Diagram Annotation

[Aaron]

Hi,
I often need to annotate diagrams (for reading by others), but EA does not (appear) to have a free-form drawing (scribbling) over the diagram. I.e. the ability to draw a curved dotted line between two nodes on a sequence chart to show a causal link.
(I've tried using Constraints but they don't support any links, and Notes only support one link).
Thanks,
Aaron

[«Midnight»]

You can attach a note to multiple elements (or connectors) on a class diagram. Why not try the same on a sequence chart?

Create a note using the Common section of the toolbox. [Use this method for now if you are currently adding notes via another method. The technique should work regardless, but this will be easier to understand.]

If you want to attach the note to one or more connectors on the diagram, right-click the note and from the context menu choose Advanced | Set Attached Links. This will invoke a dialog allowing you to attach the note to one or more connectors on the current diagram.

If you want to attach the note to elements on the diagram then use the Note Link tool. You can find this on the Common toolbox panel (it is usually the final icon) or on the Diagram toolbar. It is the icon with the straight dotted line from the lower left to upper right corner. As with other connectors just drag the tool from the note to the target element and EA will create the link.

You can combine the above techniques to attach notes to both connectors and elements.

I will leave it to you to try this on sequence charts. These are sort of 'orphans' among EA diagrams, as they seem to act differently than other diagrams in several ways. I have not tested the 'normal' note behavior in this case.

HTH, David

[Aaron]

Alas both methods connect the Note to the middle of the objects entire life-line rather than the node at the end of a 'call' somewhere on that life-line.
E.g. I have two calls on an object which are associated (via a timer interrupt) but not via a direct call (different call-stack and CPU state); the first sets the timer and the second is the timer maturing.

[«Midnight»]

Quite right Aaron,

I just checked and it seems EA still (this dates back quite some time) refuses to let you select (and thus modify) a note link to a connector.

There might be some way to do so, but I'm stumped.

Does anyone know a way to specify the attachment point?

David