Editing Class Diagrams
The ECM Developer plug contains an editor that can be used to create a UML class diagram of the document, folder and custom object classes defined in the Object Store. The diagrams can be printed or exported to an image file. Once a class is placed on the diagram an active connection to the Content Engine is no longer necessary to edit the diagram. Only if the class must be refreshed, after a changed definition, a connection must be made.
Content Engine Class Diagram Perspective
For convenient editing of the Class Diagrams the Content Engine Class Diagram perspective must be opened first. With the Window > Open Perspective > Other command the perspective selection window is opened. In this window the Content Engine Class Diagram perspective can be selected. This perspective contains on the left side the Object Store Classes View. In this view for each defined connection and Object Store the classes can be browsed. Browsing can only be done is the Object Store is already connected. If the Object Store is not connected using one of the other views of the plug in then in the content menu of the Object Store a connection can be made to the Content Engine.
Creating Class Diagrams
The following actions have to be performed to accomplish this task:
- Start the standard Eclipse New wizard by using the File > New > Other command:
Select the Content Engine Class Diagram in the Content Engine category.
- In the next page of the wizard the necessary information can be supplied to start editing the new Class Diagram.
- If the wizard is finished a new file with the extension classdiagram is created and the Class Diagram editor is opened for this file.
Editing the Class Diagram
To edit the Class Diagram the Object Store Classes view must be opened and connected to the Object Store. Use either drag-and-drop or the context menu of the class to add the class to the Class Diagram. A UML figure will be drawn of the class and all the attributes it contains:
If a parent class or a child class is added to the diagram then they are connected to each other using an inherit relationship. The attributes of the child class defined in the parent class are now moved to the parent class:
If a class is added to the diagram describing an object value property of another class then the classes are also connected using a association relationships. If there is also a reflective property defined then the arrows are shown on both editpoints, otherwise only one arrow is shown:
If the relation between the two classes is marked as “cascade on delete” then a much stronger relation is assumed. In this case the classes are connected using an aggregation relation:
With the palette on the right side of the editor a note can be added to the diagram. When the note icon is dropped on the diagram the user is prompted for a text and next the note will be placed on the diagram.
Editor Actions
The delete, undo and redo commands can be performed using the standard edit menu of Eclipse. The diagram can also be printed using the standard File > Print command.
Beside these actions the context menus supports some additional functionality:
- Refresh Class Diagram Class refreshes the class definition from the Content Engine and redraws the class.
- Show Properties shows the properties of the selected element. The editor uses the standard Eclipse
properties view for editing properties. The content of the properties view depends on the selected element:
Selection Properties Diagram Show Display Names
Show IconsClass Visible Attributes
Visible Relations
PositionNote Text
Size
Position - Export diagram to image exports the entire diagram to an image file.
- Export class to image exports the selected class to an image file.