PM94736: Impossible to add an association instance for an association between classes generalizing the same class

Rational Software Architect RealTime Edition Fix Pack 1 (9.0.0.1) for 9.0
Rational Software Architect Fix Pack 1 (9.0.0.1) for 9.0
Rational Software Architect for WebSphere Software Fix Pack 1 (9.0.0.1) for 9.0

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Environment:
  - Windows
      - Product: Rational Software Architect 8.5.1
  
  Reproducible: Y
  
  Description of problem:
  
  When two classes with an directed association are inheriting
  from the same class, the corresponding object diagram
  association instance/link cannot be created or is created
  incomplete .
  
  Steps to reproduce
  
  1. Create a UML Model
  2. Add a class called 'Parent with an attribute 'atrParent' of
  type String
  3. Add two classes called 'Child1' and 'Chil2d'
  4. Add two generalizations. One from 'Child1' to 'Parent' and
  one from 'Child2' to 'Parent'
  5. Add a direct association from Chidl1 to Child2
  6. Add an object diagram
  7. Drag ? drop the two classes 'Child1' and 'Child2' to create
  their corresponding object instances
  8. Try to add a new link between 'Child1Instance' and
  'Child2Instance'.
  Expected result:
  The link/association instance is automatically created between
  the between 'Child1Instance' and 'Child2Instance'
  with its corresponding slot and  slots values
  Actual result:
  You are not able to create the link. Your are prompted with the
  options 'Select and existing element' or 'Unspecified'.
  Choosing 'Select and existing element' and browsing to the
  element will not allow to create the link
  Choosing 'Unspecified' will do nothing.
  
  If you remove one of the generalization to the Parent Class then
  the link can be created.
  If you drag and drop the association directly onto the object
  diagram, the class instances and the association instance
  are created but the slot and slot value for the association
  instance are not correctly created (missing the slot value for
  'child2' under 'Child1Instance'  and the value for the
  association instance slots are wrong)
  
  Workaround
  
  The workaround could be to create generalizations only after
  having created the link between instance objects. Once you have
  created generalizations, you can include the inherited attribute
  in the slots/values from the properties page of respective
  instance object.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
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  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
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  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
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  It is not possible to create a link between objects when the
  class types of the objects have a common base class and the
  classes have association relationship between them. The
  issue was with the type selection for the link that is being
  created between the class instances.
  

Problem conclusion

• As mentioned the issue was with the type selection for the
  link that is being created between the class instances. It
  finds both generalizations and association as the possible
  candidate for link type. So user gets a prompt for select an
  element as there are multiple options. Even if user selects
  an existing association, it keeps prompting "Select Existing
  element" multiple times and finally nothing happens. The
  problem was with the command that is being generated to
  create the link that does not keep the element selected by
  user as link type. This has been rectified and the link
  appears correctly along slots and values.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  SW ARCHITECT WI

• Fixed component ID

  5724I7001

Applicable component levels

• R851 PSN

     UP