How can I Understand and Enhance My Model?

Squore provides tools to understand, verify and enhance your model under the Models menu.

Users whose profile grants the "View Models" permission have access to the first two tools.

Users whose profile grants the "Modify Models" permission have access to the last two tools.

Viewer

To use the Viewer:

  1. Click Models > Viewer in the toolbar.

  2. Select the analysis model you want to browse.

  3. Select the artefact level you want to browse.

  4. Choose your preferred graphical representation between Space-Tree and Multi-level pie.

  5. Select whether measures are displayed using their full name or their mnemonic.

Upon selecting the parameters above, the page is refreshed with the top-level indicators in the model, and you can click each indicator to unveil sub-indicators and their characteristics. You can drag the tree left and right to reveal all sub-levels if necessary. For each indicator selected, Squore displays the following information:

  • Target is the target artefact type for the selected item

  • Type is the type of the selected item

  • Mnemonic is the short code for the selected item

  • description is the description of the selected item

  • Data Provider is the Data Provider responsible for computing the selected item

  • MeasureId is the measure ID of the selected item

  • Computation is the formula used to compute the value of the selected item

  • ScaleId is ID of the scale associated with the selected item

  • Levels is the list of levels available for the selected item and their ranges

Note: The information available depends on the type of item selected.

The iso9126 model presented as a multi-level pie in the Viewer

Validator

If your work involves adjusting the model's metrics or dashboard, you can use the Validator to verify its integrity during as you make changes. Click Models > Validator to display the diagnostics organised by category, as shown below:

The iso9126 model in the Validator

The Summary tab displays a summary of all the diagnostics run for each category. By clicking any of the other tabs, more details are shown about potential problems found in your model. You can also show the complete XML of the model to understand the errors reported. The XML can be searched by using the Ctrl+F key combination to bring up the search dialogue, and then Ctrl+G to search for the next occurrence of the search term:

The Validator reporting errors

Your Squore administrator can help you get more information model development. You can also refer to the Squore Configuration Guide for a complete reference.

Dashboard Editor

The Dashboard Editor is a graphical editor for the dashboards of a particular model. Dashboards consist of a key performance indicator, a list of tables and one or more columns of predefined charts. With the Dashboard Editor, you can rearrange the information shown on the dashboard for all users, or create a completely new dashboard for a new role in your project.

In order to use the Dashboard Editor:

  1. Click Models > Dashboard Editor

  2. Select a model and load an existing dashboard

The current dashboard skeleton is loaded in the editor, as shown below:

The iso9126 model in the Dashboard Editor

The tree contains the list of pre-configured graphical elements that you can add to your current dashboard. When you hover over a dashboard element, a tooltip explains what metrics it displays. You can drag and drop an element over an existing chart on the current dashboard, drag charts and tables to rearrange them. When you are satisfied with your changes, you can save your modifications. You can also create a new dashboard, using an existing one as a basis for the new one, or start from a blank canvas.

Tip

In the tree, graphical elements are colour-coded so that you know before you add them to your dashboard if they are compatible with your model. Blue elements have minor incompatibilities with your current model and orange elements are likely not compatible. Use the tooltip for an element to understand why the element is flagged as incompatible.

More detailed explanations about the Dashboard Editor can be found in the Squore online help.

Analysis Model Editor

The Analysis Model Editor is a graphical ruleset editor where you can turn rules on and off, or adjust the categories associated to each rule in your model.

In order to use the Analysis Model Editor:

  1. Click Models > Analysis Model Editor

  2. Select a model to load its ruleset

The entire ruleset for the current model is displayed in table form, as shown below:

The Analysis Model Editor displaying the ruleset of the Squore Risk Index model

Use the filter pane and the table headers to find the rule you want to modify. You can activate or deactivate a rule by clicking the on/off switch in the table. If you want to make more modifications, cick the Edit icon for this rule.

You can edit multiple rules at once by checking several rules and using the actions list at the bottom of the page. When you save your changes, the configuration is reloaded and every new analysis for this model will use the new settings.

Tip

Changes made in the web interface are saved in the configuration folder on the server in a file called editor.xml.