Display Use Case Text in Sequence Diagram?

[DMT]

We're using the ICONIX process, which includes the use case text down the left-hand side of the sequence digram. Is there any way to display this information besides copying and pasting the text into a note?

It would be great if there was some way to display this information in a way that wouldn't require me to tweak the text in two places if I had to make a change.

[kelly_sumrall]

On the Sequence diagram, copy the Use Case element as a link.  
Add a note to the diagram.
Add a note link from the note to the linked Use Case element.
Right click on the note link.
Select the option to link the note to an element feature.
Choose scenario.

That should get you what you need.

cheers

[DMT]

Now THAT is what I'd call a HOT FEATURE.  Holy crap!  This is a great tool!

Thank you, Kelly.

Dave

[potterm]

And it gets better....I noticed that you don't need to keep the use case on the sequence diagram.  Here's how....

(1) On the original use case diagram, add a note linked to the use case element feature (as kelly described).
(2) Copy the note (not the use case), and paste it as a link on the sequence diagram.
(3) Delete the original note from the use case diagram

EA still maintains the link within the pasted note (even though the original has been deleted), which means you don't need to have the use case appearing on your sequence diagram.

This works even if you update the use case - any updates are reflected in the pasted note.  What a great feature!

Cheers,
Martin.

[DMT]

Thanks, Martin. I actually did the opposite--I pasted a link to the use case, linked the note, then deleted the use case and it kept the link.

The ONLY drawback I see is that I want to be able to add vertical space between the sections of the use case text, so that the sequence diagram steps will line up with the use case text.

So, something that is more involved will require more "white space" then simple steps.  I may end up copying in the text after all...we'll see.

[fwoolz]

All,

A wee bit OT, but related:

Note links are useful for a whole lotta things besides displaying use-case text.  For example, I use them to show the detailed text of requirements on Requirements diagrams.

Cheers,
Fred Woolsey

[potterm]

Aha - didn't think of it that way around.

This the only fallback I guess (inability to format the text) - it also means that if you modify the source use case text significantly (resulting in updates to any linked notes), you will immediately have one or more sequence diagrams that do not match the UC text shown alongside them.  

Depends on your preferred method of working - I guess you could see that as either a feature or a negative.

Cheers,
Martin.

[austin_hastings]

FWoolz,

How do you lay out a "requirements diagram"?

We have hundreds of requirements documented, and while I like the idea of having end-to-end traceability, I'm not enamored with having hundreds of little boxes laying about. Suggestions?