Sparx Systems Forum

Enterprise Architect => General Board => Topic started by: sargasso on August 11, 2004, 08:24:35 pm

Title: "Communication Path" - cant find it
Post by: sargasso on August 11, 2004, 08:24:35 pm

A quick one!

I am sure that yesterday I saw the toolbox item for this association subtype.  Does anyone know where it is?

(ref UML 2.0 superstructure 10.3.2)

tia
Bruce

Title: in the Re: "Communication Path" - cant f
Post by: Bruno.Cossi on August 11, 2004, 08:41:08 pm

"Communication Message" maybe?

If I well remember, it does not appear in the toolbox, but it does appear under the "Link" button on the top toolbar.

Is that the one you were looking for?

Bruno

Title: Re: "Communication Path" - cant find it
Post by: sargasso on August 11, 2004, 09:03:11 pm

Nup.

Its a node to node connector "subtype of association" not a message per se.  It characterises an association between two nodes to the degree of "some information goes between this node and that node somehow" IOW we are at this point not concerned with either the technical channel characteristics (TCP/IP, html, connect direct etc etc) nor with the information characteristics (file, page, attribute etc etc) just that there exists a path.

In fact, the paths are going to be locigical rather than physical.  For example, the physical path
[A] -----> --------> [C]
needs to be shown as
[A]------>[C]

Reason I'm looking for it is that we have approx 250 intersystem "data flows" to model and I'm loking for a quick entry mechanism.

I am D**n sure I saw the connector somewhere.


(sigh) guess I'll just use a stereotype.

B

Title: Re: "Communication Path" - cant find it
Post by: Bruno.Cossi on August 11, 2004, 09:31:58 pm

I see.
This is interesting:

The OMG UML specification (UML 2.0 Superstructure, p. 8) states:  
"A diagram that depicts the execution architecture of systems. It represents system artifacts as nodes, which are connected through communication paths to create network systems of arbitrary complexity. Nodes are typically defined in a nested manner, and represent either hardware devices or software execution environments."  

EA documentation:
With deployment diagrams, an association indicates a communication path between nodes, through which nodes are able to transmit signals and messages.  

In other words, in the case of a deployment diagram, association = communication path?

Bruno

Title: Re: "Communication Path" - cant find it
Post by: Oscar on August 11, 2004, 10:51:49 pm

I think it's an association.

As the reference guide says in paragraph 4.3.1.3 (page 286) :

Quote

With deployment diagrams, an association indicates a communication path between nodes, through which nodes are able to transmit signals and messages.

HTH
Oscar

Title: Re: "Communication Path" - cant find it
Post by: KP on August 11, 2004, 10:54:05 pm

Bruce,

It looks like if you use an association on a deployment diagram, ipso facto it's a communication path. The quote from the EA help file...

"With deployment diagrams, an association indicates a communication path between nodes, through which nodes are able to transmit signals and messages."

Cheers,

Neil

EDIT: Simul-posted again, I'm going to have to learn to type quicker!