Creating combined fragments

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:
  1. Open a sequence diagram that contains at least one lifeline with messages.
  2. In the Palette, click a combined fragment type.
  3. 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.
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Combined fragments
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