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New JIEM Release FAQs
What is the new JIEM release?
The Justice Information Exchange Modeling (JIEM) 4.0 tool, released September 2007, is an evolution of the previous Web-based tool, initially developed in 1998 to promote standards-based documentation of justice information sharing requirements and best practices across the nation. JIEM 4.0 continues to support the JIEM methodology, which enables justice practitioners to form consensus around a small but powerful set of concepts that underlie the sharing of information: which agencies exchange information, under what conditions, in response to what events, and as part of what business processes. It improves the usability and efficiency of the tool, supports more rapid and inexpensive addition of new features in the future, and provides more robust support for XML and integration with other modeling and development tools.
There is no significant difference with JIEM 4.0 in the concepts or basic tool functionality from the Web version that you may be familiar with. SEARCH will be adding new features to the tool and plans to release JIEM 4.1 in 2008.
Development of the JIEM methodology, Web-based JIEM Tool, reference models, and the new Eclipse-based version of JIEM have all been funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
What is the Eclipse platform?
Eclipse is an open source tools platform that provides much of the basic infrastructure and functionality necessary to create analysis, modeling, and software development tools. Specific tool functionality is made available through software components called plugins. Tool developers have developed plugins for a vast array of tools since the Eclipse platform initially appeared in the late 1990s. For information about the Eclipse platform, see http://www.eclipse.org.
Why was the JIEM tool re-deployed on the Eclipse platform?
There are several reasons behind the change from the Web platform to the Eclipse platform. SEARCH heard consistently from the JIEM user community that users wanted a version of the tool that could operate disconnected from the Internet. Users also desired more ability to customize the JIEM environment to suit their preferences, and to have the tool look and feel more like other requirements analysis or modeling tools that they have used. SEARCH also recognizes that it is important for JIEM to integrate easily and smoothly with other tools used to document information exchange requirements and develop exchange specifications, especially with XML standards such as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM).
The Eclipse platform makes available a set of key capabilities for accomplishing these objectives in a cost-effective way. The JIEM 4.0 tool now requires no connection to the Internet, allows considerable user customization of the tool's look and feel, and employs many "rich client" features that users experience in other modeling tools.
How does JIEM 4.0 store my requirements?
JIEM 4.0 stores requirements in an XML file. This file is maintained within an Eclipse "project," which is simply a folder in the user's file system. Projects can be stored on the user's workstation, on network drives, or in source control systems supported by Eclipse. A project can contain any number of JIEM models, and the user is able to create new models and projects as often as desired. All information in the model is stored in the XML file; no connection to external databases is necessary.
How can I share my JIEM models with others?
Because a JIEM model in JIEM 4.0 is simply an XML file, users are able to share models through ordinary means (email, shared file systems, etc.) SEARCH hosts the JIEM Community Site where JIEM 4.0 certified users can download JIEM models that other users have shared with SEARCH for publication. The current Adult Felony Reference Model is available on this site for download, and future JIEM reference models developed by SEARCH based on research will be made available on the JIEM Community Site as well.
JIEM 4.0 allows users to create new JIEM site models by copying selected contents from existing site models (including those created by other users, as well as reference models published by SEARCH).
What are the system requirements for using JIEM 4.0? How do I install it?
All that is required to run the JIEM 4.0 tool is a Java runtime, at version 1.5 or above. SEARCH is unable to distribute Java runtimes, but the standard Java runtime can be downloaded free of charge from Sun Microsystems. Once the runtime is installed, the user can install JIEM 4.0 via a CD distributed by SEARCH.
The tool is distributed via CD and is installed using a simple installation program. The tool makes no registry edits or other changes to the user's workstation, so uninstalling the tool (if desired) is accomplished by simply deleting the directory into which the tool is copied.
SEARCH will provide users with assistance in installing the tool; contact jiem@search.org to request assistance. Installation will also be covered in (1) the JIEM training offered by SEARCH to individuals who are not JIEM-trained and certified, and in (2) a series of "JIEM 4.0 Quick-Start" WebEx sessions offered by SEARCH to current JIEM-certified users. These 90-minute sessions are being offered in the future.
The Java runtime, Eclipse platform, and JIEM Tool plugins are all available free of charge, so there continues to be no cost involved in obtaining the tool.
If I'm WebJIEM-certified, how do I obtain a copy of the JIEM 4.0 tool?
WebJIEM-certified users may obtain a copy of the tool by attending a "JIEM 4.0 Quick-Start" WebEx session being held in the future. These sessions are offered to WebJIEM-certified users only, and are limited to 28 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Each session will last approximately 90 minutes and will provide instruction on installation and usage of the tool. SEARCH will send a "JIEM 4.0 certified" certificate to participants upon completion of a JIEM 4.0 Quick Start session. SEARCH will consider adding additional sessions based on demand. Following the WebEx session, attendees will be mailed a JIEM 4.0 CD.
If I'm not WebJIEM-certified, how to I obtain a copy of the JIEM 4.0 tool?
