correct recursion level in sequence diagrams ?

[ant]

 

I am trying to model a sequence that involves a number of recursive calls in sequence (ie call method a on self .. a calls b on self .. b completes .. a calls c on self .. c completes .. a calls d on self .. d completes .. a completes) .. but using the sequence diagram tool in EA I can only keep building extra levels of recursion (ie call method a on self .. a calls method b on self .. b calls method c on self .. c calls method d on self etc etc ) which isnt at all the sequence I'm modelling ..

is there an option I'm missing to alleviate this issue - as I seem unable to manually size the process controll bar (the horizontal oblong showing where control currently is in the sequence) ..

thanks

Antony

[unnamedharald]

If I understand you correctly, I may have had a similar need recently.  If you right click on a sequence message you will see a wonderful pop-up menu which may help you (unfortunately the most interesting items don't seem to be in the help documentation yet).

For example, place a self-message (or recursion) message.  Then, after that add another message (that you want to indicate is related to the self-message).  Now, right-click on the message you just added and select "Continue Source Activiation" and you will see the message attach to the newly extended vertical bar of the self-message.

I use this to indicate messages that are related to a condition-- it may or may not be UML-correct but it sure gets the point across visually.

Naturally, if I've missed the point... never mind.

Dave Hunt