A new version of FEM toolkit for drawing FEM diagrams is available, version 1.1. The toolkit has been developed using ADOxx meta-modeling platform. Anybody who wants to test it can download by clicking onAfter downloading unpack it in an ordinary library and run an installation script. Which script to run depends on your OS: under Windows – run setup.exe, under Mac – run install_mac.sh, under Linux – run install_linux.sh. This is a Windows system in the bottom, and installation on Mac or Linux uses native virtualization to install Windows code inside this system. The installation will install an SQL server, and some Microsoft packages if you do not already have them. If you have the latest version of 64 bit Apple computer Mac, the standard version as above may not work. There is an experimental installation for these computers ver 0.9 that can be downloaded from here. If you have any problem with the installation, please contact us, and we redirect you to ADOxx people who can help with the installation. You can also try additional instruction from here.
Version 1.1. has a number of new features, e.g. a possibility to translate fixed labels to another language. It also allows to add labels to the process and assets shapes to visualize their meaning, e.g.
Currently, the documentation that follows the installation is general for any type of modeling implemented on ADOxx platform. Right now, there is no specific documentation on FEM. FEM shapes and relationships that are implemented are fully described in this paper Structural Coupling, Strategy and Fractal Enterprise Modeling, see pages 4-7. You start with creating new model of type FEM, and you will get all shapes and connector in the toolbar. You can create several interconnected models that are connected via so called ghosts, were a ghost is a reference to the shape that exists somewhere in your package. Use FEM modeling menu for this end.
If you have used the previous version of FEM toolkit, you can export diagram from it and import them in the new version. Two new relationships were added: Association and Inspects/Monitor. The first one can be drawn between various elements. The second one connects a process with any other type of elements. It means that the process observe this element without much affecting it. The result is acquiring some information about the element.
There are two modes now: Basic and Advanced. By default a new model is created in the Basic mode – two objects classes + two type of relations + Note + relation to Note. Switching to Advanced is done via menu View->mode. All imported files from previous versions will be in basic mode, need to be switched to advanced manually and then saved. Switching back to basic will grey the additional elements (if they exist).
If you need help with installation, or want to get the toolkit demonstrated to you, please, do not hesitate contacting us using this contact form. You can also watch an Introduction to FEM toolkit given to students via Zoom.
Good luck
FEM toolkit development team