Communication Diagrams with Business Objects

The Communication Diagrams with Business Objects pattern creates elements and a diagram to show the interaction between components in a running system by the exchange of messages. The diagram is closely related to the sequence diagram but allows elements to be laid out structurally in a diagram. The passage of time is indicated by the message numbering. 

Figure 1. Shows a Communication diagram with three Components interacting by exchanging messages. Time is shown by the message numbering.

Discussion
The purpose of the pattern is to allow analysts to create a diagram that can be used to visualize how Components (or other Classifiers) interact to carry out a discrete piece of work by exchanging messages.  It is a close cousin of the Sequence diagram but allows elements to be laid out on a diagram in any position creating greater flexibility of expression.

The pattern is useful with non-technical audiences who need to view how components interact but find the sequence diagram difficult to interpret. It can also be used with any group of stakeholders who need the components (or other Classifiers) laid out structurally in a diagram.

The following is a list of some things you may want to do when working with this pattern.
·	Change the name of the diagram, elements and messages on the diagram to suit the initiative.
Reorder the messages to suit the initiative.

The following is a list of some of the next steps available when applying the pattern.
·	Set your preferences to color the communication diagram messages making it more appealing to non-technical audiences.
Transform the Communication diagram to a Sequence diagram making it more appealing for technical audiences.

Useful Workspace Layouts Core | Core Modeling

Reference
The following help topics will assist you learn about how to work with this pattern.
Communication Diagram
Create a Communication Message
Transform to Sequence Diagram
Communication Diagrams in Color

The following are some of the tools that will be helpful when working with this pattern.
Traceability Window
The Traceability Window automatically displays the relationships that exist between Use Cases and other model elements including up-process and down-process elements. The traceability tree view can be conveniently expanded to see deeper relationships and elements displayed in the window can be located in all diagrams in which they appear. For more details see the Traceability Window  help topic.
Relationship Matrix
The Relationship Matrix provides a spreadsheet like view of two groups of elements and the relationships that exist between them. It can be a used as a powerful analysis mechanism to visually indicate how elements are related to each other and to discover which elements are missing relationships. For more details see the Relationship Matrix  help topic.
Specification View
The Specification View can be used as a way of working with any element type in a spreadsheet or word process view. It is particularly useful when there are a large number of elements as is typically the case when describing a system of any appreciable size. For more details see the Specification View help topic.
Element Discussions
The Element Discussion facility is a fully featured collaboration tool allowing modelers and model viewers and reviewers to communicate with each other directly inside the repository. Modelers using the full client or occasional viewers using WebEA can both post and reply to discussions and communicate and engage in chat. For more details see the Element Discussions help topic.
Hand Drawn and Whiteboard Diagrams
The Hand Drawn and Whiteboard Mode are display options available for any diagram that changes a system-drawn diagram to appear as though it was drawn by hand and, optionally, hand drawn on a whiteboard. It is a powerful device to engage an audience by presenting the diagram in a rough and more immediate style giving the impression that it is just a sketch that can be changed. For more details see the Hand Drawn and Whiteboard Mode help topic.
Diagram Layout
The Diagram Layout tool allows you to layout an entire diagram, selected elements or sections of a diagram to make it more visually appealing or meaningful to a particular audience. There are a wide range of layout types to choose from and some types have filters that can be applied. For more details see the Diagram Layout help topic.
Pan and Zoom
The Pan and Zoom facility is one of the tools that can be used to navigate around a large diagram. Often the resolution of a diagram must be reduced to ensure it is wholly visible but by using the Pan and Zoom window you can leave the diagram at a readable resolution and pan around to areas of interest zooming in when necessary. For more details see the Pan and Zoom help topic.
Alternate and Images for Diagram Elements
Most standard elements allow an alternate image to be defined for an element that will be used in place of the graphical notation for the element either on a selected diagram or as a default on all diagrams. For more details see the Using the Image Manager help topic.
Document Generator
The Document Generator is a powerful facility in Enterprise Architect that allows a Database Engineer or other stakeholder to create high quality corporate or technical documentation directly from the model, suitable for internal or external audiences. For more details see the Documentation help topic.

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