Tool Mentor: Designing Use Cases Using Rational XDE Developer
This tool mentor describes how to perform Designing Use Case with Rational XDE Developer.
Tool: Rational XDE Developer
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This tool mentor supports Designing Use Case with Rational XDE Developer - Java Platform Edition.

Describe Interactions Between Design Objects

For each use-case realization, you should illustrate the interactions between its participating design objects by creating one or more sequence diagrams. You might have created early versions of these diagrams, the analysis use-case realizations, during Task: Use-Case Analysis. These analysis use-case realizations describe interactions between analysis classes. They must be evolved to describe interactions between design elements.

One approach is to create a new use-case realization and sequence diagrams by following these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Design-Model package in which the new use-case realizations are to be created. See Rational XDE Model Structure Guidelines.
  2. Create a use-case diagram. See helpbook iconAdding Diagrams .
  3. Add the use-case realization (a collaboration instance) to the diagram. (See helpbook iconAdding Shapes to Diagrams .) Give it the same name as the use case.
  4. Drag and drop the use case that it realizes onto the diagram. See helpbook iconAdding Shapes to Diagrams .
  5. Add a realization relationship from the use-case realization to the use case. See helpbook iconAdding Realization Relationships .
  6. For each independent sub-flow (scenario) create one or more interaction instances. (In the Model Explorer, right-click the collaboration instance, and then click Add UML > Interaction Instance.) Consider naming the interaction instance "<use-case name> - <flow type>."
  7. Create a sequence diagram for this interaction instance. See helpbook iconAdding Diagrams .
  8. Type a brief description of the scenario that the sequence diagram depicts. See helpbook iconDocumenting Model Elements .
  9. Drag and drop actors, classes, and interfaces onto the diagram to create objects for interaction. See helpbook iconAdding Shapes to Diagrams .
  10. Add messages between the objects. See helpbook iconAdding Messages or Stimuli .
  11. Describe each message. See helpbook iconDocumenting Model Elements .
  12. To describe how the object behaves when it receives the message, assign an operation to the message. See helpbook iconAssigning Operations to Messages or Stimuli .

Alternatively, if you are not maintaining a separate Analysis Model, you may decide to modify your existing sequence diagrams to reflect the evolution of the design elements.

Reference: helpbook iconWorking with Interaction (Sequence) Diagrams .

Simplify Sequence Diagrams Using Subsystems (optional)

See the previous step for guidance on working with sequence diagrams.

Describe Persistence-Related Behavior

Persistence mechanisms are ideally described using patterns. See the following topics in the Rational XDE online Help:

  • helpbook iconRational XDE Design Patterns
  • helpbook iconBenefits of Using Patterns
  • helpbook iconUnderstanding J2EE Pattern-Driven Development
  • helpbook iconJ2EE Pattern-Driven Development
  • helpbook iconSupported J2EE Patterns
  • helpbook iconDefining Relationships for EJBs
  • helpbook iconPersistence Relationships
  • helpbook iconCreating Persistence Relationships Between EJBs

Refine the Flow of Events Description

Additional description can be added to the sequence diagrams for clarification. Text can be added anywhere on the diagram. Notes can be added and attached to shapes on the diagram. Consider using the RUP-provided template for Work Product: Use Case Realization.

Reference: helpbook iconAttaching Notes to Shapes , helpbook iconDocumenting Model Elements , helpbook iconLinking External Files to Model Elements

Unify Design Classes and Subsystems

As use cases are realized, you must unify the identified design classes and subsystems to ensure homogeneity and consistency in the Design Model.

Part of unifying the design is identifying common patterns that can be factored out and reused. See the following topics in the Rational XDE online Help:

  • helpbook iconImplementing Design Patterns
  • helpbook iconRational XDE Design Patterns
  • helpbook iconBenefits of Using Patterns

Evaluate the Results

There is no Rational XDE specific guidance for this step.