Tree lines consume diagram space

[«Midnight»]

This has been tested using EA Build 834. I have not checked earlier builds.

During the test the default link style was set to Direct, and the default generalization style was set to Tree.

When creating a hierarchy with tree links (e.g. an inheritance hierarchy), the tree lines are drawn strangely. The 'shoulder' point of the forked tree lines tends to be at a fixed offset below the parent rather than a fixed offset above the children.

This is particularly noticeable when the children are aligned horizontally. If the row of children is moved lower on the diagram (perhaps to leave room for other classes above) the lower segments of the tree lines are extended, with the horizontal segment remaining where it was. The end result is to fill the newly opened space (where the children used to be) with a set of vertical lines. The diagram becomes cluttered, and the newly opened space is wasted.

Reported

[Paolo F Cantoni]

David,

If I understand your description correctly... It's always been like that.

I didn't like it at first, but it's bearable (since there's apparently no hope of getting it changed).

There are a number of other issues with Tree style - like the insanity of placing the name in the middle segment, rather than the segment closest to the origin.   NOTE: I'm talking about placement NOT changing which label is assigned the name.

Paolo

[«Midnight»]

Paolo,

Perhaps I've just been lucky enough to design a lot of diagrams right the first time, and only now do I have to edit some.

Dialog with Sparx ongoing. They've not been able to duplicate it with XP and the description provided (cut and pasted from the forum post).

Details to follow, such as they are.

David

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Dialog with Sparx ongoing. They've not been able to duplicate it with XP and the description provided (cut and pasted from the forum post).

Oh... I misread your original post.  The link style is direct and the default style is tree.

You agree that the default behaviour if the link style is tree vertical and the default style is tree, is as you describe.

Sorry, I, too, can't duplicate.  However, did you at one stage have them set as custom line with way points?  I've noticed some subsequent weirdness when I've done that in the past.

HTH,
Paolo

[«Midnight»]

I thought I might have set to Custom line style. Checking with a new project, with line style set to Direct before opening EA (i.e. set the default, exit EA, then restart) I got the above behavior.

Sparx is wondering if this could be related to using Vista instead of XP. I'll post back once I confirm the behavior, either under Vista or at all.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Sparx is wondering if this could be related to using Vista instead of XP. I'll post back once I confirm the behavior, either under Vista or at all.

I was using Vista32 when I confirmed the inability to duplicate.  I've also used EA with Windows Server 2008 and have noticed NO drawing anomalies specific to the OS.

The drawing model used by EA is suspect.  So  my bet is on that rather than the OS.

HTH,
Paolo