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[56K WARN] UML Sequence diagram help

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 6:07 am
by Chris Corbyn
Here's the non-programmer in me putting myself to shame. I don't know how to write UML sequence diagrams :(

I'm trying to write my first one to describe the flow of logic in a Java web application framework. In words it goes like this:

Request hits front controller
Front controller uses an ActionDispatcher (helper) to forward the request to an ActionController
ActionController may (optionally) ask the ActionDispatcher to foward the request elsewhere (repeat any number of times).
FrontController forwards to a JSP file to compose the view.

The bit I'm getting mixed up on is how to draw step 3 where the ActionController may effectivey jump backwards a step over and over.

Here's what I have so far (no giggling please :P):

Image

I know some of my boxes should have underlines in them... I just have't figured out how to do that in the software I used yet :P

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:46 am
by Oren
Man... I've never seen such a confusing flow chart :P
Just google "flow chart" I guess to learn the basics. I guess I'm not helping much here, but that's the best I can do.

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:12 pm
by Chris Corbyn
Oren wrote:Man... I've never seen such a confusing flow chart :P
Just google "flow chart" I guess to learn the basics. I guess I'm not helping much here, but that's the best I can do.
UML sequence diagrams aren't just basic flow charts though :(

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:52 pm
by Oren
Hmm... I don't know. Can you clarify the question a little bit?

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:59 pm
by timvw
Perhaps http://www-inf.int-evry.fr/COURS/UML/no ... l#figure36 can inspire you...

Edit: http://resource.visual-paradigm.com/uml ... ation.html seems more understandable... (something like the loop combined fragment)

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:18 pm
by Chris Corbyn
timvw wrote:Edit: http://resource.visual-paradigm.com/uml ... ation.html seems more understandable... (something like the loop combined fragment)
Perfect, thank you :) I was sorta leaning towards something like this actually because you see it in here.

I'm also getting the impression that there are no strict rules for representing some things... just make sure it's chronological and that it's sensible and simple :) In my case, I've taken out the mention of ControllerFactory since it wasn't really important.

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