Configure data capture templates

Per default, the XLSX file generated for an object class includes a set of standard attributes, roles, and indicator types that is predefined by Software GmbH. The default output is based on a standard data capture template. The Data Capture Templates view allows you to configure data capture templates to focus the data capture activity on your company's specific needs. You can configure a data capture template to capture data for object classes, references, and cost information. This process is involved and requires a good understanding of the class model and how classes reference other classes.

In the case of a data capture template for an object class, the template will describe the properties, role types, indicator types, and lifecycle phases that can be captured for an object class. The data capture template may also include queries or reports that will fetch specific objects in the object class. It also specifies whether users can potentially create new objects, modify data for existing objects, delete objects, or specify that no changes shall be made to objects in the XLSX file. You can generate the XLSX file based on the data capture template you have configured in the Data Capture Templates view, but you can also specify that it is available instead of the default in the Data Roundtrip view.

Three different types of data capture templates are available in the Extended Data Capture Templates functionality.

• Class-based data capture templates allow data about object classes to be captured including which object class properties, indicator types, role types, and lifecycle phases to capture. One or more data capture templates can be configured per permissible object class in order to address multiple data capture approaches for different regional units, customer segments, products, etc. The objects exported to the XLSX file may be limited by means of a stereotype definition or configured report. The class-based data capture templates can be specified to allow users to potentially create new objects, modify data for existing objects, delete objects, or allow no changes to be made to objects. A row will be added to the XLSX file for each object exported to the data capture template. A column will be added to the XLSX file for each property, indicator type, role type, and lifecycle phase to capture for the objects.
• Reference-based data capture templates allow reference information for object class properties of the type ReferenceArray to be captured. The reference-based data capture template allows the set of objects available for the base class as well as the set of objects available for the object that the base object references to be specified. The objects available to define the references may be found by either a stereotype definition or configured report. In the XLSX file, users may potentially create or update the objects for the base class as well as referenced class or delete the reference. A row will be added to the XLSX file for each existing instance of the ReferenceArray property specified in the reference-based data capture template. A column will be added to the XLSX file for the base class and the reference class of the ReferenceArray property.

  Please note that object class properties of the type ReferenceArray may also be captured via a class-based data capture template. In the class-based data capture template, however, the base object of the reference cannot be modified. This is possible in a reference-based data capture template.

• Cost-based data capture templates allow cost information to be captured for the classes Application or Project. The cost-based data capture template allows request, current, or budget cost types to be captured in one or more currencies for relevant yearly cost buckets for the specified architecture class. Data capture templates can be specified to allow users to potentially create new cost objects, modify data for existing cost objects, or specify that no changes shall be made to a cost object. Furthermore, data capture templates can specify that users may change the owning object or cost type of a record. A row will be added to the XLSX file for each cost object found via the data capture template.