UMLi and ARGOi: A Short Tutorial

[Printer friendly version of the entire tutorial]

5. Creating a SelectionState

5.1. Categories of SelectionState

SelectionStates are added to activity diagrams by selecting one of them from the activity diagram menu. UMLi specifies three categories of SelectionStates:

OrderIndependentState: A and B in the following figure are the selectable activities of the SelectionState. There, every selectable activity should be executed once during the performance of the selection state. However, they can be performed in any order according to the users selection. An OrderIndependentState must have at least two selectable activities.
 


OptionalState: In this category of SelectionState, users can select the execution of any selectable activity any number of times, including none. In this case, a <<confirms>> interaction object flow must be specified in order to allow users to finish the selection state. An OptionalState must have at least two selectable activities.
 

RepeatableState: In this category of SelectionState, a selectable activity is continuously performed while the selection state is not finished by a user using the mandatory <<cancels>> interaction object flow that is specified along with the RepeatableState. A RepeatableState must have one selectable activity only.
 

5.2. Creating SelectionStates


STEP 1: Add the desired SelectionState to the activity diagram.

STEP 2: Create the selectable activities (that can be activities or action states). If the SelectionState is an OrderIndependentState or an OptionalState it should have at least two selectable activities. If the SelectionState is a RepeatableState it should have only one selectable state.

STEP 3: Create ReturnTransitions FROM the SelectionState TO its selectable states. 

Next topic: Creating interaction object flows

Return to the beginning of the tutorial

       
email: paulo@psemantica.com.