Visualization Tools User's Guide


Analyzing Object Interaction with the Cluster View

In the Cluster View, each object is represented by a colored box containing the name of the class or instance (instance names consist of the class name followed by a number). When the Cluster View first opens, all of the objects you selected appear in the center of the window. (Not all of the objects are visible, since they are occupying the same screen position.)

As the application runs, the objects in the Cluster View drift away from the center, spreading out across the window. Simultaneously, objects that send messages to one another are mutually attracted. As you watch, you should see the objects in the application form clusters based upon the amount of message traffic that passes among them. Objects that remain far apart have little direct interaction; objects that cluster tightly together send messages to one another frequently.

The pop-up menu in the Cluster View window provides several other options that can help you analyze object interactions:


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