UML Profile Stereotype AlphaOrdering from Diagram

[wikitect]

Currently EA seems to use something like Z-order i.e. layer to determine the order in which to output stereotypes to a UML profile when saving as a profile from a diagram.

This results in what seems - to the eye - to be an unordered list which has no seeming sense like alphabetical might.

With any number of stereotypes and no easy way to see what the relative Z-ordering might be it's pretty hopeless to try and change this.

Can we please have the ability to at least order the output alphabetically?

BTW Selecting a package to export as a profile manages to do just this so it is possible

[«Midnight»]

I've asked for improvement of the ordering in past. No response.

Perhaps you should request this feature. Use the Feature Request near the bottom of any forum page. More requests might convince them that someone out here cares...

[wikitect]

Perhaps you should request this feature. Use the Feature Request near the bottom of any forum page. More requests might convince them that someone out here cares...

I must be missing something; a) I thought this forum was for feature requests and b) I can't see the button or link you mean to get this as a request...

[Martin Terreni]

Any way it is a good idea.

[«Midnight»]

I must be missing something; a) I thought this forum was for feature requests and b) I can't see the button or link you mean to get this as a request...

Look at the very bottom of a forum page after you scroll all the way down. Under the Sparx logo near the bottom left you will see several columns of links. Beneath the Support link you will see a Feature Request link.

Click that link and you will reach the Feature Request link.

It is quite reasonable that you expected this to be the feature request mechanism. That confusion is due to the name of this forum section. I suspect (without proof) that is a legacy throwback to the early days of EA.

This is a user forum. [Though the Sparxians are certainly active participants.] This section provides us (the user community) with a place to air our suggestions and requests, and to engage in open discussion. Many times an idea will be found to have an acceptable workaround; it is very possible that another user will post it here, this solving the problem. Other times an idea becomes refined through forum interaction.

To make an 'official' request to Sparx though, you must use the Feature Request form. This guarantees that the request will at least be read. It does not mean it will be answered or fulfilled. But if a good idea comes in Sparx may well adopt it. And if enough people make a given request then a feature that otherwise might not have made the cut might develop sufficient priority.

One best practice we use is to post requests to the forum - you've already got that done - and then paste the URL of that forum thread into the feature request. That may help the Sparxians to join in the discussion, or at least gauge the level of interest by reading the responses.

David

[wikitect]

Thanks for the directions in terms of where to find the link - nicely buried (low visibiity).

I take your point about it being a user forum although it's easy to get fooled when Sparx folks get stuck into the forums. Not that I've been exactly quiet wrt submitting bugs or support requests (some of which have uncovered bugs).

Could still do with a forum for exchange of profiles, MDG technologies, searches et al

Will now play catch-up and properly submit requests using the process you suggest

Thanks!

[RoyC]

>> Could still do with a forum for exchange of profiles, MDG technologies, searches et al

Please see the top of page 2 of this thread.

http://www.sparxsystems.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1249458422/15#15

[wikitect]

Thanks, looks good.

It would be nice (in addition to any formal announcements) to keep the community abreast of this. Depending on how brave you guys feel it might also be an idea to float the topic areas / functionality being considered for feedback. After all there are a significant number of architects floating around who eat/live/breathe structure & relationships with the wider world etc.

To push things further why not release an EA model (in a framework of your choice) that outlines the proposed ideas? Would also be a way of providing tutorial material and showcasing parts of EA!!