Visual analysis tools in ARIS Architect and ARIS Connect

The ARIS software developer has provided a simple way to perform analysis that does not require prior preparation and allows quick modification of a model according to analysis needs. This tool is available in both ARIS Architect and ARIS Connect, although its functionality differs between the two products. Let us consider the features of each in more detail below.

Visual analysis in ARIS Architect/Designer

In ARIS Architect, this option is called “Hide and show” and is located in the “View” tab in the toolbar (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. “Hide and show” option

Let us take a closer look at the available menu options.

Hide assignment

For selected objects, this command allows you to choose related symbols to hide and move them to a separate diagram, creating an assignment (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. List of object and connection types that can be hidden

After selecting the objects and executing the command, the original diagram will look as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Result of the “Hide assignment” command

It should be noted that after applying this option, an assignment icon appears on the selected function, and its allocation elements are moved to the assignment model (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Assignment model detailing the selected object

Show assignment

For selected objects that have assignments, this command brings objects from the assignment model back to the current model. These objects can be selected in a dialog window (Fig. 5–6). In other words, the “Show assignment” option is the reverse of “Hide assignment.”

Fig. 5. List of object and connection types to display from the detailed model

Fig. 6. Result of the “Show assignment” command

Show relationships

This command displays all connections of the selected object with other objects stored in the ARIS database, including those that do not have occurrences in models (Fig. 7). Displaying such connections may create new object occurrences in the current model.

Fig. 7. List of object and connection types from the ARIS database to display for the selected object on the model

Hide objects

This command is executed on a selected object and allows you to choose from a list which objects in the model should be hidden (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8. List of objects that can be hidden

When executing any command related to hiding objects, a navigation mode window appears, providing quick access to hide and show buttons (Fig. 9). The “Exit navigation mode” button restores the original model view.

Fig. 9. Navigation mode window

Hide to a depth of

When executing this command, a dialog window appears where you can specify the depth for hiding objects connected to the selected object, both upstream and downstream (Fig. 10–11).

Fig. 10. Selecting object and depth level

Fig. 11. Result of the “Hide to a depth of…” command

Additional commands include:

• Hide selected objects – hides the selected object(s).
• Hide all objects except for the selected ones – hides all model objects except the selected ones.
• Hide all objects of this type – hides all objects of the same type as the selected ones.
• Show objects – displays previously hidden objects selected from a list.
• Show to a depth of… – displays previously hidden objects connected to the selected object up to a specified depth.
• Show connected objects – displays previously hidden objects connected to the selected object.

Visual analysis using the “Hide and show” commands is available for all model types. The ARIS Designer license also includes this functionality for analysis.

Visual analysis in ARIS Connect

In ARIS Connect, there is a “Highlighting” option available in the “Published Content” section under the “Diagram” factsheet. This functionality is not available in the Repository section.

Unlike ARIS Architect or ARIS Designer, the “Highlighting” option does not hide objects but instead highlights them according to various rules. This type of analysis is applicable to process models and organizational charts.

The “Highlighting” functionality allows visual emphasis based on the following criteria (Fig. 12):

• Process paths – highlights the optimal execution path (happy path) or exceptional process paths defined in the connection attributes.
• Roles – highlights selected roles and the functions they perform.
• General documents – highlights selected documents.
• IT systems – highlights selected IT systems.
• Function – highlights selected functions.
• Number of employees – highlights elements of the organizational structure based on attribute thresholds.
• Status (CMA) – highlights objects with filled Status (CMA) attribute.

Fig. 12. Example of highlighted objects in ARIS Connect

The “Highlighting” function is available for the following process model types: ЕРС, ЕРС (column display), ЕРС (row display), ЕРС (horizontal table display), ЕРС (table display), ЕРС (material flow), ЕРС (instances), BPMN 2.0 Collaboration diagram, BPM 2.0 Process Diagram, Enterprise BPMN Collaboration Diagram, Enterprise BPMN Process Diagram. Highlighting is also available for organizational charts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both the “Hide and show” option in ARIS Architect/Designer and the “Highlighting” option in ARIS Connect are tools for quick analysis. They enable business analysts to use visual representations of specific model fragments to answer their questions.

At the same time, the “Hide and show” option is more universal than “Highlighting”, as it works across all model types and provides more options for visual transformation of models.