise architect you gain
the
ability to export the class
definitions.

Logical network diagrams are merely stencils with high level objects that
can be used to create a view
of the network. There is no network autodiscovery in the tool anymore.

hope this helps,
Al

We need to create simple (not even necessarily UML compliant) block
model
diagrams of our .NET C# projects
(class hierarchies, illustrate inter-network communication between
models,
and timing diagrams).

Our previous developer used a MAC utility called GRAFFLE. Which
produced
awesome color and 3D diagrams. Unfortunately, that is a Macintosh only
tool.

We are now considering Visio. But which version? Looking at the version
charts we see we DON't care about the database features, but what
specific
tools are included in this two PRO only features:

* Software diagramming with reverse engineering

[i.e. what specific tool is there here?]

* Logical network diagrams

Can anyone fill me in more clearly what these tools are (I have access
to
the demo version).


--
==================================
Yechezkal Gutfreund
Chief Scientist
Kesser Technical Group, Inc.
==================================