Using Dependency Matrices to create Connectors

[bkarlow@draper.com]

Hi,

I'm working on a very large and complex project for which it would be useful to be able to quickly relate components with Connectors through a table (like the Dependency Matrix). I am able to create a Dependency Matrix showing the various parts/ports, and even show existing connections between various components. However, I am not able to create new connections, which is ridiculous given the ability to create other kinds of linkages between the same blocks. If I can "allocate" different parts to one another, why can't I connect them in other ways?

Some related issues:

"Connectors" are supposed to be bidirectional (or non-directional) unless specified, but my dependency matrix shows my connectors as having a direction (these are for connectors i manually created in an IBD). Why?

Although I am able to show parts of blocks, and ports of blocks, I am not able to show ports attached to subparts of blocks. This means that if I have four of the same component in a system (such as four redundant data buses, which are all of the block/class "data bus"), I am not able to specify different connections between otherwise identical ports on different instances of a block. I should be able to specify that Port 1 on Bus A:Data Bus connects to Item X, while Port 1 on Bus B:Data Bus connects to item Y (as one would on an IBD). If I were able to fully enumerate my design in a matrix, it would no longer be necessary to combine multiple connections in the same cell (because each potential connection would have a unique location in the matrix, instead of stacking as they do under the current design).

The dependency matrix system would also be useful in creating constraint blocks, because it would allow me to connect ports on constraint blocks to properties associated with parts of my system. This would be infinitely faster and more efficient than manually drawing binding connectors between tens to hundreds of ports.

If I'm simply missing some box or setting that would enable these sorts of operations, please advise.

I am running MagicDraw 17.0.2, Build 2012 07 03 11:31 (129543). I do recognize that there has been at least one major patch since this build, but due to network infrastructure limitations, I am unable to download it (can't directly connect the software to the magicdraw server).

Thanks in advance,

Brandon Karlow
Graduate Student Fellow
Draper Laboratory/Massachussetts Institute of Technology

[supatp]

Dear Brandon Karlow,

Let me start with creating relation through the Dependency Matrix. Do you mean that you cannot creating any relation at all, or only Connectors between Block element?

If you mean that your Dependency Matrix is kind of read-only, you can turn it to be editable by applying the stereotype <<Editable matrix>>.

Or if you mean to create Connector between Blocks, then that's an expected behavior due to the SysML Specification.

For other cases, other will give you answer shortly.

Best Regards,
Supat P.

[bkarlow@draper.com]

Supat,

I can use the matrix to create other relations, such as "Allocate" relationships, so the problem isn't editability. You are correct that my problem is creating connectors or other kinds of relationships between blocks.

Why would the SysML specification not permit the creation of other kinds of linkages between blocks/parts/etc.? What's the point of a table which can SHOW those relationships but not allow you to EDIT those relationships? This seems like an incredibly illogical limitation on the software. After all, the software presumably determines which blocks are connected through some sort of hidden look-up table in the background anyway.

Perhaps I should phrase my question a bit differently: Is there a way to easily create large numbers of connections of any type (connectors, binding connectors, composition, etc.) between large numbers of blocks/parts/ports/etc. quickly and efficiently without manually drawing each and every one of them? Ideally, this would be a visual interface not unlike the dependency matrix (or a N^2 diagram), but even if it were possible to simply import the relevant relationships from an excel spreadsheet, that would be sufficient. I have used the excel importer to create parts before, but it isn't clear to me how one would efficiently specify relationships between those parts.

[saulius_p]

Dear Brandon Karlow,

The most important thing to know during the connectors creation between parts is that connector can be created only between parts which context is the same classifier. In case of the composite structure diagram (or IBD) such classifier is specified for the diagram and connectors creation rules are checked. Incorrect model can not be created. In case with Dependency Matrix connector creation rules are not checked, context is unknown, incorrect model could be easily created if connectors editing would be allowed in Dependency Matrix.

We are considering multiple Dependency Matrix improvements in the next version - 17.0.4. This request will be considered in high priority and scheduled into one of the future releases also.

Currently it is suggested to use diagram as an reliable mean to create connectors. Note you can always automatically display parts in the diagram so only manual connectors creation is needed.

BTW, there are no obstacles to create compositions between blocks in Dependency Matrix.

Please excuse us for an inconveniences.

[fahad]

Saulius,
If one wanted to create a specific type of association i.e. composite or aggregate, which dependency criteria should one pick in the matrix. Currently (19.0 sp1) only 'association' shows up as an option. There is no way to re-factor it later to a more specialized type either, am I missing something?

[jkuschner@wingbrace.com]

Is there any update to this issue? I do not see the composite association as an available dependency criteria in my installation of Cameo Enterprise Architecture 19.0 (SP4) either. Will this ever become an available feature? This video on YouTube posted in 2021 shows the composite relationship is available: https://youtu.be/InWYkyrtt9E?t=140. Is this only available in 2021x version of Cameo EA?