users of staruml ...need help

[Bobby Sh]

I need to use 'ref' for referencing a different sequence diagram, I do not know how to do it.

I saw in 'Enterprice Architect' tool that it is just drag and drop for the referenced seq. diagram. But I could not find any way to do the same in 'star UML'.

I have already started with this tool and do not want to switch the tool.

Thanks in advance

[veena madhukar]

Even I switched to StarUML.

In sequence diagram there is an element called Combined Fragment at the same level as object, stimulus, self stimulus. If you put that then it has ref, alt ...other options.

Veena

[Bobby Sh]

Hi Veena,
I am finding all the option for Combined Fragment except ref.

I choosed empty project, added a sequence diagram and then a Combined Fragment .and I did not get the option 'ref' in that.

Let me know if I am missing something.

Bobby

[veena madhukar]

In the Combined Fragment -- i can see alt, loop, strict but can't find ref. How about using Frame element and then chsnging the Framekind to show ref instead of sd??? let me know your thoughts.

[Bobby Sh]

That option I tried but , it faced two issues here :
- if I draw a 'message/stimulus' arrow to this 'ref' frame it is giving error
- I was able to write the name of referenced seq. diagram at the top of frame, but not inside the frame.



would appreciate if any one can help....

[Cleuton Sampaio]

Try placing the ref frame over the lifeline of the actor (or object) which initiates the referenced sequence.

This use is recomended by some UML books and it is according to UML 2.0 spacifications.

StarUML does not allow you to draw stimulus to a frame.

Cleuton (Brazil)

[Bobby Sh]

Hi Cleuton ,
Did you use Star UML...if yes, how did you take care of reference seq. diagram.

I tried the steps you have mentioned (placing over the lifeline), but it is not working..

[Cleuton Sampaio]

Please see this image:



Cleuton (Brazil)

[veena madhukar]

Kindly post the image again as the image is not seen.

[veena madhukar]

i am sorry. the images are seen. If there is any url / site where there are samples illustrating the use of ref, alt in sequence diagrams...could you pls. share that.

[Cleuton Sampaio]

http://www.phptr.com/articles/article.asp?p=360441&seqNum=5&rl=1

[veena madhukar]

Thanks for this url. Even i had also referred the same link. I would like to see/ refer if there are any links other than this.

For instance, the ref example in this was misleading to me as there are both class instances (B and C) in 'ref' as well as 'sd'.

[Bobby Sh]

Thanks Cleuton ...just wanted to know whether the diagram here is UML complient or not. 'cause I am also finding the approach suggested by IBM...see the link below.
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/3101.html

Look for the word : 'Referencing another sequence diagram' on this page

Thanks once once again.

[veena madhukar]

I am never able to open the link suggested by you. internet explorer just crashes.

I found another link http://www.holub.com/goodies/uml/. Even from there it appears that ref is shown in the region between two objects of the sequence diagram. Name is drawn in the centre of the box.

I could relate to clayton's way of drawing. but i am not sure if that is uml 2.0 compliant. can anybody give an example of how the ref can be drawn between two objects even for the example shown by clayton.

[veena madhukar]

i found the same ibm look in a pdf format at
http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~jkf/Courses/ComponentSw/uml2-seqdiag.pdf#search=%22'Referencing%20another%20sequence%20diagram'%22

this is very useful. the ref, alt have nice examples. only thing is ref name is drawn in the middle of the box.

[veena madhukar]

i used Frame, changed sd to ref. didn't add any name to frame properties. I placed a textbox in the middle of the frame and wrote the name.

[Bobby Sh]

did you add ref in the middle of the box?

[veena madhukar]

changed sd to ref. ref is in the corner as expected. the reference diagram name is in the middle of the box.


But only thing which i am not sure is that the object life lines do not go behind the ref objects. where as in the ibm link that i had earlier shared has lines benhind the ref object. i don't know how much it matters.

Any thoughts