Messages

1

Suggestions and Requests / Re: Change hit-test algorithm (problem with bounda

« on: October 20, 2003, 08:10:14 am »

When adding iterations (i.e. stereotyped boundaries) onto sequence diagrams, it is almost impossible to move or resize them since the hit-testing algorithm seems to always pick up the objects behind.

Hi Ola,

Objects displayed in EA are "layered" one behind the other.  This is why you get the effect you are describing.  If you select the iteration boundary and then click on the button on the bottom toolbar to bring this to the front - all of your hits will pick the iteration boundary.

Regards,

Fintan

2

Suggestions and Requests / YABBC - insert image

« on: October 02, 2003, 12:39:12 am »

Hi Sparx,

Is there a way to insert an image into a topic message on the forums (fora??) without having to reference a live web site?

I do not have a live web site where I can throw up gifs of diagrams, and therefore cannot include them in any posts that I make.

Many thanks,

Fintan

3

Suggestions and Requests / Re: Stereotype update strangeness

« on: August 13, 2003, 06:23:12 am »

One specific stereotype shortfall I'd like to raise is the custom GUIelement objects (themeselves a stereotype! )  Although they appear in the custom diagrams "correctly" as stereotype icons, the HTML documentation leaves the stereotyping off the object detail page.

One other thing about stereotypes for elements.  If you create an object by dropping a Boundary/Control/Entity item from the toolbox it has the correct stereotype.  However when you create a class Classifier for the object, the class does NOT pick up what stereotype the object is set to.  I think the stereotype for the class should default to the stereotype of the object.

Regards,

Fintan

4

Suggestions and Requests / Re: Collaboration diagrams

« on: April 10, 2003, 03:03:09 am »

Hi,

I absolutely agree.

We need a way to specify / change the numbering on collaboration diagrams, with the default being the way that things are done now.

At the moment if I need to add a new message in the middle of a sequence I must delete all messages after the point at which the new one is entered.  Then add the new one and re-enter all the ones that I have deleted in their proper order.

Regards,

Fintan

5

General Board / Re: Conceptual Class Diagrams

« on: June 04, 2004, 04:50:07 am »

Can anyone offer examples of a class diagram that describes the simple CRUD of a typical "maintenance" program.  I'm probably approaching this the wrong way, but I've got to start somewhere - I am documenting the current functionality in a fairly large legacy Purchasing system.


Any comments or help would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

Hi Jon,

In your Use Case you will probably keep all of the CRUD operations in a single Use Case.  The Create could be the 'Basic Flow', with Read, Update and Delete being 'Alternative Flows'.

I do not know exactly how your system is meant to operate but if I were to guess I would say that you would have a minimum of a Vendor class and an Item class ( perhaps you also need an association class 'VendorItems'?).  Each class could have a method for each of the CRUD operations (e.g. Vendor class - addVendor(), deleteVendor(), updateVendor(), etc.).

HTH,

Fintan

6

General Board / Re: Analysis -> Design

« on: September 23, 2003, 01:17:12 am »

First I draw the analysis diagrams, (to remember the clear system) then I wish to draw the design diagrams, where are some analysis elements reduced and are some new implementation specific elements.

First I come to the Idea, to use for analysis and design projects two files.

Hi Jan,

Normally Analysis diagrams are temporary steps towards defining the Design diagrams.  As such, once the analysis diagrams are completed and design is begun the original Analysis diagrams are modified to show the Design.  Of course your Analysis diagrams are lost.  Is there a reason for you to keep the Analysis diagrams?  Could you keep a hard copy of the Analysis diagrams on file?

If you must keep the Analysis diagrams, I would put a copy of the Analysis diagrams in a new package and modify the Analysis diagrams as per the above process to create my Design diagrams.  This will much less of a workload on you trying to keep diagrams in synch, and should help the EA performance.

Regards,

Fintan

7

General Board / Re: Class view per class diagram

« on: July 29, 2003, 04:29:51 am »

I absolutely agree!

Especially in the case of "utility" methods, such as constructors.  You need them there for the automatic code generation, but they do not of any value to someone reading the class diagram.  I do believe EA will automatically generate getters & setters if you need - so these should not appear on a class diagram.

I do not think it is good design to set the visibility of your attributes / methods in order to view a class diagram correctly (tongue in cheek!)

Regards,

Fintan

8

General Board / Re: Sequence diagram bug ?

« on: June 05, 2003, 04:39:29 am »

Hi Oscar,

The 5 objects on your sequence diagram should have  a "life line" attached (dashed vertical line).

If you click on any object and drag the bottom handle this will extend the life line of the objects downwards.  You should now be able to add messages below your last one.

Regards,

Fintan

9

General Board / Re: How to capture user clicking drop-down menu?

« on: May 23, 2003, 01:37:46 am »

Actually, use cases REALIZE functional requirements by explaining how an actor interacts with the system.

