Messages

1

Bugs and Issues / Re: Structural Diagram: Compose Rel. Wrong Directi

« on: May 04, 2012, 06:54:57 pm »

It was not my fault.

If I activate 'Draw Aggregations Reversed' the route end will be drawn where I start drawing the association, but the roles for source and target will also be switched. Thus, the problem is still present.

2

Bugs and Issues / Re: Structural Diagram: Compose Rel. Wrong Directi

« on: May 04, 2012, 01:38:27 am »

Oh, my fault.

Under Tools/Options/Links I can select 'Draw Aggregations Reversed'.

Best regards, Helko

3

Bugs and Issues / Structural Diagram: Compose Rel. Wrong Direction?

« on: May 04, 2012, 01:08:45 am »

Hello,

I've created two classes C1 and C2 in a simple UML class diagram using EA 9.2.*.
After this, I wanted to create a composition relationship between these two classes. C1 should be the source and C2 the target. I started drawing the composition relationship beginning from C1 and released the mouse button over C2. The result is, that the source and target will be stated correctly in the relationship properties but the drawing of the relationship in the diagram is not correct. The filled composition square end which must be at the source end is placed on the target end side.

Does anyone have the same problem? I'm using EA version 9.2.

Thanks in advance, Helko

4

Uml Process / Re: Gen/Spec with Use Cases and how to proceed?

« on: August 28, 2012, 12:29:53 am »

Hi,
thanks for your reply. I hoped that the UML spec provides gen/spec between activities or actions.
I know use cases are to be read by humans but it's maybe very redundant.
However, good to know that this topic has not been thought to the end.
I will avoid gen/spec for use cases.

Thanks again, Helko

5

Uml Process / Gen/Spec with Use Cases and how to proceed?

« on: August 27, 2012, 07:29:03 pm »

Hi,

I have several generalizations/specializations in my use case diagrams of an EA UML model.
Know I want go into more detail by attatching activities and actions to each use case.

If I have an abstract use case UC1 which is specialized by two use cases UC2 and UC3. How can activities of UC2 and UC3 hook into the general acitivity flow of UC1?
Is there a official way to do that and how to do that with EA?
I ask, because I cannot find a wa to define an abstract activity in UC1 and specialize it in UC2 and UC3 different.

Thanks in advance, Helko

6

Uml Process / Re: Set Association Specializations

« on: May 25, 2012, 02:01:23 am »

We call that EAUI - EA Unique Interface. Swallow it or die. You might try to ask for bug correction or a feature request. This works - in parts. But EA never is getting more consistent. Maybe this is the nature of the thing.

q.

Sorry, but 'swallow it or die' is not very nice. You can call it whatever you want. Now if have to replace all the EAUI-flavoured aggregations through simple asscociations and give them aggregation properties manually.
It is not a bug, you're right. But it is also not intuitive and leads to misunderstandings.

Regards, Helko

7

Uml Process / Re: Set Association Specializations

« on: May 24, 2012, 09:54:25 pm »

OK I understand the what but I don't understand the why.
What is the reason for EA to introduce two ways for modeling aggregations / compositions? If both ways are ending in different model elements: What of them are better for later model transformations (e.g. derive a logical database model with primary and foreign keys etc. from a first conceptual model which has been modeled as an uml class diagram).
What of them is 100% compliant with the UML standard? I guess I have to use simple associations instead and set the aggregation/composition property at the association ends manually.

Regards, Helko

8

Uml Process / Re: Set Association Specializations

« on: May 24, 2012, 07:49:14 pm »

Hi I will make a bug report.

Can you tell me the difference between an inserted association and an inserted aggregation?
Both are associations right?
If I draw an association and define its target end as to be a composite or aggregation in the details property section. Isn't it exactly the same as when drawing an aggregation between two classes directly?
The properties of both 'associations' shall be the same afterwards. Or isn't it?

Regards, helko

9

Uml Process / Set Association Specializations

« on: May 24, 2012, 03:26:06 am »

Hi,

I have to introduce several specializations on an aggregation.
See 'Set Association Specializations' under EA UML Help.
Having a look on the example in the UML Help of EA you can see {subsets...}-qualifiers on the specialized association ends.

In my own model, I also defined such specializations but the {subset ... }-qualifiers doesn't appear in the diagram.
Is it manually attatched in the UML Help example or do I miss the option to enable the feature for displaying this informations?

Hope, I made my point clear...

Thanks in advance, Helko

10

Uml Process / Re: Modeling Interaction between System and Actors

« on: May 18, 2012, 06:57:05 pm »

You're right it sounds like the view stereotype.
And it should be a view.

What is the difference between the class you have mentioned and the entity types I will define before the views?

