[Uml-devel] A 2.0 GUI/Association idea

[Tsuraan]

On Thursday 23 January 2003 03:07 am, BARTKO, Zoltan wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I have an idea about the behavior of associations for 2.0. I would like to
> know your opinion:
>
> In ArgoUML (http://argouml.tigris.org) the objects are connected with
> associations that (e.g. it's endpoints) are allowed to move freely along
> the borders of the object (I know, this is a very brief description, but no
> description can replace experience). This is good, if you create anchor
> points in the association and move the object. If you do so, it is very
> probable that you won't have to change the anchor points' locations to
> maintain the original angles between the segments of the association.
>
> The current 1.1 association behaviour is, AFAIK, split the edge of the
> object, to which the associations are connected to, into equal parts and
> maintain this behaviour if whatever happens. This means, that by adding a
> few attributes to the diagram I am obliged to "pull the strings apart"
> again, if I like 90 deg. angles - which I do.

I had an idea along this line: is there any reason that Umbrello doesn't use 
splines rather than just lines for its arrows?  They tend to look nicer, and 
they can more easily steer around other objects, so you won't get lines going 
under (over?) other objects.  Just an asthetic idea, but it might be worth 
thinking about.