Sequence Diagrams and underlined object names

[bko0]

Hi,

I'm new to EA, having used Rose in the past.  I'm really enjoying how light-wheight EA feels.

I've noticed that the objects on my sequence diagrams do not have their names underlined.  I'm used to seeing that.  Without the underline, the items look like classes rather than objects.

How do I get the objects to show their names underlined in a sequence diagram.  I've been adding the objects to sequence diagrams by dragging classes from the logical model.

I suspect that I'm missing something.

Thanks for your help.

[Larry Tubbs]

If you drag the objects from the "Object" tool in the toolbox, the name will be underlined.  But, when you drag from an existing class, you are dragging a class.  This is why the name is not underlined.

I'm assuming when you are dragging from the logical model you are either getting an instance of the Class or the Class itself (depending on the instancing setting).  But when you create an object from the toolbox, you are not creating a class, but a higher level "Object" object.  A class might realize this object, but I think in the dynamic model, this "Object" could be higher level than the actual implemented class.

I hope this makes sense.  I'm also new to EA, and this is how I understand it.  If it doesn't work this way, perhaps someone will correct me.

--Lar

[bko0]

I did notice that I could create an object (with underlined name) on a sequence diagram by dragging one from the toolbar.  This doesn't allow me to reuse the work I did when defining the classes.  

Can someone tell me if I can do the following:  I want to drag classes from my model onto a sequence diagram with the result being that an object of the class type is added to the diagram.  I would like to be able to assign an instance name to the class like <instnace>:<class>.  Then, when I create messages from one instance to another, I would like to be able to select from the list of available operations defined for the class.

The only thing wrong with dragging the classes from my model to a sequence diagram is that the name is not underlined to indicatet it's an instance. I can even name the instance as I mentioned above.

Is there an option somewhere that I can chage to have the instance names underlined?

Thanks again.

[Larry Tubbs]

Ah, you have auto-instancing turned off.  Just hold down Ctrl while you drag and drop your class and you'll get the exact behavior you are looking for.

--Lar

[Larry Tubbs]

Whoops, my bad.  This appears to be a bug.  When I drag an instance to an activity diagram, it is correctly underlined to indicate it is an instance.  But, when dragging an instance to a sequence diagram, the classname is not underlined.  The : is prefaced, but the underlining is not there.  Sorry.

--Lar

[gsparks]

Hi,

I have had a look at this and modified the drawing code for Sequence elements such that both the instance name and class name will be underlined - as in the examples in the UML Specification.

This change will be in build 603.

Hope this will prove useful,

Geoff Sparks