Those who are not currently JIEM-certified may attend JIEM training and become JIEM 4.0 certified. Upon certification, users will receive a JIEM 4.0 CD.
How will I obtain updated versions of the tool over time?
SEARCH will distribute future application versions via CD with a simple installation program. SEARCH intends to offer WebEx sessions for certified JIEM users to demonstrate new functionality in each release.
Is training available on the JIEM 4.0 tool?
Yes. SEARCH is offering training sessions based on the JIEM 4.0 tool. JIEM training is provided through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. Training and certification will be required to gain access to the tool. Subsequent training will be offered based on demand and availability of funding. To request training, contact SEARCH at jiem@search.org.
How long will the Web-based version of JIEM continue to be available?
SEARCH has not yet determined the date on which WebJIEM will no longer be available. SEARCH will provide the community with no less than three months notice when we do determine a date. We will notify WebJIEM and JIEM 4.0 certified users of the shutdown date by email (provided we have a current email address).
To request to have your WebJIEM site database be archived and converted for use in JIEM 4.0, please send an email to jiem@search.org. SEARCH will not delete or destroy WebJIEM data, but will keep a backup internally that we will always be able to convert for users upon request.
Note: If you are a consultant requesting the conversion of a WebJIEM site database on behalf of a jurisdiction, please see the question below: "I am a consultant and wish to request conversion of WebJIEM information on behalf of a jurisdiction with which I've been working. How do I do that?"
What will happen to models/requirements that I have documented in WebJIEM?
The new JIEM Tool includes a feature allowing the user to import an archive file created in the Web-based tool. This allows complete transfer of all data from the Web-based tool into the new tool; no information is lost in the transfer.
SEARCH will assist in archiving Web-based site databases and creating site model XML files usable in JIEM 4.0; this service is covered in the JIEM 4.0 Quick Start sessions described above, and is available upon request to jiem@search.org.
Note: If you are a consultant requesting the conversion of a WebJIEM site database on behalf of a jurisdiction, please see the question below: "I am a consultant and wish to request conversion of WebJIEM information on behalf of a jurisdiction with which I've been working. How do I do that?"
I am a consultant and wish to request conversion of WebJIEM information on behalf of a jurisdiction with which I've been working. How do I do that?
SEARCH believes that practitioners who invest their resources in capturing information exchange requirements in JIEM should remain in control of that information while it resides on SEARCH's servers. As such, if a third party (e.g., consultant) wishes to request conversion of a Web JIEM site database for use in JIEM 4.0 on behalf of a practitioner or justice agency, we require that the practitioner (or a representative of the practitioner's agency) submit a request for the conversion that authorizes our disclosure of the information to the third party. The request should be sent via email to jiem@search.org and should identify the WebJIEM site database(s) that SEARCH is authorized to convert.
Is the JIEM Adult Felony Reference Model still available?
Yes. SEARCH has created a site model XML version of the Adult Felony Reference Model and is available at the JIEM Community Site for JIEM 4.0 certified users to download and use in JIEM 4.0.
What features will be available next?
SEARCH intends to release JIEM 4.1 in 2008. It will have enhanced support for service-oriented architecture concepts, especially those identified in the Global Justice Reference Architecture initiative. The tool will also offer enhanced support for the capture of privacy requirements, based upon guidelines produced by the Global security and privacy working groups. The tool will also integrate with standards-based modeling tools, including support for XML Metadata Interchange (XMI) 2.1 and Unified Modeling Language (UML) 2. Finally, the tool will include integration with National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) tools, based upon the availability of tool interfaces published by the NIEM Technical Architecture Committee (NTAC).
How does a team or workgroup collaborate on a Site Model using JIEM 4.0?
Four options are available to allow collaborative team work on a Site Model using JIEM 4.0:
Network storage/access - Team members can save JIEM Site Models as XML files on a shared network device to facilitate collaboration. Once the Site Model is on the shared network device, team members may open, view, edit, and save the Site Model. The advantage to this approach is that it requires no special set-up other than defining a common accessible storage location. The disadvantage to this approach is that it does not maintain copies of each version of a site model (for "rollback" purposes). This approach also permits simultaneous (and potentially conflicting) edits to the site model.
Email - JIEM Site Models may be shared with others as simple email attachments, allowing one user to take over editing when another user is finished. This is also a simple solution, but has the major drawback that simultaneous edits to multiple copies of a site model would need to be integrated back into a single model.
Source Control - Eclipse, the platform on which JIEM is based, supports source control environments, allowing version control of Site Models that can be checked in and out by team members for viewing and editing. Eclipse has a built-in capability to interface to CVS, and clients are available for most common environments, such as Subversion, Perforce, Clear Case, etc. Subversion and CVS are both open source tools that can be installed at no cost.
Reports - The most common way users have collaborated over site model development is the old fashioned way: on paper. In our experience, many users prefer to review and validate the site models by reviewing printed reports or by viewing the site model together. SEARCH is working to develop a complete set of reports that document all aspects of the site model and can be used in this fashion.
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