UML modeling: extending many classes obscures model

[Kees Hink]

Hi,

I quite often find my UML model cluttered by many generalizations.
For example:
In the case where many content types have to have the same field,
which i put in a stub class, there are a lot of lines from that
class to the classes that extend it. This makes the diagram harder
to read.

Is there a way to subclass a custom content type in such a way that
you do not have to have a line in your model?

Regards,

Kees

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[Derek Broughton-2]

Kees Hink wrote:

> I quite often find my UML model cluttered by many generalizations.
> For example:
> In the case where many content types have to have the same field,
> which i put in a stub class, there are a lot of lines from that
> class to the classes that extend it. This makes the diagram harder
> to read.
>
> Is there a way to subclass a custom content type in such a way that
> you do not have to have a line in your model?

That would surely depend on the UML modelling tool you're using, and what
you're using it for.  If it's just a picture, it doesn't matter how many
lines are on it.

I've never done it, because it seems to me to violate the purpose of a UML
model, but if you're using ArgoUML, what does right clicking on the
generalization arrow and selecting "Remove from Diagram" do?

Otherwise you could just not _do_ a generalization - just create the class
as standalone, and use the base_class tagged value in the child (again,
making the huge assumption that you need the inheritance for ArchGenXML).
--
derek


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[Kees Hink]

Thanks, i will try it.
(Right-clicking the arrow and removing it removes the extending, so
although it does make my UML look more appealing, it's not what i
want.)
By the way, i use argouml and archgenxml.

Derek Broughton wrote:

> Kees Hink wrote:
>
>> I quite often find my UML model cluttered by many generalizations.
>> For example:
>> In the case where many content types have to have the same field,
>> which i put in a stub class, there are a lot of lines from that
>> class to the classes that extend it. This makes the diagram harder
>> to read.
>>
>> Is there a way to subclass a custom content type in such a way that
>> you do not have to have a line in your model?
>
> That would surely depend on the UML modelling tool you're using, and what
> you're using it for.  If it's just a picture, it doesn't matter how many
> lines are on it.
>
> I've never done it, because it seems to me to violate the purpose of a UML
> model, but if you're using ArgoUML, what does right clicking on the
> generalization arrow and selecting "Remove from Diagram" do?
>
> Otherwise you could just not _do_ a generalization - just create the class
> as standalone, and use the base_class tagged value in the child (again,
> making the huge assumption that you need the inheritance for ArchGenXML).

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[Thomas N.]

Hi Kees,

don't remove it from the model, just from the diagram (both options are offered when you right-click the arrow). You can do the same by selecting the arrow and hitting the DEL key. The underlying model element stays in the model, only it's representation on the diagram is deleted.

Thomas

kc600 wrote:

Thanks, i will try it.
(Right-clicking the arrow and removing it removes the extending, so
although it does make my UML look more appealing, it's not what i
want.)