Hi RhythmDawg! 

Happy to try and help here. 

First and foremost, you’re definitely on the right track here via utilizing our Interface fact sheets. When utilizing the data flow diagrams, the ‘arrows’ between the Applications typically is what will show us the flow of data...that can be determined by a characteristic called, ‘Data Flow Direction’ within the Properties section of your Interface fact sheet. You’re able to choose from values such as Incoming, Outgoing, or Bi-directional. 

You’re also able to list the Interface Providers and Consumers on your Interface fact sheets, so utilizing both the direction and provider/consumer relation should allow you to depict just about everything you’re looking for above. 

You can find documentation on our Interface fact sheets here, but let me know if I missed the mark here/if there is anything else I can help clear up.

Hi ​@RhythmDawg, thanks for reaching out and for the detail you’ve provided! 

The documentation I am providing here highlights our “Data flow direction” field, which exists on our OOTB Interface meta model in the Properties subsection.  We suggest making use of this field to note the direction of the data flow (which I believe should be the equivalent of your source/target explanation - please view the help-text on the Data flow direction field values below and confirm if this is aligned):

Once you fill this field out on your Interfaces and maintain the values, the arrows in your Data Flow Diagrams will populate based on the values selected (right-facing arrow, left-facing arrow, bi-directional arrow).  This will ultimately depict the data flow that you are aiming for in a visual Diagram.  

Let us know if this helps and/or if there are any additional questions!

Hi

I can create the apps and interface fact sheets, but I can’t seem to get the arrows to display using free draw. I can show the dependencies (supplier, consumer) but not the flow.

What I have

What I’m looking for

If I manually add lines I can link them to the interface fact sheets, but the arrow directions have to be diagrammed manually it seems and don’t update if I update the fact sheet.

Suggestions?

Thanks and take care

Hi ​@RhythmDawg ,

Data flow direction (the arrows you mention) cannot be displayed in a Free Draw Diagram.  This capability is only available in a Data Flow Diagram - a different Diagram type.  The arrows (data flow direction) will populate in the Data Flow Diagram once you begin to fill out and maintain the “Data flow direction” field mentioned above, which exists on the Interface fact sheet.

Please let us know if this helps and/or if you have any additional questions here.

Best,

Danielle

I’m also curious how to create these compound labels as illustrated in the interface modeling guidelines

Thanks Danielle

Would you know what type of diagram is in the interface modeling guidelines (Interface Modeling Guidelines | SAP Help Portal) that can show both the interface and the data flow and are linked to factsheets?

Hi ​@RhythmDawg ,

Please find our documentation about Applying Labels in your diagrams here.  You can select multiple labels for an Interface, as shown in my screenshot - this would be the equivalent of the “compound label” you mentioned you were interested in.

In the Interface modeling guidelines page you linked, this is a Free Draw Diagram being displayed, where the diagram creator included arrows in the given diagram to create a visual for our customers to embed within our documentation to help explain a concept.

If there are further questions about the functionality of our Diagrams or our documentation, my suggestion is to reach out to continue the conversation with our Customer Success team if you are keen to discuss with someone from the SAP LeanIX-side.  The LeanIX Community is a great place to pose questions/topics to chat with other customers about how they might be achieving a certain use case or set-up, and ultimately network.  Our CS team can always support you directly with any UX / functionality related questions such as these here.  

I hope this has been helpful, and thanks for contributing to our Community!

Best,

Danielle