Technology
Frequently Asked Questions for V5.1
- What can I do with WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1?
- What is the difference between WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Entry Edition V5.1 and WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1?
- How does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 differ from graphical modeling tools like Microsoft Visio?
- Why does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 offer three different business modeling user profiles?
- Why does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1 offer three different technology modes?
- Does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 support industry standards?
- What types of files can I import into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler 5.1?
- Can I import Microsoft Visio files into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler 5.1?
- When I have completed my models, what formats or applications can I export them to?
What can I do with WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1?
WebSphere Business Integration Modeler enables you to complete the following key modeling activities:
Graphically model your current and potential business processes
View your models as 'swimlanes' to see how each resource you use relates to the activities in your model
Perform simulations to see how your processes will perform under different "what if" scenarios and environmental conditions
Analyze the simulation results to determine how to correct problem areas in your models, such as bottlenecks and workload imbalances
Generate reports from your models or simulation results using a wide variety of predefined report templates, or create your own custom reports
Create and update models with other team members using the team support and versioning capabilities of Business Integration Modeler
Print your models or reports to communicate and share the information within your organization
Publish models to the Web for information sharing purposes
Import Microsoft® Visio data as the basis or starting point for your model development
Jump-start your application development process by exporting your completed models to BPEL, WSDL, and XSD format, and then importing them into IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer, Integration Edition for Linux and Windows® V5.1
Create workflow automation solutions from your models by exporting your completed models to FDL format, and then importing them into IBM WebSphere MQ Workflow Buildtime V3.5
Export your models to IBM Rational XDE for further refinement
What is the difference between WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Entry Edition V5.1 and WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1?
WebSphere Business Integration Entry Edition Version 5.1 is a low cost option for business users who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use tool to model, document, and print their business processes.
WebSphere Business Integration Advanced Edition Version 5.1 provides all the capabilities of the Entry Edition. In addition, it enables business users to perform complex simulations on their process models based on "what if" scenarios and then analyze and generate reports from the simulation results to identify problem areas in the processes, such as bottlenecks. The Advanced Edition also provides a "jump-start" to application development by enabling more technically focused users, such as IT architects, to export the models to either BPEL, UML, or FDL models, for further refinement.
The following table summarizes the key functional differences between the Entry and Advanced Editions:
| Feature | Modeler Entry Edition | Modeler Advanced Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Modeling Profiles | Basic, Intermediate, Advanced | Basic, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Editing modes | Operational | Operational, BPEL, FDL |
| Teaming (check-in/check-out) | Yes | Yes |
| Simulation | No | yes |
| Static and Dynamic Analysis | No | Yes |
| Reporting (create reports) | yes | Yes |
| - Query | Yes | Yes |
| - Basis Report Templates (available) | Yes | Yes |
| Printing | Yes | Yes |
| Modeler Project Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| Delimited file Import/Export | Yes | Yes |
| ADF Import | Yes | Yes |
| XSD Import/Export | No | Yes |
| UML Export | No | Yes |
| FDL and BPEL Export | No | Yes |
| FDL Import | No | Yes |
How does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 differ from graphical modeling tools like Microsoft Visio?
WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 is more than just a graphical modeling tool. It provides powerful simulation and analysis capabilities, which enable businesses to observe how their current processes perform and how they will respond to a variety of "what if" conditions, and then analyze the results to pinpoint weaknesses, such as bottlenecks to help reduce costs and generate more profit.
And, for businesses looking to move their models into the implementation phase, WebSphere Business Integration Modeler provides the exporting capabilities to transform finished models into the technology required for their business solutions, including BPEL, WSDL, and XSD for developing WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation applications from the models, FDL for developing workflow automation solutions, or UML for further refining the models in IBM Rational XDE.
Why does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 offer three different business modeling user profiles?
Business Integration Modeler provides three different user profiles to meet the modeling needs of a wide variety of users. Each profile exposes a different level of modeling detail to suit different modeling needs.
The Basic Business Modeling profile is intended for the business analyst or other user who wants to work at the high-level view of a business process model. This profile focuses on creating and displaying sequence flows and does not expose low-level technical details of process and data modeling.
The Intermediate Business Modeling profile gives the more technically focused user the opportunity to specify and view additional details of process and data models. For example, with this profile you can specify business rules and logic that apply to model elements and a broader set of specifications for data attributes.
The Advanced Business Modeling profile provides the most comprehensive level of detail for process models and data models. This profile facilitates the work of technically experienced personnel who prepare models that will be used as the basis for software applications. For example, you can use this profile to specify invocation characteristics, static fields, instance correlations, and a larger set of simulation parameters.
Why does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1 offer three different technology modes?
WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1 provides three different operating modes so that you can develop the models in the run-time environment in which you will later deploy them. Each technology mode exposes only the functionality permitted in that run-time environment.
The BPEL technology mode is optimized for exporting models to Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) format, which you can then import into WebSphere Studio Application Developer Integration Edition, where you can further define the process for deploying to IBM WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation V5.1.
The MQ Workflow FDL technology mode is optimized for exporting models to Flow Definition Language (FDL) format, which you can then use in WebSphere MQ Workflow V3.5 as the basis of an automated workflow solution.
The Operational technology mode provides the most comprehensive detail of the three technology modes. This technology mode is ideal for developing business models that are not targeted for deployment to the above runtime environments.
Does WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 support industry standards?
WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1 is built using the Eclipse open source technology, allowing it to integrate and inter-operate with other Eclipse-based IBM tools, such as IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer, Integration Edition for Linux and Windows, Version 5.1 on Windows.
What types of files can I import into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler 5.1?
You can import the following files into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler 5.1:
FDL files (files developed in WebSphere MQ Workflow Buildtime 3.5)
ADF files (WebSphere Business Integration Workbench 4.2.4 models)
Delimited text files (to import data from other programs, such as spreadsheets or databases)
XSD files (XML Schema Definition)
VDX files (Visio files created in Microsoft Visio 2002 or 2003)
Business Integration Modeler V5 Projects (files created in Business Integration Modeler V5.1)
Can I import Microsoft Visio files into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler 5.1?
Yes, you can import shapes from Microsoft Visio 2002 or 2003 files into WebSphere Business Integration Modeler V5.1. These shapes can be used to create elements such as tasks and business items in WebSphere Business Integration Modeler.
When I have completed my models, what formats or applications can I export them to?
You can export models created in WebSphere Business Integration Modeler Advanced Edition V5.1 to the following file formats:
BPEL, WSDL, and XSD, to import into IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer, Integration Edition for Linux and Windows V5.1; and later deploy to WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation V5.1
UML, to import into Rational® XDE™
FDL Business Modeling Profile, to import into IBM WebSphere MQ Workflow Buildtime V3.5
Delimited text format (business items only)
Business Integration Modeler V5 Project format, to back up or share Modeler V5 projects