Straighten Messages

Overview

This helper tidies up animated sequence diagrams by straightening the inter-lifeline messages.

Applicable To	Sequence Diagram, Package
Menu Entry	Diagram Tools\Straighten Messages Diagram Tools\Straighten Messages on Sequence Diagrams
Demonstration	Watch the Video

Overview

Typically sequence diagrams produce by animation represent events using ‘slanted’ messages indicating that the event was dispatched and then received some time later. While accurate this sometimes means that the diagram is untidy / unduly long

This helper uses the rhapsody graphical API to set the ‘y’ co-ordinate of the receiving end of a message to the same value as the ‘y’ co-ordinate of its sender. Note that only messages between lifelines are manipulated in this way.

Note that sometimes Rhapsody adjusts the sending end ‘y’ co-ordinate by one pixel for no reason, resulting in a slight ‘kink’ in the line. Usually running the helper, a second time forces Rhapsody to re-adjust for a straight line.

Example:

Before Helper

After Helper