Those steps:
This is where the instructions start to assume a great deal more experience
with VAST than we actually have. For a start, go to the Options menu as shown
below and choose Full menus.
This makes the Configuration maps menu item of the Tools menu visible, as shown
here.
The Configuration Maps browser is typical of the three column browsers offered
throughout VAST. Choosing an item from the list on the left brings up a list in
the middle column, and choosing an element from that list brings up items in
the right column. In the context of this browser, a configuration map is loaded
if an asterisk precedes the application name in the right column. This will not
be the case for three of the four configuration maps listed above. To load the
map right-click on a selected application and take the load option as shown.
It does no harm to load the last (already loaded) item as well.
Here we see the fact that the tool is written in Smalltalk and is being
interpreted from its image coming into play. The System Transcript window is
(unexpectedly) able to edit its contents, so the easiest thing to do is
position to the end of the last message logged, press enter and then paste the
line shown into that window. Then highlight this new line in the System
Transcript window and choose execute from the Edit menu as shown.
This step ensures that dependencies are handled automatically on the next import.
From the Names menu on the Configuration Maps browser take the Import option as
shown and navigate to the manager directory as described. There will only be
one .dat file in this directory.
The 'Goodies - UML Designer' configuration map should be selectable.
After much scrolling of the system transcript window the following screen should appear:
See step 5 for the procedures to undo the automatic collection of dependencies on import.
At this point highlighting the imported goody in the browser shows applications
ready to be loaded in the pane immediately beneath the right column of the
browser. Select, right-click and Load as shown.
There will be a message halfway through working this list that can be answered with a Yes.
After these steps it is best to exit VAST, saving the image on exit of course, and optionally taking another copy of the image (abt.icx) to give a clean UML Designer baseline image.
If you re-enter VAST as this point you will see the new menu on the System Transcript window and the options shown.
At this point it is probably best to consult the IBM Redbook
Using VisualAge UML Designer (SG244997).
Have fun! But just as a primer, to whet your appetite, here are a few screenshots.
The relationship browser is the heart of UML Designer. Shown below is that browser listing some of the examples shipped with the tool.
Visually, the diagramming tools represent the most impressive screenshots.
The use case diagram tool:
The sequence diagram tool:
And the class diagram tool:
The next installment will attempt to take you through a typical use-case and highlight the advantages offered by this tool in the requirements capture stage of development.
This article is courtesy of www.os2ezine.com. You can view it online at http://www.os2ezine.com/20031016/page_4.html.