Configuration concepts and building blocks

The key to correctly configure BlueDolphin is to understand its building blocks.

BlueDolphin is based on ArchiMate objects and relationships, which it extends with a concept called definitions. These allow you to create multiple and friendlier representations of objects and relationships defined in ArchiMate.

Object type

ArchiMate object types are, for example, "Application Component" or "Node". These object types are not visible to end users, but are required to create object definitions (and thus need to be installed in the site).

Object types can be added by installing an ArchiMate Specification template from the template gallery.

Object definition

BlueDolphin object representations are based on object types. These can be used to create multiple and/or more user-friendly representations of ArchiMate objects. Instead of presenting your users with "Nodes", you can choose to create an object definition called "Server" based on "Node".

You can create your own object definitions or add them by installing a template collection or an individual object definition template from the template gallery.

Relationship type

ArchiMate-based relationships, for example, Composition or Assignment. These relationship types are not visible to end users, but are required to create relationship definitions (and thus need to be installed in the site).

Relationship types can be added by installing an ArchiMate Specification template from the template gallery.

Relationship definition

BlueDolphin relationship representations based on relationship types. These can be used to create multiple and/or more user-friendly representations of ArchiMate relationships.

Also, relationship definitions are the place where you configure between which object definitions and in which direction(s) a specific relationship is allowed.

You can create and configure your own relationship definitions or add them by installing a template collection or an individual relationship definition template from the template gallery.

Questionnaire

Customizable forms that can be used to enrich object data. A form can consist of numerous controls, like text boxes, check boxes or dropdown lists.

Also, a special sort of field is available, called a "Relationship field". This can be added to a questionnaire to enable an end user to create relations in a more controlled, user-friendly way by presenting a question about object dependencies which BlueDolphin then translates to valid relationships to objects.

A questionnaire has to be associated with one or more object definitions to be used.

You can create and configure your own questionnaires or add them by installing a questionnaire template from the template gallery.