Sparx Systems Forum
Enterprise Architect => General Board => Topic started by: swe on August 31, 2012, 06:20:16 pm
-
Are Interface and ProvidedInterface different concepts? I noticed that when inserting an embedded element in a port (adding a provided/required interface) I get a selection menu to select an existing interface. However, it seems that I can create another interface with the same name, and there are no conflicts.
Also, when editing the shapes in shape editor, if I change the appearance of the interface (box notation) the provided interface notation does not change. EA Architect treats these two distinctly, can someone clarify?
-
Interface and Provided Interface are indeed treated by EA as separate items.
The "Provided Interface" only indicates that a component exposes a certain interface, without the need to specify that interface itself.
Whereas the interface is the "real" interface.
In a complete model each Provided Interface actually links to a "real" interface, but I can image circumstances where you don't need or want to specify the "real" interface.
In those cases you can get by with creating only a Provided Interface.
Geert
PS. You almost never get conflicts when using the same name for different elements, even when they exist in the same namespace.
-
What exactly does it mean, when you say:
"In a complete model each Provided Interface actually links to a "real" interface, "
is there any actual link? I can select a "real interface" when defining an exposed interfaced, then an interface with the same name is made inside the component. But then how do I get back to the "real interface"? I do not see any link, should I? So its only by name? But that can be changed, especially if I don't see, where the interface is used.
Regards
Uwe
-
This is done by drawing a generalization to the real interface. Try Advaced/Parent in the context of a req/prov interface.
q.
-
Thank you very much, this is what I was looking for and couldn't see right in front of my nose!