Automatically adding using namespaces

[jmichelson1]

This message is for Sparx technical support:

It seems that the code generator (C#) is not smart enough to add "using..." statements based on the types that appear in the body of the class.  For example, if the class has the following declaration "private AccountType _account", and the "AccountType" is defined in the "Business.DataTypes" assembly (and appears as such in EA), than the "using Business.DataTypes" shoulod be automatically added to the declarations.  But, it doesn't.

I would think that this should be basic functionality.  Am I wrong?

Thanks... Jeff

[random12345]

I can see a problem if namespaces were used automatically for C++ at least.
We're involved in embedded programming and, as such, use a subset of C++ called EC++.  This subset is an industry standard, used by many and does not support the use of namespaces (or templates).  Thus we would prefer they were not added automatically  

You could argue that EC++ should be individually.  I prefer the idea of a series of switches that turn-off certain language support eg. namespaces.  This way we are more flexible as the standards (and chosen library sets) change.

[fluxtah]

The 'using' statement does appear for forward engineering of c# code.

From my experience, the View is the top level namespace (by default), ie if you call one of your views, Business, then within this view a new package called DataTypes, then create a class within DataTypes.

outside of the Business package (top view package) make a new package and a new class, with reference to the dataype, EA, on forward engineer,  should output the correct 'using' statements.

- Fluxtah

[jmichelson1]

... on forward engineer,  should output the correct 'using' statements.

Perhaps it should, but it DOESN'T.  Would a Sparx technician PLEASE respond to this post?  It's my second one.

- J

[fluxtah]

Hiya,

Excuse my speculative reply, I was at work and have not got EA there yet.

By creating an association link betweent the 2 classes you can get the using statement into your fwd engineer.



which creates the following code

Code: [Select]


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//  ClassA.cs
//  Implementation of the Class ClassA
//  Generated by Enterprise Architect
//  Created on:      09-Feb-2004 20:03:20
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////




using RootB;


namespace RootA {
     public class ClassA {

           private ClassB classB;

           public ClassA(){

           }

     }//end ClassA
}//end namespace RootA


In my diagram I did add an attribute to Class A but it was unecessary as EA generates this also when the target role is specified on the connector.

regards

- Fluxtah

[fredhirschfeld]

I am having the same problem and what was mentioned here does work IF you are using an association.

I was trying to use an Interface by dependency from another package and expected that the proper using would get put in place, but it didn't. I also tried doing various things to force this using the package vs the interface and nada!

After reverse engineering the other sample code I noticed an area to keep the using code. You need to right-click on the class and press CTRL-G for the generation dialog. The two textboxes are used to type in some code that is used at the start of the module.

Code: [Select]

using System;
using System.Data;


I don't like having to do this but it is the only way I can tell to actually get the using statements done (aside from the associations).

Fred

[jmichelson1]

I have to say... this seems like a pretty huge oversight for such a mature product!  Does Sparx monitor this newgroup?  What say you?

- J

[fredhirschfeld]

In another area, benc (EA Administrator) indicated that this was going to be worked on in future releases. He indicated that the presence of a "used" type in the EA model will cause the proper Using statement to be generated.

I assume this means both return types as well as parameter types.

Fred

[benc]

Confirmed ... similarly for field types.

A note: the using statements would be generated for initial code generation only. Currently, using statements are not synchronized.

Regards,
Ben

[fluxtah]

Cool cheers Ben, thanks for the note.

- Fluxtah