Asset Library is a web-hosted systems and software engineering asset management system that is provided by PTC. For detailed information about using Asset Library, please see the Asset Library Help.

In conjunction with Modeler, Asset Library is used for breaking what could be large and cumbersome models into smaller models, which can represent the same modular structure as your system-of-systems, or service-oriented and component-based applications. Modeler Asset models are published into Asset Library as 'black (or gray) boxes' with a sub-set of the models meta-data. These Assets can then be used and reused in other Modeler models. The links held in both Modeler and Asset Library provide a traceable link from the master Asset model (and its version) to its Asset in an Asset Library and then on to any number of models that use this Asset. This model chaining can run to any depth of model hierarchy.

As well as this Bottom-Up approach to Asset mining and reuse (or consumption), the integration also enables Top-Down modular design. Tentative systems can be modeled and then Asset Library can be searched for suitable Assets. Where they exist they can be used, as above. Where they don't, the tentative 'black box' design can be published into Asset Library as an 'Asset Specification' to be provided. Then, a designer in the role of the Asset supplier can import the Asset specification into their model as a starting point for design. This import can not only include the 'black box' interfaces, ports, etc. but also Requirements, Variation Points and other specification artifacts. This approach to Asset Specification for Assets which are yet designed provides a powerful, architected, modular design solution.

The preceding introduction has described the first publication and use for an Asset. In real life, things change and Assets are updated over time. The integration has been design for change. When an Asset changes in Asset Library all of the interested designers, who have used that Asset in their models, are automatically notified of the change in an email. They can then review the changes and decide if they want to apply the updated Asset information to their model. Once updated, they can then use all of the Asset enhancements in their design.

The web based Asset Library may not always be available, particularly if you take your Modeler models off-line. After you have published or used an Asset in your Modeler model there is no need to remain connected to the Asset library as the model contains the elements it needs to continue to function. You only need to be able to connect to an Asset library while you are publishing or reusing Assets, or navigation through the linked Assets and models.

This Help provides information for using the Asset Library integration from Modeler.

The Asset Library integration is used by installing the Asset Library Bridge and adding the Asset profile to each model that requires the integration. After setting up the Asset Library integration the following additions are made to Modeler:

The Asset Library Bridge can be downloaded and installed from the PTC website.

When you install the Asset Library Bridge you are prompted to provide the following login information:

This information is used to connect to the Asset Library.

You can change these settings through the Asset Library button that is added to the notification area of the Windows taskbar: right-click the Asset Library button, and then click Settings.

The Asset profile is available from the Add Profile dialog in Modeler and during the creation of new models.

You can use the Asset Library integration in a Modeler model only after adding the Asset profile to that model.

The Asset Library pane makes the Library browser views that appear in Asset Library available in the Modeler environment.

Through the Asset Library pane you can perform the following tasks:

Through the Asset Profile pane you can view all the Assets used in the model.

You can create an Asset in Modeler by creating a Package and applying the «Asset» stereotype to that Package.

When you right-click an Asset in Modeler, the following commands are available on the Asset submenu:

When you reuse an Asset from an Asset Library, Asset Library imports the Asset to the Modeler model, directly scoped to the model.

If at a later time the Asset in the Asset Library is updated, you can choose to take no action, add the new Asset version to your model, replace the Asset or update the Asset in your model:

When you use an Asset in a Modeler model you select one of the following mappings to import the Asset:

For more information about the Asset mapping options, see Asset mappings.