Interaction Overview diagrams visualize the cooperation between other interaction diagrams to illustrate a control flow serving an encompassing purpose. As Interaction Overview diagrams are a variant of Activity diagrams, most of the diagram notation is the same, as is the process of constructing the diagram. Decision points, Forks, Joins, Start points and End points are the same. Instead of Activity elements, however, rectangular elements are used. There are two types of these elements:
| · | Interaction elements display an inline Interaction diagram, which can be a Sequence diagram, Communication diagram, Timing diagram, or Interaction Overview diagram |
| · | Interaction Occurrence elements are references to an existing Interaction diagram: they are visually represented by a frame, with ref in the frame's title space; the diagram name is indicated in the frame contents. |
To create an Interaction Occurrence, simply drag an Interaction diagram from the Project Browser window onto your Interaction Overview diagram. The ref frame displays, encapsulating an instance of the Interaction diagram.
Example Diagram
The following example depicts a sample sale process, shown in an Interaction Overview diagram, with sub-processes abstracted within Interaction Occurrences. The diagram appears very similar to an Activity diagram, and is conceptualized the same way; as the flow moves into an interaction, the respective interaction's process must be followed before the Interaction Overview's flow can advance.
Toolbox Elements and Connectors
Select Interaction Overview diagram elements and connectors from the Activity pages of the Enterprise Architect UML Toolbox.
Tip: Click on the elements and connectors below for more information.
Interaction Overview Diagram Elements |
Interaction Overview Diagram Connectors |
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OMG UML Specification
The OMG UML specification (UML Superstructure Specification, v2.0, p. 447) states:
"Interaction Overview Diagrams define Interactions (described in Chapter 14, "Interactions") through a variant of Activity Diagrams (described in Chapter 6, "Activities") in a way that promotes overview of the control flow. Interaction Overview Diagrams focus on the overview of the flow of control where the nodes are Interactions or Interaction Occurrences. The Lifelines and the Messages do not appear at this overview level."