Question about UML Profile

[Thelonius]

Bear with me. I'm a 'UML Profile' newbie here.

I'm trying to work through the Sparx website instructions on how to create a UML Profile.

I refer to:

http://www.sparxsystems.com/uml_tool_guide/sdk_for_enterprise_architect/createprofile.html

Says "1. Open or create the appropriate Class diagram".

Does it HAVE to be a Class diagram? Can it be a Component diagram?

I want to define 'my version' of components that have tagged values, some of which will have enum pull down lists that allow the user to select one value.

At point 5, it says "Click on the OK button. Enterprise Architect creates a package with the stereotype «profile> and with a child diagram."

Surely, I'm thinking, it would only do this if one has the 'Automatically Add New Diagrams' check box ticked, in the 'New Model Package' dialog window, right? (I generally leave this box unticked)

Any suggestions welcome. I'm struggling a bit trying to understand the Sparx documentation on UML Profiles...

Thanks
Jon

[KP]

Does it HAVE to be a Class diagram?

No, but you will be adding classes with the «stereotype» and «metaclass» stereotypes, so class diagram seems appropriate. As long as the owning package has the «profile» stereotype, you can probably use most kinds of diagram.

I want to define 'my version' of components that have tagged values, some of which will have enum pull down lists that allow the user to select one value.

Define your enum values in an «enumeration» class and give your «stereotype» class an attribute typed by the «enumeration».

HTH

[KP]

In fact, looking closer at that help page, the diagram mentioned in step 1 is only used for creating the «profile» package, so it probably ought to be a package diagram rather than a class diagram, but either will do. You will be creating your «stereotype» and «metaclass» classes on the diagram created in step 5 (if you tick the 'Automatically Add New Diagrams' check box, as you say).

[RoyC]

I have changed the topic to indicate that you start with a Package diagram and generate a child Class diagram. I have also added the step to select the Automatically add new diagrams checkbox.

[Thelonius]

Roy - You're a champion. While we're thinking about the topic, can you please have a look at the following page:

http://www.sparxsystems.com/uml_tool_guide/sdk_for_enterprise_architect/create_tagged_values.html

I am able to follow the instructions on UML Profiles setting up tagged values fine up to this point, but I get lost here. What is this page telling me? What will be created? What comes next? What will this thing look look like? What is it going to do for me? What is this 'spin' thing? Is it really going to put a spin control in an object? How will it be used in a diagram / element?

Thanks again

Jon

[RoyC]

You have to ebb and flow a bit over the Tagged Value Types topic and its five subordinate topics, to get the particular pieces of data that you want to use.

A structured tag (or Structured Tagged Value Type) is basically a name that you define applied to a predefined Tagged Value Type with, if required, filters. The types and filters are provided in the Predefined Tagged Value Types topic.

Very similar are predefined reference data Tagged Value types, which  return predefined reference data. The Tagged Value Type for each reference data table is provided in the Predefined Reference Data topic.

So, the Create Structured Tags topic simply shows where and how to define a Tagged Value type based on a defined structure.

In the example (which could be used in the definition of a Handicap field to enable a user to set a sports handicap value) Spin is the Microsoft term for the selection arrows in a variable field - the user clicks on the arrows to increase or decrease the value between the upper and lower bound limits. This is a type defined in the Predefined Tagged Value Types topic.

I have done some work on these topics to make the relationships and flow between them more obvious - with luck this will be polished in time for the build 834 release.