Add custom reference to a Requirement

[Guillaume]

Hi,

I need to specify traceability between requirements and use cases.
I noticed that I could do this using Custom References:
- open a use case diagram
- right click on a requirement from the project browser > Add Custom Reference. Select a use case from the list to associate.

Having done this, I'd like to show these references in a Matrix but custom reference is not an available criteria. Actually this custom reference does not appear anywhere unless you open the same use case diagram again and check the requirement's custom reference list.

I know that alternatively I can simply specify a dependency between a requirement and a use case, but I'd like to know if and how I can use Custom References for traceability.

I couldn't find anything from EA Help.

Thanks

[«Midnight»]

I'll ask the obvious question here...

Why not use a «trace» link?

[Guillaume]

I agree I can simply use dependency link (trace as you suggested)

But like I said, I'd like to find out more about this custom reference, i.e. why SparxSystems has implemented it .. if it's for traceablility, why isn't it available in the Matrix, etc.

thanks

[Eve]

The custom references can also be viewed in the hierarchy view.

[Krzysztof Swiatkowski]

For tracing Requirement to a use case a <<realize>> seems to be nice and well supported relation. UseCase -> realize -> Requirement.
In that particular case you can drag'n'drop requirement on the use case. It will create realize relationship and dropped requirement will show on Requirements tab of a use case. You can view it in the matrix too.

Try it it's fun

Regards
Kris

[RoyC]

Yeeesss - further to Simon's point, you can see Custom References in the Hierarchy Window. For some reason the Help did not directly refer to these, and the index had no entry for them. The Help calls them Cross References, and there is a topic devoted to them in Modeling with Enterprise Architect > Work With Elements > Element Tasks.

The Help now identifies Cross References as having the nom de guerre of Custom References, and the topic is indexed.

[Guillaume]

Thanks  

This is exactly what I was looking for.
The hierarchy view is very useful !

Cheers.

[Eve]

It is useful.  Just bear in mind that it takes a while to update every time context changes.  So I wouldn't really recommend having it open unless you are using it.