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Lesson 3.1: Create a direct association between use cases

In this lesson, you will create a direct association between a use-case requirement and a use case in the UML linkable domain. This lesson also demonstrates the use of the Link Clipboard view.
This lesson requires the installation of the UML linkable domain, which is not included in some IBM® Software Delivery Platform products. If you do not have access to this domain, you can still review these steps and the Show Me viewlet to understand direct associations, or skip to the next lesson.

A direct association links a domain element and a requirement. This link associates the domain element and requirement and synchronizes both artifacts so you can manage them as a single, conceptual item. Creating direct links does not generate proxy requirements. The direct link capability is configured by default for use cases, and therefore best demonstrated in the UML linkable domain; however, you can customize the link policy for other requirement types and linkable domain elements in the project properties.

This example demonstrates how a systems architect or development manager can associate UML use cases with use cases created in Rational® RequisitePro® by a requirements analyst. The direct association creates a direct link and synchronizes the name and documentation of the UML use cases with the name and text of the requirement use cases.

To create a direct association between use cases:

  1. In the Project Explorer view, right-click My Tutorial Project and click New > Other > Modeling > UML Model.
  2. In the New UML Model wizard, accept the standard template, type Tutorial Model as the model name and click Finish.
  3. In the Project Explorer view, right-click the Tutorial Model and click Add UML > Use Case.
  4. Accept the default name of the use case (UseCase1). Repeat the preceding step to create UseCase2.
  5. In the Requirement Explorer view, expand the Use Cases folder in the Learning Project.
  6. Expand the Arrange Shipment folder, and drag the UC1 Arrange Shipment use case to the UseCase1 model element.
  7. In the RequisitePro Requirement Synchronization window, accept the requirement name and text. This overwrites the name and documentation of UseCase1 with the Arrange Shipment use-case name and text from Rational RequisitePro.
  8. In the Requirement Explorer view, expand the Check Order Status folder, right-click the UC2 Check Order Status use case, and then click Linkability > Add to Link Clipboard.
  9. In the Project Explorer view, right-click the UseCase2 model element and click Linkability > Create Link to "Check Order Status".
  10. In the RequisitePro Requirement Synchronization window, accept the requirement name and text for the use case and click OK.
You have created direct associations between requirements and model elements in two ways: the drag-and-drop and the Link Clipboard methods. The direct links are marked with a horizontal arrow on each artifact icon.
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