requirement, issue, change etc elements in a sequence diagram

[TvdS]

HI All,

I tried to annotate a sequence diagram (EA 14.2) with requirement, issue, change etc elements instance.

To my surprise, these get a life line!

I can't imaging that such presentation behaviour is correct.  Since requirement, issue and change etc elements are about the elements (life lines, states, connectors, etc) in a sequence diagram.  I expected to see the same appearance as in other diagrams, like a class diagram.

Moreover, it seems that it is only possible to attach note links to a whole life line or fragment, but not to connectors. Is that reasonable behaviour?
How would you annotate a connectors (messages, calls) in a sequence diagram?

Thanks for reading,
Twan.

[Richard Freggi]

My understanding is:  if you drag a classifier on a sequence diagram, if will be represented as a lifeline!  So I guess the items you refer to are classifiers as far as EA is concerned.  Suggest to use text boxes and notes instead.
I can annotate sequence diagrams with very little problem, the only issue is that the autorouting of the note links is a little wonky and need to manually route (EA 13).

[TvdS]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for confirming my observations.

With "annotating" a sequence diagram I ment to say to attach issues, changes etc to "parts" of a sequence diagram as a way to communicate with the diagram's users and to maintain a "log" of issues in a structured fashion. Note that I actually raise two points: 1) the idiosyncratic way of displaying issues, changes etc 2) only being able to link a note to the whole life line, rather than linking to messages too.

To workaround the problem a bit I already use stereotyped notes instead, but it doesn't feel right to resort to stereotype notes while there are issue elements.  Moreover, in mixing both methods, it is difficult to manage all "problems" and "issues" in a systematic and discipline way.

In summary:
1. I wish it was possible to retain the "normal" presentation of issues, changes, requirement etc elements in a sequence diagram
2. I wish it was possible to link to messages in a life line.

[Geert Bellekens]

We use tagged values to link things in the model to issue/change items.

It doesn't show up in the diagrams, but that is how we like it. I don't want any change management stuff messing up my nice diagrams. We use SQL searches to get the overview of items linked to issues.

Geert

[qwerty]

I never was in need to place issue elements on a SD but basically also use issue elements to trace down issues (which works nicely). Now that I see this effect, I think you are lost. Maybe you place a helper diagram (non-SD) nearby. Unfortunately you can not link any of the issues to somewhere. Only (cumbersome) way around would be to create notes (which can be linked anywhere) and copy/paste them to the helper where you can create the cross-link to the issue.

q.