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Creating sequence diagram programmatically in XMI format [message #473024]

Tue, 29 May 2007 09:16

dozebox

Messages: 4
Registered: July 2009

Junior Member

Hello all,

I have some data that I would like to get into a sequence diagram in XMI
format. What would be the best way to do this programmatically? Basicly
I'm looking an API to do the XMI.

I have read the various posts in this mailing list that relates to
sequence diagrams and have understood that it is possible to do this
with UML2. But I have not find information on how to do this
programmatically.

The closest I've found is this:
http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.modeling.mdt.u ml2/msg00061.html
There is some talk in that thread though that he's using some old API,
so should I start with that or is there a better way? Also, what is the
"Rational Software Architects version of the UML api" and should I use
that or something else? I tried going with that, but indeed it seemed
that many of those classes / functions used did not exist anymore.

I have also read this article:
http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Getti ng_Started_with_UML2/article.html
It explains how to do model with UML2 programmatically, but not a
sequence diagram.

Or should I use UML2 for this at all? Are there perhaps some better ways
to do this simple task? I did try AmaterasUML:
http://amateras.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/fswiki_en/wiki.cgi?pa ge=AmaterasUML
what did the job great and had a simple API to create the sequence
diagram programmatically, but I felt that I could need more functions
than what it offered and I'd like to use "official" Eclipse plug-ins for
better support. What I mean with the "more functions" is that for
example I'd need to set some timing information to the diagram etc.

So, do you have any suggestions for me to look at where I could figure
out how to start this? Any replies are greatly appreciated! Thanks.

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Re: Creating sequence diagram programmatically in XMI format [message #473040 is a reply to message #473024]

Wed, 30 May 2007 14:02

james bruck

Messages: 1724
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Hi dozebox,

some comments below ...

- James.

"dozebox" <dozebox@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f3gr0r$ute$1@build.eclipse.org...
> Hello all,
>
> I have some data that I would like to get into a sequence diagram in XMI
> format. What would be the best way to do this programmatically? Basicly
> I'm looking an API to do the XMI.
>
> I have read the various posts in this mailing list that relates to
> sequence diagrams and have understood that it is possible to do this
> with UML2. But I have not find information on how to do this
> programmatically.
>
> The closest I've found is this:
>
http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.modeling.mdt.u ml2/msg00061.html
> There is some talk in that thread though that he's using some old API,
> so should I start with that or is there a better way?

That article is a good starting point. You can have a look at this article
to find differences between the older version sequence diagrams...
http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/guides/UML2_2. 0_Migration_Guide/guide.html

Keep in mind that if you were to produce a model in the older format, and
open it using the latest UML editor, it will be automatically converted to
the newer format.
The migration guide also explains that.

In order to work with sequence diagrams programatically, you need to have
an understanding of the Interactions part of UML. Have a look at the
official spec at www.omg.org look for the 07-02-05 version or later. All
the gory details are there.

>Also, what is the
> "Rational Software Architects version of the UML api" and should I use
> that or something else?

To my knowledge ...
RSA keeps up with changes to UML api. You should contact RSA support for
info on specific versions used.
RSA is used to produce diagrams for the official UML spec and metamodels
used to generate the opensource UML api.

> I tried going with that, but indeed it seemed
> that many of those classes / functions used did not exist anymore.

Have a look at the migration guide listed above. You might want to upgrade
to 7.1 or 7.0.x if you are using 6.x version.

>
> I have also read this article:
>
http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Getti ng_Started_with_UML2/article.html
> It explains how to do model with UML2 programmatically, but not a
> sequence diagram.

An article devoted to creating samples of each kind of diagram in UML is in
the works.

>
> Or should I use UML2 for this at all? Are there perhaps some better ways
> to do this simple task? I did try AmaterasUML:
> http://amateras.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/fswiki_en/wiki.cgi?pa ge=AmaterasUML
> what did the job great and had a simple API to create the sequence
> diagram programmatically, but I felt that I could need more functions
> than what it offered and I'd like to use "official" Eclipse plug-ins for
> better support. What I mean with the "more functions" is that for
> example I'd need to set some timing information to the diagram etc.
>
> So, do you have any suggestions for me to look at where I could figure
> out how to start this? Any replies are greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Creating sequence diagram programmatically in XMI format [message #473059 is a reply to message #473040]

Thu, 31 May 2007 06:17

dozebox

Messages: 4
Registered: July 2009

Junior Member

Hello James,

Thank you very much for your reply and advices. I'll start figuring this
out. I have also installed Topcased to try and draw Sequence diagrams in
it to see how the elements are structured in the UML tree view. It's
also very nice to hear that such article is being written, looking
forward to seeing it!

James Bruck wrote:
> Hi dozebox,
>
> some comments below ...
>
> - James.
>
>
> "dozebox" <dozebox@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:f3gr0r$ute$1@build.eclipse.org...
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have some data that I would like to get into a sequence diagram in XMI
>> format. What would be the best way to do this programmatically? Basicly
>> I'm looking an API to do the XMI.
>>
>> I have read the various posts in this mailing list that relates to
>> sequence diagrams and have understood that it is possible to do this
>> with UML2. But I have not find information on how to do this
>> programmatically.
>>
>> The closest I've found is this:
>>
> http://dev.eclipse.org/newslists/news.eclipse.modeling.mdt.u ml2/msg00061.html
>> There is some talk in that thread though that he's using some old API,
>> so should I start with that or is there a better way?
>
> That article is a good starting point. You can have a look at this article
> to find differences between the older version sequence diagrams...
> http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/guides/UML2_2. 0_Migration_Guide/guide.html
>
> Keep in mind that if you were to produce a model in the older format, and
> open it using the latest UML editor, it will be automatically converted to
> the newer format.
> The migration guide also explains that.
>
> In order to work with sequence diagrams programatically, you need to have
> an understanding of the Interactions part of UML. Have a look at the
> official spec at www.omg.org look for the 07-02-05 version or later. All
> the gory details are there.
>
>> Also, what is the
>> "Rational Software Architects version of the UML api" and should I use
>> that or something else?
>
> To my knowledge ...
> RSA keeps up with changes to UML api. You should contact RSA support for
> info on specific versions used.
> RSA is used to produce diagrams for the official UML spec and metamodels
> used to generate the opensource UML api.
>
>
>> I tried going with that, but indeed it seemed
>> that many of those classes / functions used did not exist anymore.
>
> Have a look at the migration guide listed above. You might want to upgrade
> to 7.1 or 7.0.x if you are using 6.x version.
>
>> I have also read this article:
>>
> http://www.eclipse.org/modeling/mdt/uml2/docs/articles/Getti ng_Started_with_UML2/article.html
>> It explains how to do model with UML2 programmatically, but not a
>> sequence diagram.
>
> An article devoted to creating samples of each kind of diagram in UML is in
> the works.
>
>> Or should I use UML2 for this at all? Are there perhaps some better ways
>> to do this simple task? I did try AmaterasUML:
>> http://amateras.sourceforge.jp/cgi-bin/fswiki_en/wiki.cgi?pa ge=AmaterasUML
>> what did the job great and had a simple API to create the sequence
>> diagram programmatically, but I felt that I could need more functions
>> than what it offered and I'd like to use "official" Eclipse plug-ins for
>> better support. What I mean with the "more functions" is that for
>> example I'd need to set some timing information to the diagram etc.
>>
>> So, do you have any suggestions for me to look at where I could figure
>> out how to start this? Any replies are greatly appreciated! Thanks.
>
>

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