Information Flows between Class Instances

[EA Novice]

We are using custom Enterprise Architect (7.5) design diagrams based on UML elements.  I can't go into the details of the diagrams for commercial reasons.  I am new to Enterprise Architect and not a UML guru.

We would like to be able to show information flows between instances of classes where the classes themselves may be of various stereotypes.  We would like these information flows to be able to be coupled to appropriate class attributes at the source and target ends.

We note that Enterprise Architect provides an Information Flow connector.  When this is used to connect two class elements, it is possible to:
- Set the Information Items Conveyed.  This can be done through the Context menu option Advanced -> Information Items Conveyed.
- Set the Link To Element Feature for the source and target.  The context menu near the source gives the option Link to Element Feature which allows you to select a feature type of Attribute and to select the linked attribute from the source class.  Similarly, the context menu near the target allows you to select a linked attribute in the target class.

However, when I attempt to do the same thing with an Information Flow connector connecting two class instances, there are no class attributes available for selection in the "Feature" list under the Link to Element Feature dialog.

Unfortunately it is class instances (not classes themselves) that we want to show information flows between.

I see that it is possible to "realize" an information flow in Enterprise Architect.  However this doesn't appear to give us the functionality we are looking for.

Any advice on how to show information flows between class instances that can be tied to source and target class attributes would be appreciated.

[Geert Bellekens]

Have you tried to set the attributes in the class instance using "Advanced/Set Run State"?
I can imagine (although I'm not sure) that EA will allow you to connect to the attribute instances.

Geert

[EA Novice]

Thanks.  I've tried that but EA still doesn't list the attributes for selection under the Link to Element Feature dialog.

[Geert Bellekens]

Too bad

Geert

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Thanks.  I've tried that but EA still doesn't list the attributes for selection under the Link to Element Feature dialog.

No, it doesn't.

Did you check your PM?

Paolo