Inherited Attributes In Browser

[sbaldrick]

I am currently cleaning up a logical model using the project browser.

If a class inherits attributes or operations from another class it is not shown in the browser. The only way I can determine the attrbutes of inherited classes is to drag them onto a diagram and show all inherited attributes.

It would be really nice not to be have to create a diagram solely for the purpose of viewing the attributes of a class .. It'd be so nice to be able to see them in the project browser.

[Geert Bellekens]

No it wouldn't.
It would only create massive confusion to have an element such as an attribute being repeated for each subclass.

Geert

[sbaldrick]

Can we perhaps have it both ways .. with a project browser option that allows me to see inherited attributes, or not to display them if you don't like it?

In fact showing inherited attributes as part of the class properties is the more accurate. Inherited attributes ARE duplicate attributes. Inheritance is just a way of reducing work. [Re-reading this, I realize that if you are a designer you may take a different opinion - Note that I am using EA as a BA.]

It'd be really nice to know that if I am changing an attribute property, that the change is going to propogate across all copies of that attribute. Showing the copies in the browser with a mark to indicate that it is re-used would be sufficient.

As I stated, EA already has the ability to show inherited attributes, it's just a real pain for us users that need to use that feature. The request was to simplify a feature that EA already provides.

[sbaldrick]

In fact, I just discovered what I believe is an error in EA that is directly related to this request.

Create and object instance from a subtype class, (in an object diagram) and its inherited attributes do not get created with the instance.

 

The inherited attributes are part of the class. If I make an instance without those attributes, my object is crippled.

 [smiley=cry.gif]