Allocation matrix in the MagicDraw/Cameo tool

This slide shows a Dependency Matrix Diagram for the Allocate relationship in the MagicDraw SysML Plugin or Magic Cyber-Systems Engineer ^® (Cameo Systems Modeler^®) tools, available under the diagram menus as a SysML Allocation Matrix. This diagram type serves as a starting point only, you usually have to tune the scope and type filters.

The matrix is for part of the Hybrid SUV sample problem. The relevant allocations are indicated in these two diagrams:

Click on the image to view it full size

The Row Scope is set to package 'HSUV Behavior' and the Column Scope is set to package 'HSUV Structure'. The Row Element Type is set to 'CallBehaviorAction, Continuous, ObjectFlow' and the Column Element Type is set to 'Connector, ItemFlow, Part Property', but could just as well have been left open if using the following mode:

The Show Elements filter is set to 'With relations'

There's actually a bit of a sneaky trick in the Row Element Type choices as a workaround for this tool issue:

MagicDraw/Cameo: ERROR: Incorrectly uses 2 ObjectFlow edges and a CentralBufferNode in place of "elided Pin notation" instead of an abstract ObjectNode symbol and 2 arrow symbols (that are supposed to represent together 2 Pins and 1 ObjectFlow edge)

If you look at the elided pins version of Figure D.38 you'll see that the tool has incorrectly used a CentralBufferNode for driveCurrent, but driveCurrent is caught in the table here anyway because it is stereotyped as «continuous». It has been allocated to an ItemFlow i1 (see Figure D.39) using this nice tool feature:

MagicDraw/Cameo: You can allocate an Action to any NamedElement in the model via its specification box under the Allocations section by dragging and dropping an element (such as a part Property) from the model browser onto the Allocate To field.

The «continuous» ObjectFlow o6 is from the explicit pins version of Figure D.38 and has been allocated to a Connector epc-emg (see Figure D.39) using the same feature.

You can in fact edit your allocation assignments directly in the interactive matrix!

Magicdraw/Cameo has powerful relationship Dependency Matrix diagrams, and in many cases one can assign or remove relationships directly in the cells of the matrix just by clicking!

Note, however, that if you have the Show Elements filter set to 'With relations' you won't be able see all candidate cells.

You can also show such allocations in query tables, as shown next .

Up next

Allocation table in the MagicDraw/Cameo tool

Notes

[CAPABILITY, FEATURE, TOOL] Magicdraw/Cameo has powerful relationship Dependency Matrix diagrams, and in many cases one can assign or remove relationships directly in the cells of the matrix just by clicking!

[DISPLAY, FEATURE, TIP, WARNING] MagicDraw/Cameo: In a Dependency Matrix the mode 'Show Element = All' can lead to very large matrices (but it enables you to interactively create relationships for elements that don't yet have any).

[ISSUE, TOOL] MagicDraw/Cameo: ERROR: Incorrectly uses 2 ObjectFlow edges and a CentralBufferNode in place of "elided Pin notation" instead of an abstract ObjectNode symbol and 2 arrow symbols (that are supposed to represent together 2 Pins and 1 ObjectFlow edge)

[FEATURE, TIP, TOOL] MagicDraw/Cameo: You can allocate an Action to any NamedElement in the model via its specification box under the Allocations section by dragging and dropping an element (such as a part Property) from the model browser onto the Allocate To field.

[TIP, TOOL] MagicDraw/Cameo: Learn how to effectively use and customise the powerful table, matrix, and relation map diagrams and how to create custom queries, implied relations, and custom properties. It will open up a whole new world of enjoyable power modelling!