I thought that there is already a possibility to model views with more detailed first class concepts. The view stereotype is what I need but I have to specify the view internals with a classical DDL-statement.
My wish is:
- to have the entity types modeled
- create additonal views
- associate the views with the appropriate entity types
- derive view attributes (1:1 from assciated entity types and more complex view attributes through attatching a DDL statement)

Thoose view stereotyped classes shall be the base for the SOA based business solution architecture on top of the database layer.

Each view class will be faced through a entity service bean and appropriate data transfer object (DTO's).

Thanks in advance, Helko

11

Uml Process / Re: Modeling Interaction between System and Actors

« on: May 14, 2012, 10:30:03 pm »

Hello,

thank you all for the replies.
To the use of authorization tickets and RTF documents: Thats a workaround that might work.

But I notice that there are no first class concepts for realizing such a view mechanism where I can define individual role specific data projection and selection on my system data schema such as when making database engineering.

What do you think about the folowwing:
What about modeling additional classes with a certain stereotype 'data schema view' or something else. Such a class must be non-persistent (it's just a view) also contains attributes and view specific methods. The attributes will be derived (simply 1:1 representation of the equally named attribute of an associated class). Or the value will be derived from diverent attribute values comming somewhere specific from all the associated persistent system classes. Each derivation expression has to be defined somewhere in the properties of the derived attribute.

Finally you will get several classes with such a stereotype and each class with lots of derived attributes. Thoose classes must be somehow associated with external system components.

What do you think about that? Do you know first class concepts for realizing that with EA's modeling languages?

Thanks in advance, Helko

12

Uml Process / Modeling Interaction between System and Actors

« on: May 10, 2012, 02:49:41 am »

Hi,

I want to model the following:
The interaction (functions and informations flows) between my system I've already modeled and the external systems (here actors of my system).

What I already have are the information structure (class diagram) of the system itself. Next time it will be transfered into a logical model for relational database management system.

Now, several external system have to interact with my system. Each of the external systems have restricted access on the database. Not all informations are public to all external partners. Thus, I have to define views for each external system.

My question:

How can I model views based on an already existing structural class model with EA?
How can I use thoose views for defining informations flows between my system and the external partners?

What kind of diagram is suitable for modeling an overview of external systems and my system together with interaction associations + information flows?

Many thanks in advance, Helko

13

Uml Process / Re: Specializing Use Cases

« on: June 19, 2009, 07:29:45 pm »

Hi Phil!

This indicates in UML that Load File is classfied (implemented / realise by) Load XML File. Is this is your intention?

Yes, but isn't Load File still abstract when using a non abstract classifier? If not, than it is ok and a usefull solution. I will try it.

Also, have you noticed, that according to UML Abtract elements are shown in italic font, but in EA an abstract activity does not render in italic font?

Yes. That is confusing me too. I think also that names of abstract Activities shall be shown using italic font.


Thank you very much! Helko

14

Uml Process / Specializing Use Cases

« on: June 19, 2009, 05:57:40 pm »

Hi everyone.

I'm interested in your opinion about my perception of specializing use cases as follows:

A short abstract example:
- We have a Use Case "Edit File"

- "Edit File" includes/contains activities (Load File->Parse File Content->Edit Content->Save Content into File) modeled using an activity diagram below the Use Case

- The activities "Load File", "Parse File Content", "Save Content into File" are marked as abstract assuming that that they must be explicitely specified elsewhere

- Now I define another Use Case - "Edit XML File" - as a specialization (Gen/Spec-Relationship) of Use Case "Edit File"

- I assume that this new Use Case specializes the behavior represented by the general Use Case "Edit File"

- So, Use Case "Edit XML File" also contains an Activity Diagramm with activities (Load XML File->Parse XML File Content->Edit Content->Save Content into XML File)

- Here, the activities "Load XML File", "Parse XML File Content", "Save Content into XML File" are instead not marked as abstract.

- These activities are something like a realization of the abstract activities

Is my interpretation ok? What do you think?
Do i missinterpreting the meaning of a Gen/Spec of use cases? How is it possible expressing that an Activity realizes an Abstract Activity? I've found the realize-Relationship, but I think that this Relationship-Type has a different meaning with respect to my intention.

Best regards, Helko

15

Uml Process / Re: Activity Diagramm: Structured Activity - Loop

« on: June 18, 2009, 08:56:22 pm »

Ok - Thank you!

It's a compromise but it works.

But when using a Conditional Activity this solution will not be working, because a Conditional Node may have lots of clauses. And each will be subdivided into a test and body section (SubPartitions needed).

Or is their also a solution to model a Conditional Activity?

Regards, Helko