Domains

What is a domain?

A domain is an optional way to split up your model and related diagrams into logical groups, keeping the benefits of a single shared model. Domains are optional parent objects for systems (and the system's child objects), actors and areas.

You can create as many domains within a landscape, each with separate models that can be referenced across diagrams in different domains.

When to use domains

The power of a landscape comes with the shared model, diagrams that can be created from the model and quickly updated across the whole landscape. Because of this, we recommend staying in 1 landscape as much as possible.

There are, however, a few common reasons this becomes hard to manage:

1. Large and/or complex architecture

2. Many diagrams at all levels

The temptation is to create a new landscape to reduce the clutter of many objects and diagrams, however, this separates the model and means you have maintenance overhead when changes are related to separate landscapes.

We recommend using domains to split out the logical groups instead. This allows you to reuse objects in other domains, leveraging the power of modelling with the benefits of cleaner separation.

How to create a domain

To create a new domain:

1. Go to the home screen

2. Click on the domain dropdown on the top left of the navigation

3. Click the New domain button located near the top

4. Click on the ... menu beside the domain

5. Click on the Rename domain button

6. Name your new domain

You'll now be able to create new diagrams in the domain with a separate model.

Adding objects from other domains in a diagram

Model objects in other domains within the same landscape can be added to a diagram. There are 2 ways to do this.

To do this via search in a diagram:

1. Double-click to add an object

2. Search for the object in another domain

To do this via the filtered tab:

1. Click on the Existing objects button in a diagram

2. Click on the Other domains tab

3. Select the object you want to add

The domain name will be displayed on the object when used in another domain, making it clear that it's from another area of the shared model.

How to move objects to another domain

Model objects including Systems (and their child objects), Actors, and Groups can be moved across domains.

To move an object to another domain:

• Select the object you wish to move

• Navigate to the details panel located on the right

• Click on the Domain field

• Select the new domain you wish to move the object to in the dropdown. You'll see a breakdown of objects, connections, and diagrams that the change will impact

• Click on the Change parent button

This will automatically update any relevant diagrams and flows to reflect your changes.

How to delete a domain

To delete a domain:

1. Go to the home screen.

2. Click on the domain dropdown.

3. Click on the ... menu beside the domain you want to delete.

4. Click on the Delete domain button

5. You'll be shown a menu that explains what will be removed

6. Click Delete domain to confirm.