[Tarsus]

I have created an object oriented architecture that reads an excel spreadsheet as an input.

Could I ask, how would I iconize this file in a UML class diagram?

Thanks,
Tarsus

[lordofduct]

how about you whip out a good ol' UML tutorial or help book.

The syntax and definitions in UML are too dense to explain here in a forum thread.

If you have a specific question about a single part of your UML layout. Then we'll happily assist you.

[hookiethe1]

From what I understand, UML class diagrams don't have icons, each class is represented by a 3 compartment box with name, attributes, and methods. Otherwise if you're just trying to make a pretty picture then just grab an excel icon from somewhere and stick it on?

[lordofduct]

I completely mis-read the question, sorry about that.

I read 'iconize this file' as 'create a visual representation for this architecture'.


You want to know what to use as a visual representation for the spreadsheet that you load in. If so, you technically don't need a visual representation in the UML, it's not a class (unless of course you have some class type that wraps around it, like ExcelSpreadsheetFile), it's just a field on one of the types. Like +filename... or something like that, I would think?

This post has been edited by lordofduct: 18 March 2011 - 08:11 AM

[hookiethe1]

Hmmm, now you've got me thinking I might have read it wrong, and you had it right first time.

[lordofduct]

I say OP restates their question.

[Tarsus]

Sorry if it was not clear.

I do have a class that reads in the Excel Spreadsheet data, using jxl, whichis already modelled in my class diagram. I was just basically looking for clarity on how input files might be included within the class diagram. I was struggling to find example online, which suggests to me that, as has been stated - it may not be necessary to include a visual representation of the input file.

Was looking for the clarification and I think I have it.

This post has been edited by Tarsus: 18 March 2011 - 05:59 PM

[DaneAU]

For external dependencies, such as a person interacting from the outside to some Actor within the system you should model it a hybrid relational interaction. According to my resources there is no definitive way of modelling this, meaning no one accepted methodology.

After a little reading i have come up with something adapted from the hybrid object-relational DBMS which is used to model a relationship between a class and a SQL database utilising a DBMS to perform the operations, saying that if you are using an excel file then you could base your modelling of something similar to the following.

Attached image(s)

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[Tarsus]

Thanks for having a look DaneAU. Definitely something that I will be looking into.

Thanks all,
Tarsus.