Establishing links to element instances

[Praxis]

Hi All, first posting here - please be gentle...

I've been reading up on EA for a week or so, but there is still something I just can't get to grips with.

I understand that a diagram is a view onto the underlying model. So I should only have to create a particular element, say a class, once right?

Let's say I want to show that a class implements part of a Use Case, and then work on that class in a lower level of the model in a different diagram.

I'm thinking I can drag the class from the Implementation view in the project browser that I've just created, into a class diagram. There seem to be so many options to how this might work, and only a few of them result in a genuine single instance of the class that I can manipulate in both diagrams.  :-? Do I Make Composite, create a port, create a part; I'm really not getting what these things are.

Maybe I've missed it, but I can't find anything in the help or tutorials (yet) that spells out how this multiple view onto a single element is to be done in EA - that is to say, how is this drag and drop meant to work?

Assuming I've made myself understood, can anyone point me to the relevant section or tutorial I need to be looking at? I would be very grateful - I'm running out of time on my 'get to know EA' task.

Regards

Jeff

[Praxis]

As so often happens - asking the question provides its own answer.

The simple link option really seems to be doing what I'm trying to describe. I was using Create Instance, but I think that was wrong.

If anyone has a bit more info to help me get the point of the drag and drop option set, then please let me know, but I think I'm getting there.

Cheers

Jeff

[qwerty]

Try ctrl-dragging element onto the diagram.

q.

[Geert Bellekens]

Jeff,

Ports, Parts, Instances etc... are all well defined UML artifacts, so if you want to know more about them you can find their definition in the UML specification.
If you just want to start modelling the "simple link" is probably what you're after. There's a checkbox on the drag-n-drop dialog to make it always select the same option without asking.
If you then still want to see that dialog press ctrl while dragging.

Geert

[Praxis]

Thanks Geert, qwerty,

My last use of UML in anger was way before UML 2. So much to learn...

Thanks for the help, it feels less like a random button mash now.

Jeff