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Step-by-Step Modeling of WaterDistiller Using EA and SysML (01)

For many students learning SysML and MBSE, one of the more challenging issues is that in various tutorials, the diagrams provided are already drawn! How to start from scratch and create the model using a modeling tool is not covered in the tutorials.

Therefore, I decided to "recreate" the case study models from popular textbooks using popular modeling tools, demonstrating how to gradually model from scratch to achieve the final model of the case study.

This article recreates the case study from Chapter 16 of the book "A Practical Guide to SysML: The Systems Modeling Language, 3rd Edition", which involves a Water Distiller. The case study covers all 9 types of SysML diagrams.

Case Study Background:

A humanitarian organization is dedicated to providing pure drinking water to remote and impoverished areas, and thus wants to develop a simple and inexpensive water distiller. This distiller system does not require electricity (let alone a computer).

For a complete modeling demonstration video, visit:
https://fagao.us

The following guide uses Enterprise Architect ( EA ) version 16.0.

I. Creating the Model

Step 1.1 (Optional)

Drag the Browser window and dock it on the right side.

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★ If you have just installed EA, the Browser may initially be on the left by default. My usual practice is to move it to the right.

Step 1.2

Click "click to open project" in the Browser. In the pop-up "Manage Project" dialog, click "Local File" | "New Project."

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Step 1.3

In the "New Project" dialog, choose the save type as *.qea.

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★ The qea and qeax formats are supported from EA version 16, using SQLite to store model data. qeax is shareable, while qea is not. The earliest save types used by EA were eap and eapx, which use the Microsoft Access database. feap uses the Firebird database. You can use EA's model transformation feature to convert between these formats.

Step 1.4

Enter the name: "WaterDistiller," and click "Save."

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Step 1.5 (Optional)

Click “Start | Appearance | Preferences" | "Preferences," and in the "Themes" tab of the dialog, choose "Monochrome for printing" under "Diagram Theme."

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In the "Appearance" tab, click "Default Font," and in the "Configure Default Fonts" dialog, choose your preferred font and size.

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Step 1.6

Select "Model" in the Browser, and click "New Package" (the second icon from the left on the Browser toolbar). In the "New Package" dialog, enter "Distiller Project" in the "Name" field, and click "OK."

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Next, we will create the package diagram for the project.

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