how to paint multiobjects in sequence diagrams

[jamarcka]

I can't find how to represent a multi-object in a sequence diagram.

If someone knows how to do this, please reply!

Thanks

[MrDX]

What do you mean with 'a multi-object'?

[jamarcka]

A message that an object send to a indefinite number of instances of a class ( I mean, to a indefinite number of objects, but all of them of the same class). I.e.: when you want, for example, to list a set of things (articles, clients...) and you don't know how many are them; so you have to call (in analysis) something like: show_element(). This call must be received for all of the instances of that class.

(Sorry for my English, I'm Spanish)

[jamarcka]

For example,something like this:

http://www.ifi.uio.no/in219/verktoy/doc/html/doc/user/mg/dgmsuml3.html

[thomaskilian]

You might be lucky using Shape Script.

[«Midnight»]

I can find no reference to multiobject (or multi object, or multi-object) in the UML 2.1.1 Superstructure (2007-02-05).

I do find references to the multiobject, as well as the notation you cite, in older works on UML. Perhaps this was lost sometime after UML 1.4 (I did not check).

That said, the reference you cite might give you a way to do this. Your reference notes that an alternate notation is to use a composite link (which looks like an aggregation). Maybe you could do this in EA.

You'd have to check whether EA would complain about the use of an aggregation. If it did, consider a shape script (for the link, the multiobject, or both). Or, you could disable strict UML syntax on the Tools | Options | Diagram dialog (at your own risk, of course).

David