Star UML questions for making UML diagrams for SCEA part 2 exam

[Rama Krishna Linga]

Hi There,

I am almost done with my writing of UML diagrams on paper and trying to convert the same into Star UML diagrams. In that process, I am having the following blocking issues. Can someone answer these?

1. How do we show arguments to the methods in sequence diagrams? Some one on this forum said that we need to go to properties of that diagram and enable name and type. However, I am using Star UML 5.0.2.1570 and I dont find any properties option with this version. May be I overlooked something?

2. As per Mark Cade diagrams, it is fine to include node elements in class diagram and component diagram even they are not pure classes / components. Is it ok do that in the assignment? Because, I am not sure if it would be 100% UML compliant to include nodes in a class / component diagrams.

3. Star UML gives the uml extension to all the diagrams. When we make the final jar, how to we include these so that examiner can open up these files? Do we need to covert these into PDF formats before making final JAR file?

4. Are there any standard steps for making the final jar?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Rama

[Rama Krishna Linga]

Also this version of Star UML does not seem to have support for including asynchronus and return messages in sequence diagrams. Is that right? Or is there a way to do these in Star UML 5.0.2.1570.

Thanks,
Rama

[Duc Vo]

Rama Krishna Linga wrote:
1. How do we show arguments to the methods in sequence diagrams? Some one on this forum said that we need to go to properties of that diagram and enable name and type. However, I am using Star UML 5.0.2.1570 and I dont find any properties option with this version. May be I overlooked something?

Should you contact Star UML support instead?

Rama Krishna Linga wrote:
2. As per Mark Cade diagrams, it is fine to include node elements in class diagram and component diagram even they are not pure classes / components. Is it ok do that in the assignment? Because, I am not sure if it would be 100% UML compliant to include nodes in a class / component diagrams.

I did in mine assignment, there wasn't any problem. It'll make your diagrams clearer.

Rama Krishna Linga wrote:
3. Star UML gives the uml extension to all the diagrams. When we make the final jar, how to we include these so that examiner can open up these files? Do we need to covert these into PDF formats before making final JAR file?

If I remember correctly, the assignment asks to have all diagrams in some image format and linked to a main html page. So you'll need to convert them to PNG or JPG. I did so in my assignment submission.

Rama Krishna Linga wrote:
4. Are there any standard steps for making the final jar?

I don't believe so. A jar is just a zip with .jar extension. The easiest way to zip them then change to jar extension. In my case, I wrote an ANT script to jar my output folder. It was repeatable and the output file was always correct (i.e. always comply with the assignment requirements on submission file name/type etc.).

[Rama Krishna Linga]

Thanks a lot Duc for your detailed information. I wasn't aware that StarUML has customer support as it is freely available.

Regards,
Rama

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Rama Krishna Linga wrote:4. Are there any standard steps for making the final jar?

And make sure you follow the instructions provided with the assignment *exactly*.

[Rama Krishna Linga]

Hi,

While preparing the class and component diagrams, I have seen that Mark Cade latest SCEA guide and ePracrtice exams follow different style. Mark Cade clubs all user login related JSPs into one component, related actions related JSPs into different components. In other words, he does not dedicate a component for each single action. He clubs related actions into one component. However, ePractize mock exams only assign a single responsibility into one component.

Each of these styles are correct in their own ways. Clubbing is good in terms of showing them in UML diagrams but that does not match the actual implementation of components on one-on-one basis. Dedicating one component to one responsibility will be most close to the actual implementation of the components. By responsibility, I do not mean a single method in a typical definition of class of object oriented concepts. I mean it as a dedicated distributed component.

I like the Mark Cade approach but I am not sure if it is acceptable to SCEA evaluation team to club different implementation-level components into one component in analysis and design to simplify the UML diagrams.

Can someone please suggest if they had any rejections by following Mark Cade approach?

Thanks in Advance,
Rama

[Rama Krishna Linga]

I tried locating customer support for StarUML. But there does not seem to be any standard one. I have seen few. But I don't know how expensive they are. And I am not sure if it will be worth paying for the entire support for getting the answers for few questions.

Here are my questions.

1. I am currently using Star UML 5.0.2. I don't find any option to save the UML files as JPG files. Can someone provide clues on how this can be achieved?
2. I could not find a way to draw asynchronous and return calls in sequence diagrams in Star UML.

Do I need to install any additional plugins for performing these tasks?

Thanks in Advance.

Regards,
Rama

[Rama Krishna Linga]

Just thought may be useful for someone. I figured out the procedure for storing UML files ending .uml to .jpg extension. You need to open the diagram, click on File => Export Diagram. This gives the options for storing files in .jpg and .bmp formats.

http://staruml.sourceforge.net/docs/user-guide%28en%29/ch04.html

I still does not how to show asynchronous calls in SDs in Star UML.

Regards,
Rama

[Rama Krishna Linga]

I think it was some thing to do with the StarUML installation. I reinstalled and now I can see the Properties panel for the method calls and that allows the action type to select as SEND / RETURN for asynchronous and return calls.

I am still not sure if we can club the multiple related responsibilities into one component like Mark Cade does? Did anyone submitted class and component diagrams with such combining style and had cleared the exam?

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rama