Following some feedback on
TAM - Incorrect item cloned! Sparx advised that: "Time-aware versions can be built sequentially, but not in parallel."
What this means is that if you have an item that has been cloned, you should not be able to clone it again! Indeed, this appears to be the case. However, the UI doesn't indicate this. The "Clone Element as New Version..." context menu item is still enabled for the original item.
Furthermore, executing the menu item will replace the original item on the diagram with the latest clone. I say the latest clone because if there is a chain of (say 5 items each one cloned from its predecessor), and you are selecting the first (original) item, the original item will be replaced by the fifth item. Note further, that I said replaced, not cloned, since NO cloning has, in fact, taken place! Now, to be clear, I have no problem with the end result (if that's what I understood would happen- - given "sequential only" cloning). Once the latest clone has been inserted into the diagram, executing the "Clone Element as New Version..." a second time will NOW create a new (in this case 6th item)!
The concept of Time-Aware Modelling is difficult enough without confusing matters further by using the wrong terminology so that the unexpected happens (AND you can't reverse the effects once you've executed the menu item!).
Now, the "Clone Element as New Version..." menu item can be disabled by EA for a variety of circumstances (still to be fully investigated by us), so it's not as if EA can't work out when to enable/disable the item. In some cases, the "Clone Element as New Version..." is enabled, but when you execute it, nothing seems to happen. That would suggest that it should have been disabled.
In the case of the chained clones above, selecting any item other than the latest clone should enable the "Replace Element with Latest Version" (replacement) menu item.
In an enterprise setting, anyone may have created the diagram you are working on at any time in the past, you (AFAIK) have NO visual indication that the item you are wanting to clone has already been cloned, so it is vital that you are assisted by the system in understanding what will happen if you execute the menu item.
Reported,
Paolo
