Patterns (Templates for)

[Jonathan Harley]

I am fairly new to EA (19 days into the Eval) so there may be an answer to this somewhere in the Help (but I can't find it).

I would like to be able to include a 'template' of a standard (Gang of Four-type) pattern and then use that set of classes as a starting point for a diagram.

Naturally, it'd be nice if the patterns were already in 'templates', but I'm willing to create my own if necessary.

Is this possible?  Am I using the wrong terminology (and therefore not finding what I want)?

Any direction would be much appreciated.

Jonathan

[MikeAtLimit]

A recent patch introduced the a Resources tab in the Project Explorer.  This tab allows you to build a library of resources which includes UML Profiles which may be just what you are looking for.

[gsparks]

Hi,

Currently there is no 'Pattern' specific mechanism in EA. We are planning to add one in the near to medium future which will be, like the UML Profiles, based on XML files.

In the meantime I would suggest creating the GOF Patterns you desire in separate packages in either a separate section of your .EAP model - or in a separate .EAP.
You can export the package to XMI and then import into new projects as desired (make sure you check the Strip GUID check box when importing). Then udpate the names atc. for the implementation.

If you create the patterns in the same project, then you can use the 'Copy Diagram' feature - and paste as a 'deep copy' - which will duplicate all elements.

Once we implement the Patterns feature in the Resource tab, I intend there to be a context menu option on a diagram to 'Save as Pattern' - so any work you do now should be re-useable in the future.

Hope this has given you some ideas, check out the UML Profiles feature as well, as this gives you some good reuse possibilities.

Cheers,
Geoff Sparks