Flow Properties and Item Flows in EA

[Miguel]

First of all, hello, everyone.  I am simultaneously trying to figure out SysML and EA.  Sometimes I can't make EA do what I think I should be able to do.  I appreciate your presence on this forum.

Using EA, I'm trying to model Item Flows between two blocks in an IBD, but can't work out how to do it.  To make this question simple (I hope), I'm including some screenshots.  I've based this on the Camera model from A Practical Guide to SysML, third ed, but simplified it.

What I am TRYING to do is add an item flow, which I have drawn in with Paint:



So, first I tried to add flow properties to Laser and Light Sensor.  This was a bit of an exercise.  The only way I can find to do this (which is awkward) is to drag a Flow Property BOX onto the block, then delete it, and only at that time does the Flow Properties compartment show on the block... but OK. (if you have a better way, please let me know).  Here's what I have going so far:



But what I can't do is specify something other than inout and cannot specify a type for the flow property.  I bring up the Features window, below, but cannot modify the flow property other than its name. 



How do I do this in EA?  I want the flow property owned by Laser to be "out beam : Light".  I don't know and can't find how to do this in EA.

Finally, in the IBD, I can't figure out in EA how to add the Item Flow.  Anybody know how to do this?




Note that if I select "Item Flow" control in the toolbox and try to drag it from l1:Laser to s1:Light Sensor, EA gives me the error: "Invalid combination of source and target types for this connector type."  Now, this may be because I am not (yet) able to assign a type to the Flow Properties, but not sure...

This is in EA15.1.

Help would be appreciated...

Thanks,
Miguel

[Eve]

Yes, flow properties are added using the toolbox. They won't initially show in a compartment because they are shown visually.

The Parts / Properties list allows for displaying or hiding the items on a diagram, but it's not an editor for them. (It does offer 'Modify' in the context menu though) Try selecting the property (in the browser, the compartment item or the box on a diagram) and editing in the properties window. You'll find the Type field under Part.

Not being able to add an item flow is just a bug. I'd recommend adding an unstereotyped Information Flow then setting the stereotype to ItemFlow.

[Miguel]

Thank you, Eve, you got me started in the right direction for figuring out to work with Flow Properties.  Here's what I learned from your post and some experimentation:

The only real way to modify a flow property is while it is selected as an object inside the containing block.  So, I grabbed the Flow Property component from the Model Browser and dropped it back onto the block that has it as a property, and selected it.  At that point, the Properties window (not the Properties popup dialog, but the dockable window, allowed me to set its direction and type.  See below



As I said in my original post, deleting the visible box then displays the property in the Flow Properties compartment:



Having worked through that, I did some more experimentation with drawing the Item Flow in the IBD.  I actually went over to Cameo and tried it there, and a combination of reading the Cameo Help and some more trial and error, I discovered that do create an Item Flow, you first need to create a connector between the two objects:



With the connector in place, then select the Item Flow in the toolbox and click on the connector.  This then starts prompting about direction and name:



Final result:



So, it was pretty tricky to do.  I really appreciate your response, Eve, because that helped break me loose on it.  I do feel like this is unduly difficult, so hopefully, this detail will help others in the future.

Miguel.

[Eve]

If you try 15.1.1527 it should be a little easier.

The issue that prevented you from creating the item flow connector should be corrected. Now that you can do that you'll find a checkbox on the dialog shown after creating the item flow that allows you to automatically create a connector realizing that relationship.

[Paolo F Cantoni]

If you try 15.1.1527 it should be a little easier.

The issue that prevented you from creating the item flow connector should be corrected. Now that you can do that you'll find a checkbox on the dialog shown after creating the item flow that allows you to automatically create a connector realizing that relationship.

What is this 15.1.1527 of which you speak? 

I can't find it...

Paolo

[Miguel]

If you try 15.1.1527 it should be a little easier.

The issue that prevented you from creating the item flow connector should be corrected. Now that you can do that you'll find a checkbox on the dialog shown after creating the item flow that allows you to automatically create a connector realizing that relationship.

Just installed 1527, and yes, it is better now.  It's now possible to select the connector tool, drag it and select "Flows to" in the menu, then follow the steps you provided.  Thank you.