ansaurus

Question

Drawing Call Flow with sequence Diagram leads to ambiguity

Answer 1

A:

You can add a small bar over B.m2() and then place a self pointing arrow, for example.

alt text

Self message vs recursive call

alt text

KMan 2010-09-21 11:34:40

I am Currently Doing it in this Way. But Its is Called Recursive Message. But These Functions of Mine are not Recursive. So would it be good to have that kind of small Bar ?? or I am thinking wrong about the Term `Recursive` it actually means same object not same method ??

2010-09-21 11:39:17

See updated answer. Checkout: http://www.visual-paradigm.com/VPGallery/diagrams/Sequence.html#recursive_message

KMan 2010-09-21 11:44:35

Please Check My Update.

2010-09-21 11:58:37

@user256007: 'recursive' term is misleading. Self messages in UML are used to indicate any call from an object to itself. Doesn't have to be the same method. Based on your original post, self message syntax (as shown in examples) is appropriate.

sfinnie 2010-09-21 12:13:17

@sfinnie: This isnt misleading. Self Messages are an arrow to itself; while Recursive are arrow to a bar on self. See self message(http://www.visual-paradigm.com/VPGallery/diagrams/Sequence.html#self_message) and recursive message(http://www.visual-paradigm.com/VPGallery/diagrams/Sequence.html#recursive_message)

KMan 2010-09-21 12:39:43

@Kman: er, yes it is. As with many areas of UML, the semantics aren't clear. To quote the text associated with your 'sd Recursion' snippet above (from Sparx site): "A self message can represent a recursive call of an operation, or one method calling another method belonging to the same object. It is shown as creating a nested focus of control in the lifeline’s execution occurrence.". The VP site characterises the difference based on an "activation". Which in turn needs a definition of "activation". A self-method call is valid as an activation....

sfinnie 2010-09-21 13:48:57

...so to answer @user256007's original question: is it appropriate to use the nested lifeline idiom to illustrate an object calling a different method on itself? Yes.

sfinnie 2010-09-21 13:57:26

Answer 2

A:

The uml spec allows for a nested call to be shown visually: the called lifeline should be overlaid on the calling lifeline. See e.g. determineAvailableReport() call in this example.

Whether your tool supports it of course is another matter...

sfinnie 2010-09-21 11:36:52

are You pointing towards `Recursive Message` ??

2010-09-21 11:41:10

Yes. But per comment above, 'recursive' is misleading. It's a self call, doesn't have to be the same method.

sfinnie 2010-09-21 12:14:51

ansaurus

tags:

views:

answers:

Drawing Call Flow with sequence Diagram leads to ambiguity

related questions