MDG Integration for Eclipse

[mjuteau]

Hi,
I need to reverse-engineer a java application into a UML model (for documentation purposes). I downloaded the trial version of the MDG Integration for Eclipse. It installed all right, but the only thing I could do from the EA menu in my Eclipse Europa was to import an existing model. I didn't find any way to generate a UML model / diagrams from my existing java classes. I was not able to find any related user documentation on the Sparx website either. Will appreciate any input.

[RoyC]

I'm not sure exactly where your problem lies, so if this response doesn't help perhaps you could provide more detail on the steps you took?

Firstly, to create a new model (not import an existing model):

On the Eclipse main menu, select the Enterprise Architect | EA Project Explorer option. The Open a UML model dialog displays. Select the Create a new model checkbox and click on the OK button.

This is in the product Help for MDG Integration For Eclipse (3.2), and it also applies to Eclipse 3.3. (See the Add an EA Model topic.) The Help also tells you how to link your model to an Eclipse project and add elements and packages to your new model.

However, having created (and opened) your new model, you can then generate a UML model from existing code.

In the EA Project Explorer, right-click on a package in your new model, then select the Code Services |Import Directory option. The Import source directory dialog displays. Specify your project Root directory and Project programming language, then click OK.

This is also in the product Help: see the Import Directory topic.

Hope this helps. (And thanks to my colleague Daniel for checking the procedures in Eclipse 3.3).

Regards

Roy

[mjuteau]

Thank you, I got it now. You mention a Help file for the MDG Integration in Eclipse, but for some reason it's not showing in my Eclipse Help contents, although other third-party products are showing as expected.
Now, for my real question: I'm on a quest to find the modeling tool with the best sequence diagram reverse engineering capability. I know that the standalone EA product supports this as a runtime feature, where you must build, debug, and step through the code as it executes, to finally be able to generate a sequence diagram (as shown in an online demonstration). That process seems complex, and more to the point, I need to reverse engineer web apps, so I'd need to somehow add a servlet container environment to that setup. Doesn't look like a practical approach.
So, I'm looking at compile-time sequence diagram generation. Several competing tools support it, so I was wondering if MDG supports it (I didn't find that option when looking around my Eclipse MDG installation). Any feedback greatly appreciated.  

[RoyC]

For generating Sequence diagrams, try:

http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/EAUserGuide/index.html?generate_sequence_diagram_for_.htm

This is an EA facility rather than an Integration facility. There will be a better description of the procedure in the EA Build 812 product Help, which is due for release in the next couple of weeks. However, the current topic will suffice.

As for locating the MDG Integration for Eclipse Help, I'm not sure where you are working from. Enterprise Architect has its Help, MDG Integration has its Help, and Eclipse has its Help. You need to be looking at an MDG Integration for Eclipse screen to get the Integration Help. Does that... um... help?

Roy

[mjuteau]

The feature you are pointing me to is the runtime sequence diagram generation. As I was saying, it seems problematic to use this for a web app: how would EA provide the necessary web container? Is it possible to point to such a runtime (e.g. Tomcat)? My concern here is to include web controller classes (not JSPs) in the generated diagram.
Compile-time sequence diagram generation seems easier, but it doesn't seem to be supported by EA (standalone or MDG plugin).

[Aaron B]

Compile-time generation of sequence diagrams is not possible at this time.  You will need to be able to run your application through the runtime debugger in order to record your sequence diagram.

For information on debugging Java Web Servers, see:
http://www.sparxsystems.com.au/EAUserGuide/debugging_java_web_servers.htm

Unfortunately I don't know enough about the subject myself, but hopefully the above link might help point you in the right direction.

[mjuteau]

Thank you Roy and Aaron for your help.

Miguel