Sequence diagram oddity

[simon.marshall]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I get what appears to be a bug...

What am I trying to model?  I want to show in a diagram that a control creates an entity (first message=new), invokes some messages on it, and then the entity is returned (ie, it is still available and has not been deleted).  The problem occurs when I add "some messages" - suddenly EA decides to show the entity as being deleted by the final message.

Here's how to reproduce the problem:

- I create a sequence diagram with 2 elements (eg, control and entity).  I get 2 unlimited lifelines for each.  OK.

- Add a message from first to second element.  Message line is added.  OK.

- Add another message from first to second.  Message line is added and both element lifelines remain unlimited.  OK - this is as expected.

- Change the first message from lifecycle=<none> to lifecycle=new, and the second element moves down to the first message indicate that it is created at that point.  OK.  However, the second element's lifeline now ends after the second message with an X, even though the second message does not have lifecycle=delete.  NOT OK - this is not what I expected at all.

It seems that the last message to an element has an implicit lifecycle=delete, if the element had an earlier message with lifecycle=new.

Which is wrong - me or EA-5.00.766?

[thomaskilian]

Have you tried to set the second message also to lifecycle New? That really looks buggy :-/

[simon.marshall]

Have you tried to set the second message also to lifecycle New? That really looks buggy :-/

Yes, with lifecycle=new on the second message, the entity moves down to show that it is created by the second message and its lifeline changes to be unlimited.   (The first message, which also has lifecycle=new, now points just above the entity.)

I guess I can forgive EA for not warning me about the duplicate lifecycle=new messages - it's the implicit lifecycle=delete that bugs me.

[thomaskilian]

Agreed. You should send a bug report to Sparx.

[simon.marshall]

Agreed. You should send a bug report to Sparx.

thx for your help

[KP]

Try Tools | Options | Sequence and turn off "Garbage Collect"

HTH

[simon.marshall]

Try Tools | Options | Sequence and turn off "Garbage Collect"

HTH

That doesn't work for me - it makes no difference even if I unset before I create the diagram...

[simon.marshall]

That doesn't work for me - it makes no difference even if I unset before I create the diagram...

uhuh - it doesn't have an instant effect.  you need to close/reopen EA or reload the entire diagram.