bi-directional association without arrow heads

[argus]

Hi,

Suggestion:
It would be nice to have an option on class diagrams to show bi-directional associations without arrow heads.
This presentation option is described in the UML Superstructure Specification V2.1.1 in chapter "7.3.3 Association" under Presentation Options.
Or even better to have all the presentation options described.

Regards,
argus

[«Midnight»]

Hi Argus,

For the nonce, you can use "unspecified" and you should be fine. If you want this to be the default, make sure you clear the Association default check box on the Tools | Options | Links dialog.

David

[argus]

I know  
As a hack ok.

My intention is to leave models as they are and change only its visual presentation.
In my case I imported a large XMI model (TMF SID) with EA 7.0. The associations in the XMI are modeled  bi-directional and the XMI import functionality changed it to unspecified.
With EA7.1 I imported the same XMI again and every association was correctly modeled as bi-directional. But know I had all this arrow heads on my diagrams  
I prefer the notation without arrow heads for bi-directional associations.

Argus

[«Midnight»]

I see your point, and I certainly agree.

What's probably needed is another property on the Connectors tab of the Diagram Properties dialog, to allow or bar showing arrowheads. Perhaps there would even be a distinction for bidirectional and unidirectional connectors (i.e. show bidirectional without arrows, but show unidirectional with, so that these are highlighted).

Perhaps you'd care to send in the appropriate feature request to Sparx. Use the Feature Request link below the Support link near the bottom of any forum page.

Of course, this would be a diagram-specific setting, and would be 'sticky' like other settings on the above dialog. Whether this should be handled another way is part of a larger discussion encompassing many other diagram (and other) properties in EA. I'll leave that context for other threads.

David