Model parallel processes in SDs

[qwerty]

I rarely use SDs (probably because my masochist part isn't that evolved). Anyhow, when using SDs as-is EA orders messages strictly sequential. Probably the EA designers never have seen multi-processing, but it's something that exists. So a message if sent on two different computers to some other 2 different computers CAN occur absolutely (philosophers and physicists please stay out here) in parallel. So my question: is there any hidden option where I can tell EA to allow that? (Pretty sure I know the answer but hope dies at last.)

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[Sunshine]

Likewise haven't used SD's for a long time. Here are some thoughts;
Draw SD with 4 Os then M1 between O1 and O2 then M2 between O3 and O4 then move M2 upto same pos as M1. Thus simultaneous messages between two separate computers to two other different computers in parallel.
There is some info on ordering here;
https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/14.0/model_domains/general_ordering.html
Alternatively you could use fragments similar to the second diagram in these examples.
https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/14.0/model_domains/message_examples.html
However maybe co-region notation sounds like it might be the thing you are after.
https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/14.0/model_domains/co-region_notation.html
Hope that helps.
Happy New Year

[qwerty]

Some interesting variants, thanks. However, none lets me move a message freely to some position where another message is sitting. I just guess it's welded in EA that message must be in a discrete order :-(

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[Geert Bellekens]

There exists a PAR fragment exactly for this purpose, to denote multiple messages that are being sent in parallel.
I think you are supposed to use that.

Geert

[qwerty]

That does not seem to have ANY effect. The messages dragged will hop down (only G. knows when and how much) down when reaching another one on the same height.

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P.S. if there were some kind of vertical swim lines that allow independent movement between divisions. Well, until Christmas it's a looong time. And even then we know that Santa from Aussie land will not bring parcels to us.

[qwerty]

Found it. There's a "Reorder Messages" in the Layout/Helpers ribbon (yeah, I'm now using that :-/). The funny (c'mon, it's EA) thing is that when it's ticked, it does NOT reorder (as I wanted it).

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[Geert Bellekens]

With the par fragment you just put the different messages under each other. The fragment tells you that these messages are parallel
See https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/content/RationalEdge/feb04/3101_figure17.jpg for an example

Geert

PS.  A tip to keep your sanity while working with SD's: hold the ALT key when dragging messages up/down.

[qwerty]

I see, Geert. But that's definitely not what I wanted. I want two messages on the same height (time) on two different life lines. The solution is the above. I was aware of the Alt key which is needed in the "standard" operation mode, but which also just clobbers other orders somehow (there were so much quirks I had to account to EAUI that I'm not going to list them here, nor to do a futile bug report).

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[KP]

It is a limitation of EA sequence diagrams that you cannot have two messages at the same vertical position. The closest you can manage is one pixel apart (on my dev build; I haven't tried the current release build). However, relative vertical position on unconnected lifelines says nothing about timing. So going back to Sunshine's example:

Draw SD with 4 Os then M1 between O1 and O2 then M2 between O3 and O4 then move M2 upto same pos as M1. Thus simultaneous messages between two separate computers to two other different computers in parallel.

EA won't let you move M2 to the same vertical position as M1, but whether M2 is higher or lower than M1 doesn't tell you anything about which occurs first or whether they happen simultaneously.

[qwerty]

Well, I don't want it at the same hight at only micro meters difference. I just want to place them "more or less" on the same height. Without the above named option EA makes these large hops and re-arranges other messages. For me ticking that option made my day. I can shift messages to where I want without EA going mad. I seem to remember some threads where people actually got mad about this re-arranging. They probably should have ticked that option - if they had known about it. Not sure, but having it default would probably be the better configuration.

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