RTF export : Classifier name in toc

[thorkhas]

Hello,

I am currently using EA in a reverse functional documentation project, mainly process documentation and how they relate to the IS.

There are many elements in the IS that have been modeled as classes, so we can easily find out which processes produce those elemnts. They are then instanced as objects in the process diagrams.

Since the name of those classes are pretty long, i don't give any name to the instanced objects.

I produced a RTF report on the processes; however they show up as anonymous and if I give them a short name, only the short name would display in the TOC of the export, making it ... not looking professional.

I wondered if I could tell EA to print the classifiers in the TOC. I tried to include {Element.Classifier} in the model, just after the {Element.Name} that is in the TOC. However that doesn't work, but i typed it so perhaps it comes from there; however i don't see how i can add template elements to the TOC.

I cannot simply create an object somewhere, and then use it on each diagram, because I used stereotypes to distinguis the fact they're created or used. So i need the objets on diagrams to be instanced.

Do you have any idea how I could include the classifiers' name in the TOC of an RTF export ? By the way i won't name the objets the same way as its classifiers, the diagrams would look messy - except if you can tell EA not to print the classifier of an objet in a diagram.

Thanks !

[«Midnight»]

Have you tried using the Alias property?

[thorkhas]

Thanks for replying.

Mhh i never thought of that. You think i should give a short alias to my classes so the objets show up as "Object Name : short class name" on diagrams and i can fully name objets ?

I can't seem to find out what alias are really used for in the doc though.

[«Midnight»]

The alias is just that, an alternate name.

You could use this for a user friendly name. For example, in many languages class names cannot have embedded spaces or punctuation. You can use the alias to have a descriptive name, which you could use for high-level diagrams, while the class names themselves can be less use friendly.

You have the option to use alias instead of name for classifiers on a diagram. [I'll leave you to look it up.] Of course, when there is no alias the class name will be used instead.

If you find that the "long" names you refer to have to go into the alias property, and you don't want to rebuild everything by hand, try writing a small add-in to shuffle the properties. Just remember to give everything a name, or you'll be in real trouble.

David

[thorkhas]

Alright, got it, the option is on the diagram properties. That does the job nicely.

Thanks a lot for your quick input !

Now I'll need to find out how to reorder elements within an activity, and it will be perfect so far, objects come first, then other activities, then decisions/mergenodes/activity initials and finals.

[«Midnight»]

I'm not sure you have a choice. If you do, perhaps it is the Pos property. That's how it works with Attributes in any case.

[thorkhas]

Looks like it only works for attributes in classes.

That is not a big problem.

I'm now trying to find how to include the little composite (infinite) sign on an element shape when they are indeed composite elements. I am using the shape editor, made me a nice shape but i no longer have those signs.

if (HasProperty("isComposite",true))
{
println("composite");
}

does work, as soon as i find how to include the little picture i'll be set

[«Midnight»]

Unfortunately you'll have to 'draw' it yourself.

Create a small sub-shape, with your best approximation of the composite shape. Then position it - you may need to create an empty 'spacer' shape to help with this - and draw your glyph.

Another approach - not perfect, but likely good enough - is to find an infinity sign in your chosen font and print that instead of the word "composite" in your example.

David