Hi,
I've downloaded the demo program and I'm comparing it with some of the other tools out here ... and I'm just a bit frustrated with the presentation controls.
#1) Templates: I create a parameterized class. For some reason, the class name "base_tokenizer" gets thrown off center - to the left of center. The template dotted box isn't really in the way, it just decides to offset the class name to the left. If the name gets to be too large, it extends outside of the UML box, but this is easily rectified by grabbing a handle and enlarging the box. But still, the actual class name, no matter how short or long, isn't centered. Its a bit unprofesssional looking.
#2) Lines. I have an interface "a" implemented by "b". b is then subclassed by "c" and "d". I am having trouble drawing clean association/inheritance lines (forgive my rudimentary drawing skills:
---------
| a |----------|
--------- |
^ |
| |
| |
--------- |
| b | |
--------- |
^ |
| -------- |
|---| c |----|
| --------- |
| |
| -------- |
|---| d |----|
--------
EA makes it hard to (a) match lines from different classes to a commong class - so they overlap perfectly, and (b) draw lines with two or more 90* angles. Its either straight or one bend ... and maybe some other artifacts - but its starts to look messy when every object in my diagram has a separate line routed to a base class. Just trying creating the relationship from A to C in the diagram above.
Or, say I have one base class and 10 subclasses. I want one arrow to the base class, short vertical line, and a long horizontal line. I then want each subclass to simply connect to the long horizontal line. Just a simple tree. I don't want 10 lines - direct form each object to the parent object. I've tried to "pin connection point" and I get close, but it seems that the arrows don't "snap to grid" and therefore, its a task to have to line up each classes arrow so that they overlap perfectly. And if the parent class is too far to the left or the right of the child class, the arrow wants to turn on its side. This makes no sense for a UML diagram. Instead of a up, left, up...the line turns into "up, left". Finally, if I move parent class down so that its about 1cm above the child class (on my screen), the far right child class all of the sudden extends a horizontal line - still pinned to the middle of its top and essentially just goes "left, up".
I like the software in general, but it would be alot cleaner if it was explicitly settable:
a) which direction the line initially goes (up, down, left, right)
b) what anchor the line connects to on an object
c) how to make sure lines perfectly overlap
or, maybe adding a line style
a) only 90* turns (as opposed to angular)
b) user placable nodes (force turns when I want them)
c) line snaps to grid (perfect overlap)
I have tidyline on and set to 10, whatever that means.
I like your product and I'm almost willing to spend $100 for it, but the problem is, I fear I'll be recreating my UML class diagrams in VISIO 5.0 since it cleanly does what I describe above. Maybe I will try and get used to angular lines, but already, I've got lines crossing paths and overlapping other classes in my diagrams. Take a look at the ecto project as well. Its no where near as slick as yours, but its much easier to create clean UML class diagrams.
Am I'm missing something? I've right clicked on the line and tried all three line styles. but none allow me to created the effects I've tried above. I can't imagine I'm the only one to ask about this. Its seems to be awfully common in books I'm reading.
Thanks,
-Luther
PS: If for some reason, the above diagram is wildly distorted, here is a fixed font version. Please copy and paste this into an editor and view with a fixed font. You should clearly see all lines are straight, with 90* angles. Thanks!
----------
| a |----------|
---------- |
^ |
| |
| |
--------- |
| b | |
--------- |
^ |
| -------- |
|---| c |----|
| --------- |
| |
| -------- |
|---| d |----|
--------
