Computer Associates boosts apps modeling

Computer Associates on Monday is unveiling a version of its AllFusion Modeling Suite that features tighter integration with ERP packages, the company said.

Version 4.1.4 of the application development life cycle management suite features seven products for modeling functions. “What the [suite] does is enable you to create graphical or visual representations of your databases, the pieces that make up your application, as well as your business processes,” said Shari Shore, vice president of product marketing for AllFusion at Computer Associates.

Among highlights of the release is integration with ERP packages from SAP, JD Edwards, and PeopleSoft without having to write code to an API. This is provided in the Saphir Option component of AllFusion 4.1.4, which extracts and analyzes metadata.

By integrating with third-party applications, AllFusion enables access to various data sets such as customer names and order history, according to Shore.

Usability also has been enhanced, with changes in menus and screens as well as the addition of new buttons, Shore said. A pre-built, drag-and-drop function provides for easier integration.

A user of the ERwin Data Modeler and Model Manager tools in AllFusion applauded improved usability.

“They’ve done a pretty nice job of re-engineering the interface,” said Tom Bilcze, senior group coordinator at trucking company Roadway Express. Roadway uses AllFusion for development of databases and data warehouses.

ERwin Data Modeler provides for building of databases, data warehouses, and data resource models. Model Manager features a model management environment for managing, sharing, and reusing objects. Computer Associates has increased the speed of the check-in, check-out function in Model Manager.

The suite features dozens of diagnostic reports, with information provided at a more granular level, Shore said. Referential integrity constraints are reported, enabling, for example, the matching of phone numbers in different data models.

Version 4.1.4 supports enhancements in Oracle9i and 10g databases, specifically Tablespace support and indexing organized tables. IBM Universal Database 6.1 and later versions also are supported.

Computer Associates’ product, however, does not yet have any features tuned to work with grid computing functions in Oracle10g. Grid improvements are planned for a future release, Shore said.

Also included in Version 4.1.4 are synchronization of comments, definitions, and triggers when upgrading from a previous release of AllFusion or merging models. Comments will be synchronized across different versions of a model. Additionally, model validation also is much faster.

The remaining four products in the suite include:

* Component Modeler, for UML and component-based modeling.

* Data Model Validator, for building data modeling solutions and enhancing modeling productivity.

* Model Navigator, for read-only access to models built with Erwin Data Modeler or Process Modeler.

* Process Modeler, for visualizing and improving business processes.

Already available to the existing customer base, new customers can buy AllFusion Modeling Suite 4.1.4 beginning this week. Pricing for AllFusion starts at $3,995 for Data Modeler. Discounted bundles are available.