Re: UML: Associations between classes and packages

On Sun, 22 May 2005 14:00:46 +0200, Matthias Kaeppler
<nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was wondering in how far it is allowed to mix class and package
>diagrams in UML.

You have my permission to mix them as much as is necessary to get your
point ac cross.

UML does not put a constraint upon this. Nor should it.
>
>Example:
>Say I have a class which inherits from javax.swing.JFrame. It would be
>stupid to introduce the class JFrame with its huge interface into the
>model, since it's part of the platform anyway.

Don't confuse UML with the tools that draw it. If a tool makes it
inconvenient to do something that you would like to do, you should
reconsider the tool.

>But somehow I have to model the relationship between my custom Frame
>class and JFrame, so I thought I'd just draw a dependency from my class
>to the swing package. But the I'd have both classes and packages
>together in one diagram.

That's allowable.

>Is that legal? And if so, what kind of line notation do I have to use, a
>simple dotted line?

Sure. Or create a stereotype on the dependency
<<class-to-package dependency>>

You drive the notation, don't let the notation drive you.



-----
Robert C. Martin (Uncle Bob) | email: unclebob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Object Mentor Inc. | blog: www.butunclebob.com
The Agile Transition Experts | web: www.objectmentor.com
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"The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom,
but to set a limit to infinite error."
-- Bertolt Brecht, Life of Galileo
.

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