Link diagrams of different packages

[skelesp]

Hi,

What I'm trying to do now, is to make it possible to click on an activity and see the use case that is linked to that activity.

This can be done by making the activity element 'composite' and add a use case diagram to this element. But this way, I have too much levels in my project browser. Therefore I made 2 different packages:
- Business process model (with activities as lowest level element)
- Use case model

Now, I'm wondering how I can link an activity to a use case to make it possible to reach the use case via the activity element.

Thanks in advance!

Stijn

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Assuming both the activity and the use case have linked diagrams, why not just place the use case on the activity diagram.

If you've formalised the relationship with an arc (such as dependency) you get the connector and the composite use case.

Do the converse for the use case diagram.

Paolo

[skelesp]

And how can I do this exactly in EA? (Sorry, but I'm just starting to use EA and I'm not familiar with all the options/possibilities...)

[Paolo F Cantoni]

And how can I do this exactly in EA? (Sorry, but I'm just starting to use EA and I'm not familiar with all the options/possibilities...)

Hi Stijn,

you just drag one element (say the use case) from the browser onto the diagram of the other element (say the activity).  

Make sure that you select "Simple Link" from the dialog that appears.  (I set that to be my default - using the same dialog).

In this way, you can place any element form anywhere within the repository onto any diagram...   A VERY useful feature of EA.

If EA complains about the action not being UML compliant, then disable the setting in the Tools|Options...

HTH,
Paolo

[skelesp]

I have found a working solution for my problem, but I don't completely understand how it works.

What I do is:
1) create my business model => activity element created (+ make composite)
2) add use case diagram to the activity element (so, I can reach the use case by clicking on the activity element)
3) in the project browser, I drag and drop the use case diagram into my use case package (outside the business proces model package)
4) It seems that I can still reach my use case by clicking on the activity. But in the project browser there is nothing left under this activity.

I am wondering, where is this -in the project browser unvisible- link between the activity and the use case configured? Because this is the way I want to work, but I want to know where this option can be configured...

[ChrisDr]

They store a link to the GUID of the diagram within the element. If you move the diagram the GUID remains the same and the link remains valid as well.

Another feature: drag-n-drop an existing diagram onto an element,  making it a sub-diagram of this element. Then say "Make Composite". A link to the (previously existing) diagram is created, after that you can move the diagram back to its original location (if needed). With this procedure you can easily link to existing diagrams.

Chris