Model Size

[dpccgf]

All,

Is there any guidelines regarding the size of a model?  I have a 13MB file and it works fine, but just curious.

Thanks!

[bus_pass_man]

It's not just the size of the model file that you need to take into account.   You need to consider the number of objects in your model.   Navigating through a diagram (or even context explorer diagram) can be difficult if you have large number of objects.  This is where namespaces and folders are especially useful.

In addition, in a sufficiently large model you are going to be collaborating with other modelers in the development of your applications.  You need to think through how to do that.

Having segments could assist in enforcing best practice discipline and in enabling multiple user modeling.

That said, I've worked with models of just under 100 MB.   

There's a trade off between the integrity of One Big Model (segmented or not) and performance.

Another thing to think about is model upgrade.   With each release, the model schema value will change.   When a model which has an older schema is opened, it will undergo a transformation to the current schema.   This can take some time but it's a one-time hit for each release.    (provided you save the model after upgrade (and always have the previous version in source control so you can revert if necessary and document your changes; de Tocqueville said something along the lines of "Scarcely any political question arises in the United States that is not resolved, sooner or later, into a judicial question."  It applies too for business stuff.  You probably don't want to undergo interrogation from some Thrasymachian lawyer. ). Having that could also help troubleshoot problems. )