Modelling tool in n-tier architecture

Yet another project and I feel we seriously lack a good modelling tool which enables modelling the entities/ services in a n-tier SOA application.

Why I say that is we have Service Factory modelling edition which is pretty neat for what it does, Service Design and Data Contract design. But then, we also have ADO.net entity designer (visual editor) which again is pretty neat, but the point is the entities generated can actually be used by the Services as direct input and output and the service modeller in Service Factory is totally oblivious of ADO.net entity types. And of course ADO.net entities are by default marked with Data Contracts and Data Member attributes, so they are very well intended to be used directly as part of services (in wcf context).

And then what about the entity types on presentation- let’s call them presentation entities, which actually are further abstraction of business entities/ data contracts. I guess we certainly are in need of a tool which is an integrated one for the above factors.

For now following process seems to be the way out: 1.Define the entire design using a tool like visio or EA or rational- this is needed because this will act as an integrated document- story line 2.convert respective regions in code and use it as a normal process (manually). Though, we can at least use ADO.net entity designer and wire the entities up for Service Contracts.