I am sorry DMT I cannot agree with this.  Use Cases do not explain HOW anything happens.....  Use Cases explain WHAT happens.

I would agree with you that the UI requirements could capture the idea of a toolbar button and a menu button.  But then don't we get away from the idea of "Use-case driven development?"  Aren't use cases supposed to capture 100% of the interaction between an actor and the system?

There are many models in a project.  The key to "Use-case driven development" is that Logical models and Dynamic models, etc. are derived from the Use Cases.  There is a model which is called the 'User Experience' Model.  This is a model which is derived from the Use Cases that details the User Interface, and could include the details about File | Open vs clicking on a Toolbar button.

Since the User Experience Model is derived from the Use Cases as part of UI design - we are still on track for "Use-case driven development"

Regards,

Fintan

10

General Board / Re: How to capture user clicking drop-down menu?

« on: May 22, 2003, 07:25:35 am »

There are two things I'm trying to figure out in my mind. In the context of this fictitious example, they'd be:

1. How do I document the fact that one of the ways the user can open a database is by clicking File, Open?
2. How do I document the fact that the other way is by clicking the "open folder" icon on the toolbar?

This is the user interacting with the system. It's a scenario that needs to be tested.  For me, this points to the need for a use case to encapsulate the behavior.

So, I guess the question is, why avoid use cases such as:

Select Menu Option
Click Toolbar Button

?

HI DMT,

Use Cases are only for capturing Functional requirements.  In your case the function of the system is the same whether the user chooses a menu option or clicks a toolbar button.

Whether you use menus, or toolbar buttons, or both is part of User Interface design.  While you are correct in the assumption that you should test both, you should not be concerned with design issues when you are defining your requirements (use cases).  Once you have completed your use case you can start designing the code to implement this functionality - here is where you will discover that you have to ways to fire a particular use cases.  It is at this stage that you will create / modify your tests to reflect this.

Regards,

Fintan

11

General Board / Re: How to capture user clicking drop-down menu?

« on: May 22, 2003, 06:24:02 am »

- There is a menu item under the File menu called "Open Company Database." If the user triggers this option, the system displays a dialog, allowing the user to select a company database.
- There is an "open document"-looking button on the toolbar that triggers the same action. It looks like a blank page, just like the New Document toolbar button in MS Word.
- The File menu lists the 4 most recently used (MRU) company databases. If the user triggers one of these options, it just opens the company database.

HI DMT,

For the first and third of these options I would use one use case e.g. "Retrive Company data".

The first step in my use case would be something like :
"The DBRetriever selects the option to retrieve a Company database".
This avoids the design decision as to 'how' the DBRetriever (or whatever you call your actor) will select this option.

For your second option you may use a use case "Open Document" and the the wording :
"The system retrieves the company data" as a step within the use case.

Does this help?

Fintan

12

General Board / Re: Correlating information across diagrams

« on: May 22, 2003, 06:56:13 am »

ah!  thanks!

i was starting with sequence diagrams, rather than classes.  i guess i need to do the two in parallel, adding methods as i need them for the sequence diagram.

now if only ea could read javadoc for existing classes! (i'm wondering whether javadoc to xml might be possible...)

cheers,
andrew

Hi Andrew,

You can add the methods in the sequence diagram.  When you create an  arrow between 2 objects in your seq. diagram - right click and go to message properties.  Now instead of typing in the method name, click on the 'New...' button.  Now when you add the method name here it is added to the class.  When you OK this dialog you can selet your new method from the drop down list for this message.

Regards,

Fintan

13

General Board / Re: EAExample Question

« on: April 10, 2003, 02:31:11 am »

Hi Functional,

The error is there for a reason - Most languages do not allow you to create a class that has spaces in the name.  E.g. class named "class One" would be illegal in most languages and should be called "classOne".

If you use EA to automatically generate code for you a class which has a space in the name could cause an 'illegal' class name in the code that is generated.

This is the reason for the error that you see - one of the classes in the diagram you are looking at has a class whose name has a space in it.

I am unaware of any option in EA which will turn this message off.

Regards,

Fintan

14

General Board / Re: Collaboration Message sequencing dialog

« on: April 03, 2003, 05:41:30 am »

This would be the equivalent of Rose automatically creating/updating a sequence diagram when you're working on a collaboration diagram.
Thank you.

Hi,

EA cannot create a Sequence diagram from a Collaboration diagram, or vice versa - therefore changes in one will not be reflected in the other either.  This is something that is being looked at for a future release.

Regards,

Fintan

15

General Board / Re: database schema

« on: March 20, 2003, 04:41:22 am »

Hi All,

There is a range of tools out there already called "Object-Relational Mapping" tools (ORM).  These can take your classes and map them to relational database tools.  The better ones can also do mappings where there is not a simple one table to one class mapping.

Perhaps someone could develop an add-in / plug-in for EA ?  Anyone ?

Regards,

Fintan