In sequence diagrams, you create a combined fragment
to represent a construct, such as alternative, loop, optional, parallel
and so on, in an interaction. Each type of combined fragment is
defined by its operator.
To create a combined fragment:
- Open a sequence diagram that contains at least
one lifeline with messages.
- In the Palette, click a combined fragment type.
- Click in the interaction frame and complete one of the
following steps:
- To include selected lifelines in the combined fragment,
drag the combined fragment across several lifelines without covering
any messages and interaction fragments. In the Add Covered
Lifeline window, the lifelines that you crossed are selected.
Click OK.
- To include selected lifelines, messages, and interaction
fragments in the combined fragment, drag the combined fragment across
several lifelines that cover existing messages and interaction fragments.
The messages and interaction fragments that you covered appear in
the first interaction operand of the combined fragment.
Note: You can exclude specific lifelines from
the combined fragment regardless of their order in the interaction
frame. For example, if you drag across three lifelines and you want
to exclude the second lifeline from the new combined fragment, in
the Add Covered Lifeline window, clear the second
lifeline, and click OK. In the resulting
combined fragment, the first and third lifeline appear but the frame
does not show the stem of the second lifeline.