How to embed a packaging component into a diagram

[feipa]

Hi,

I'm attempting to generate some overview diagrams containing rough component information from different product parts (packages) and need some help.

I do have some component diagrams containing one or multiple packaging components as well as some other elements (headlines, text notes, html links etc.). The packaging components each contain several sub-components. The diagrams are located in different packages (but the same EA project) and are maintained by different people.

Now I want to generate some deployment diagrams showing specific combinations of some of these packaging components showing the containing sub-components as well.

I tried the following non sufficient alternatives:
- A diagram frame shows the entire component diagram with all elements but not only the packaging component I want.
- A diagram reference shows an empty frame.
- Copy and Paste (as new) shows what expected but in fact it creates new component elements which will be not synchronized with the originals.
- Copy and Paste (as link) shows what expected and is synchronized with the original but only for existing elements. If a new sub-component will be added to the original packaging component later on it will be missing within the linked one. Additionally the name of the sub-components will get very long (diagram name::sub-component name:classifier).

Is there a way to get what I want?

Thanks a lot for any suggestions.
feipa

[Geert Bellekens]

Feipa,

What you are asking for is some kind of automatically updated diagrams.
EA doesn't have such functionality, but there might be some third party addins that do. Try asking Paolo F Cantoni, I think he was working on something like that.

Geert

[feipa]

Hi Geert,

no, I don't think about automatically updated diagrams, although I'm using diagram frames as a workaround currently.

The behavior of an instantiated element could be a possible solution if I understand it correctly.

I could imagine to use an abstract packaging component containing embedded sub-components which can be instantiated as a whole. The instantiated element should show all origin elements (both the packaging component and the sub-components) and keeps them synchronized.
The inherited tagged values and attributes should be visible and it should be possible to add individual tagged values and runtime states for each instance.

Does EA support something like this?

Regards,
feipa