Cannot draw a communication diagram

[janet.edwards]

Hello,

I use EA Professional 15.2.1557.

I have just spent two hours, trying various options, and no matter what I do, I am unable to create a communication diagram following the documentation here:

https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.0/model_domains/communicationdiagram.html
https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.0/model_domains/createacommmessage.html

After I drop an actor and object on a diagram, the documentation is vague again when it says:

"Add an Association relationship between each pair of objects that communicate."

I am not sure what is meant by "Association" here, which one in particular?

When I use quick-links from the actor to the object, I am required to choose a specific association and I end up with <<abstraction>>, <<use>> and similar stereotypes on a dashed line.

Then, the documentation says "Select the option to add a Message from one object to the other." but which option is that? I cannot find anything about messages after right clicking on any association.

Next, when I use the palette to add an association, it just does nothing. I can drag a line from actor to object and the line disappears as soon as I release the left mouse button.

Am I using it all incorrectly? Is there another way to create communication diagrams?

Thanks again.

[qwerty]

When you select an oject the quick linker symbol (arrow) appears top right. Click and drag it to the target object. Or use the left icon from the Communication Relationships in the toolbox. From these associations you then can add a message as described in the help.

q.

P.S. Come to think of this I was pretty sure that objects do not have associations but links. Need to check the UML specs....

[janet.edwards]

Thanks @qwerty but this is exactly what I was trying to do to no avail, please have a look at my message.

Yourself, are you able to draw the same diagram as in the documentation? https://sparxsystems.com/enterprise_architect_user_guide/15.0/model_domains/communicationdiagram.html

When you drag an association using quick links, what happens? Do you get a straight line and numbering? What is your EA version and level?

Thanks.

[qwerty]

First you get a straight line (from the association; still I have not looked up UML 2.5). Then you add the message from the context. I was first using 13.5 where the properties windows pops up, when dl-clinking the call() text. In 15.2 this must be done in the docked properties window (which is confusing, but usual EAUI). The numbering is set "somewhere" and I can't recall where exactly (shifts anyway from version to version). But you should first get the messages right...

q.

[KP]

You can have an Association between two classifiers or between two instances, you can't mix and match. So right-click your Actor > Advanced > Convert to Instance, and try again. (Or switch off strict connector syntax and use the Toolbox).

[qwerty]

Ah, that was it. The diagram from the help itself has no link between actor and object, though. The actor is stand alone for illustration (which is perfectly ok).

q.