Connector locking bug(s)

[Geert Bellekens]

Hi,

I have three(related) bugs for the price of one here. They are all regarding the locking mechanism on Connectors. (when the option "Security" is enabled)
We use the security with the most strict option where the users must lock something before they can edit it.
When it comes to Connectors this just plain doesn't work (like it is supposed to)

1. The first bug is regarding the notes of a connector. Steps to reproduce:

• Create a relation between two classes (association,...)
• Relase the lock on the diagram showing the connector
• Doubleclick the connector and notice that the notes are not editable.
• Show the notes window using "View/Notes"
• Notice that you can still edit the notes of the selected Connector although it is supposed to be read-only.

Tss tss EA managing security belongs on the backend, not on the GUI only!

2. This one is about the general principle on locking/unlocking connectors. It seems that the fact whether a connector is locked depends on the the locking status of the diagram from which the properties dialog is opened. Steps to reproduce:

• Create a connector between two classes
• Show the connector on two diagrams
• Unlock diagram1 (to make it read-only)
• Doubleclick the connector on diagram1(read-only) and notice that the details cannot be edited.
• Doubleclick the connector on diagram2(editable) and notice that the details can be edited.

This is just plain stupid. Connectors are real parts of the model and should have their own locking status, not depend on the locking status of the diagram from which they are opened.

3. This one is closely related to bug number 2: When an element is readonly you would expect that you can't change it. This is true for the details of the element itself, its attributes and operations, but not for its connectors. Steps to reproduce:

• Create a class and release the lock making it read-only
• Create a diagram and show the class on this diagram
• Add or remove any type of relation from or to the supposedly read-only element. As long as the diagram you are using to edit the connectors is editable EA will allow all changes to the connectors of an element.

This is really sad. If I put an element read-only this means that I don't want it to change. EA however allows me to add generalizations, associations and whathever effectively changing the element in a big way.

I'll be sending these bugs to Sparx Support.

Geert

[Paolo F Cantoni]

As you know (by now) Geert,

Arcs are second class citizens of the repository.

Paolo

[«Midnight»]

As you know (by now) Geert,

Arcs are second class citizens of the repository.

Paolo

I'm not sure I completely agree with Paolo. They are certainly not first class citizens. But considering such things as the long-standing legacy confusion about what an Association means (depending on how you add one to your model) they may vary in status. It seems that they are low class citizens at best; second class may well be too lofty an honor at this point.

But I digress...

But this is important!  

[Geert Bellekens]

I've received a response from our friends down under:

I believe the three issues relate to the locking being on the GUI rather than the backend as you mentioned. Our developers have confirmed that this is a bug and have logged it to be fixed.

Now its just waiting for the fix.

Geert

[Geert Bellekens]

tested in 7.5.849, but still no change.

Geert

[neil_albiston]

And still a problem in build 863.

Here's the problem scenario we are hitting.
User1 creates a diagram and has all the elements of that diagram locked out.

User 2 creates a new diagram and copies the original with links to the original 'locked' elements. All the elements are still locked by User 1.
User 2 can then mess with the existing connections, affecting User1's original ( still locked out) diagram.

Also...
If User2 tries to add a connector using the quicklink, this is denied with a message stateing that at least one element must be checked out. All good.
But if the user selects a connector from the toolbox they are allowed to add it.
Can anyone suggest a work around or a fix to prevent this?

[beginner]

Design flaws can never be "fixed". A fix would be to call it correctly (not that euphemistic name "Security").

For that simple reason I call EA's security "accidental deletion prevention".

b.