Elements, Packages, Classifiers and Instances

[Modesto Vega]

AFIK Sparx creates relationships between

• packages and the elements they contain
• (classified) elements and their classifiers
• (instantiated) objects and elements being instantiated

Is there are a way to graphically surface those relationships in a diagram?

Please note the word "graphically", I am aware that text can be used for this.

[Geert Bellekens]

No, these relations are not stored as "connector" and thus cannot be visualized in a diagram.
(unless you create actual connectors for these relations)

Geert

[Modesto Vega]

Thanks Geert, I thought so.

As a result, I am assuming that, out of the box, it is not possible to create a matrix with packages on the columns and non-package elements in the rows.

So is there a way to automate the creation of connectors representing this relationships.

What would the appropriate relationship? Traces for everything? Composition for elements to package? Generalisation/Specialisation for classifier/instance?

[Geert Bellekens]

Sure, writing a script to do this is rather easy.

For the relation between package and ownedElement, you can use the nesting connector.

For Instance->Classifier I would use a dependency (or a stereotyped dependency)

Geert

[qwerty]

• packages and the elements they contain

Not correct. Connectors are only between elements. It happens that packages have an associated element and they are linked in multiple ways (I'd guess EA mostly relies on the fact that both share the same GUID, though in different DB tables).

q.

[Modesto Vega]

• packages and the elements they contain

Not correct. Connectors are only between elements. It happens that packages have an associated element and they are linked in multiple ways (I'd guess EA mostly relies on the fact that both share the same GUID, though in different DB tables).

q.

Qwerty I am aware of Sparx dual personality package, as an element and as folder. The intention is to link the package element to the elements it contains. Minus the script, this appears to work fine using a nesting relationship as suggested by Geert.

Are you suggesting that nesting relationships cannot or should not be created between a package element and the elements it contains? Are you suggesting that package elements do not contain any elements?

I should have written

Package elements and the elements they contain

instead of

Packages and the elements they contain

[qwerty]

Your correction is fine. No more complaints ;-)

q.