Association mapping

In Rational® XDE, it is possible to place association relationships between most shapes and connectors. However, in the new Rational UML modeling products, you can only place association relationships between classifiers such as classes and use cases because UML 2.0 is stricter than UML 1.4.

In XDE, directed associations are typically owned by the client class, while bidirectional (and undirected) associations are owned by the nearest package or component. Association ownership has changed significantly in UML 2.0. In UML 2.0, associations are always owned by the nearest package or component, while navigable association ends are owned by their client end, not the association itself.

A property object is a new construct in UML 2.0 that does the job of both an Attribute and an AssociationEnd, providing much needed duality between both model elements. Property objects appear as small, red squares in the Model Explorer view, as shown in the figure later in this topic.

Note: One consequence of property objects is that it is no longer possible to specify one type as the association supplier and another type as the actual type of the end using the end’s type expression.

In the following figures, the before figures represent XDE, while the after figures represent the same diagram or construct in the Rational modeling products after import.

A directed association in the diagram window and Model Explorer before import

An XDE unidirectional association between two classes in the XDE diagram window. The relationship is not named, but the classes are named A and B. The same construct is shown in the Model Explorer.

A directed association in the diagram editor and Model Explorer view after import

A Rational modeling product unidirectional association between two classes in the diagram editor. The relationship is not named, but the classes are named A and B. The same construct is shown in the Model Explorer view.

A bidirectional association in the diagram window and Model Explorer before import

An XDE bidirectional association between two classes in the XDE diagram window. The relationship is not named, but the classes

A bidirectional association in the diagram editor and Model Explorer view after import

An bidirectional association between two classes in the Rational modeling product diagram window. The relationship is not named, but the classes
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