Parameters when referencing Sequence Diagrams

[IngoK]

Hello
I ve modelled a sequence diagram in EA Coporate edition.
Interaction Parameters are defined by right clicking on the work space in this diagram.

Now I want to ref this diagram from another sequence diagram using a ref fragment.
I generate this using drag and drop from the project browser.
Now I want to provide actual parameters for this "call".
In Properties of the ref fragment I find a tab "call".

This tab is completely disabled (grayed out).

What do I need to do to provide actual parameters?

Who can help

Ingo :-?

[Nizam Mohamed]

Please make sure your actual sequence diagram(say seq1) is within an "Interaction" element(say Interaction1), and the sequence diagram that is intended to have the reference ( interaction occurrence )(say seq2) is also contained within an "Interaction"(say Interaction2) element.

you can define the parameters by invoking the "Properties" window of Interaction1, and using the "Behavior" tab's "Edit Parameters".

Now if you drag the seq1 diagram onto seq2, as an "interaction occurrence"(Interaction1). and invoke its properties(of interaction occurrence), you'd find, in the "Call" tab, that the Behavior is set as "Interaction1"(the actual interaction element). now you can add arguments (parameter values) by using the "Edit Arguments" window, or let EA automatically create arguments by clicking the "Synchronize" button.

[IngoK]

Thank you very much. That helped a lot...
....and raised new questions

- why do I need an extra container for the diagram to provide parameters?
- why should the calling seq-Diagram be embedded in an interaction element? (It still works if I don't embed it) ?
- what are the parameters for, which I defined directly in the diagram
   (note: they have been used to correctly show the parameter definition in a sequence overview diagram...) .... why can't they be used?
- and finally the result is not exactly what I intended to have:
   -In the parameter dialog of the ref-fragment-box I can enter (in edit Parameters-dialog) a list of
     - name
     - Parameter (chosen from the pulldown)
     - value
   result:
   --> displayed in the ref-Box is (name : Parameter)
   --> I intended to see a comma sep. list of (Parameter=value)
         as defined in UML Superstructure 2.2 on page 490 ff?
 
What is my misunderstanding?
I am still confused. Obviously I do not a understand a basic concept of EA...

Thank you

Ingo

[IngoK]

....aehm and two additional questions....

1) My Sequence Diagrams don't have a "sd"-frame around them when displayed/printed.
They do have (incl. formal parameters) when located in an interaction overview diagram.
Why isn't that frame implicitly shown when printed; what kind of container is necessary? I don't see any advantage to have a interaction overview diagram for every sequence diagram. The overview is already there provided by project manager???!!!???
Has this to do with my misunderstanding of a basic EA concept...?

2) when I add a ref-fragment by dragging from project manager sometimes the name of the referenced seq-diagram is taken over as the name, sometimes (most often) not. What is the principle behind it...

Every help welcome
 8-)

Thank you

Ingo

[«Midnight»]

Re: 1) Check the Tools | Options | Diagram dialog. Play with the settings in the following two groups: Use Opaque Diagram Labels, and Diagram Frames. Sequence diagrams are sort of 'orphans' in EA so these settings might not address your problem. But it is certainly worth a try.

[IngoK]

Hi
thank you - this was a good hint: I learnt a lot.
But there seems to be no parameter regarding my problems.
 :-?
Ingo

[Geert Bellekens]

Press the Ctrl button when dragging your diagram onto another diagram, that should give you some options that influence how the diagram is painted on the other diagram.

Geert

[IngoK]

hmmm, can't see a difference with/without ctrl-key
nevertheless: Thank you it was worth a try

Ingo

[«Midnight»]

In many situations the control key toggles whether you drag the classifier (e.g. the class in question) or an instance (e.g. an object of that class in question) onto a diagram. In this case the distinction might not be meaningful, but it would be wise to understand the EA paradigm. In many cases where you drag from the Project Browser to a diagram, having the control key 'backwards' can result in undesired results.

[IngoK]

Thank you for the explanation.

I have now contacted sparx support, because after all these tries I feel that this is a bug in EA :-(

I will post the answer of sparx support here

Thanks again

Ingo