Object Model Diagrams Transformation

Object Model Diagrams in Rhapsody

Object Model Diagrams show the static structure of a system: the objects and their associations and operations, and the relationships between classes and any constraints on those relationships.
In Rational Rhapsody, an object model diagram is the equivalent of a class diagram. However, an object model diagram is specified for the object structure, while a class diagram is specified for the class structure.

Source: IBM Knowledge Center.

Object Diagrams in MagicDraw

An Object diagram is an instance of a Class diagram that shows a complete or a partial view of the structure.
This type of diagram displays instances of classifiers and links (instances of associations) between them.

Purpose

An Object diagram is usually used in the early phases of a project to model examples that show a possible snapshot of the system execution, for example, what the system can look like at some point in time. Additionally, it focuses on the attributes of a set of objects and helps to analyze how these objects relate to each other.

Usage

An Object diagram can be used to:

• represent a class instance
• describe the static aspect of the system
• understand the behavior of a particular object
• analyze object relations
• perform forward and reverse engineering on chosen systems.

Summary

Object diagrams are valuable because they:

• can be used to model test cases in order to validate the Class diagram.
• support the investigation of requirements by modeling examples from the problem domain.
• examine a specific iteration of a general system.
• later in the project, model test cases to see whether the created Class diagram is correct and complete.
• allows users to get a high-level overview of the system.

Source: MagicDraw Documentation.

Object Model Diagrams transformation

There are differences in concept between the two tools.

• The usage of Classes in Rhaposdy model diagrams which is forbidden in MagicDraw.
• The usage of Associations in Rhapsody model diagrams which is forbidden in MagicDraw.

Transforming Rhapsody Object Model Diagrams as MagicDraw Model Diagrams really depends on the intent of the model.
Given the differences in concepts between the two tools, we have introduced an option to allow a better transformation of the concepts.
rhp2md.graphical.object_diagram.instance_specification

This option can be controlled in the publisher.properties file.
Depending on the concepts used to model the Object Model Diagram in Rhapsody, the option should be set to true or false.
If you are using Object Model Diagrams in Rhapsody, with most Classes in them, you should set the option to false if you want to get Class Diagrams in MagicDraw.
If you are using Object Model Diagrams in Rhapsody, with most Objects in them, you should set the option to true, if you want to get Object Diagrams in MagicDraw.

Object Model Diagram with Objects in Rhapsody

rhp2md.graphical.object_diagram.instance_specification set to false

• Rhapsody Object Model Diagram is transformed to MagicDraw Class Diagram.
• Rhapsody Objects are transformed to Properties in MagicDraw.
• Rhapsody Associations are not transformed, since it is not possible to link Properties with Associations.
• Rhapsody Links are transformed to MagicDraw Connectors.

rhp2md.graphical.object_diagram.instance_specification set to true

• Rhapsody Object Model Diagram is transformed to MagicDraw Object Diagram.
• Rhapsody Objects are transformed to InstanceSpecification in MagicDraw.
• Rhapsody Associations are to Links in MagicDraw.
• Rhapsody Links are transformed to Links in MagicDraw.

Setting object model diagram property

To transform Object Model Diagrams to Object Diagrams, set to following option in publisher.properties file:

# Determines whether Properties in Object Model Diagrams are transformed to Instance Specifications. Available values: true, false - default false
rhp2md.graphical.object_diagram.instance_specification=true


To transform Object Model Diagrams to Class Diagrams, set to following option in publisher.properties file:

# Determines whether Properties in Object Model Diagrams are transformed to Instance Specifications. Available values: true, false - default false
rhp2md.graphical.object_diagram.instance_specification=false