Custom diagram type according to uml-Profile

[O.Mahnke]

Hi,
i am evalutating EA as a modeling tool. After reading the docs
available on your site and testing the evaluation version, one crucial question still remains for me:

Is it possible to create some kind of custom diagram type
associated with an uml-profile in order to constraint the user interface according to the profile?

For example i think of showing only a subset of all possible attributes for stereotyped elements, only allow the creation of stereotyped associations defined in the profile, ... or generally speaking: enforce some model structure according to the profile.

Thank you very much,

Oliver

[Makulik]

Hi Oliver,

Yes its possible to do so, but may also require some efforts to be spent beyond development of the profile.
I found that the best way to provide the kind of restrictions you're mentioning is probably building your own MDG technology, along with an EA-AddIn, to capture and handle some certain UI interactions (e.g. when the user tries to add new attributes or operations to a stereotyped class).
Another option might be to use EAs UML model validation features, to ensure consistency of the models based on your profile(s). But I don't have any experience with this (others in this forum will certainly have).

HTH
Günther

[KP]

Yes you can create custom diagram types. Look here:

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

You can define your own toolboxes which appear whenever one of your custom diagrams is created:

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

You can define quicklink menus which show the users the recommended relationships between elements:

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

Wrap them all up in an MDG Technology and you're half way there. If you want to go the whole way, then think about Günther's suggestion of an add-in. EA allows you to implement broadcast handlers which react to certain events in EA. Look here:

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

Specifically, look at the "Pre-New" events which allow you to prevent creation of elements, attributes, connectors etc; "Post-New" events which allow you to modify newly created elements, attributes, connectors etc; and "Model Validation" events which allow you to define your own rules for validating user models.

Have fun!