The ECM Developer plug-in contains an editor that can be used to create a UML class diagram of the document, folder and custom object classes defined in the Object Store. The diagrams can be printed or exported to an image file in the JPEG, BMP or PNG format. Once a class is placed on the diagram an active connection to the Object Store is no longer necessary to edit the diagram. Only if the class must be refreshed, after a changed definition, a connection must be made.

Object Store Class Diagram Perspective

For convenient editing of the Class Diagrams the Object Store Class Diagram perspective must be opened first. With the Window > Open Perspective > Other command the perspective selection window is opened. In this window the Object Store Class Diagram perspective can be selected. This perspective contains on the left side the Object Store Classes View. In this view for each defined connection and Object Store the classes can be browsed. Browsing can only be done is the Object Store is already connected. If the Object Store is not connected using one of the other views of the plug in then in the content menu of the Object Store a connection can be made to the Object Store.

Creating Class Diagrams

The following actions have to be performed to accomplish this task:

  • If you are not in the Object Store Class Diagram perspective then you have to start the standard Eclipse New wizard by using the File > New > Other command. Next select Object Store Class Diagram in the ECM Developer section. If you are in the Object Store Class Diagram perspective then there is a shortcut to the new wizard in the File > New menu.
  • In the next page of the wizard the location and the name of the Class Diagram must be supplied to start editing the new Class Diagram.
  • If the wizard is finished a new file with the extension classdiagram is created in the workspace and the Class Diagram editor is opened for this file.

Editing the Class Diagram

To edit the Class Diagram the Object Store Classes view must be opened and connected to the Object Store. Use either drag-and-drop or the context menu of the class to add the class to the Class Diagram. A UML figure will be drawn of the class and all the attributes it contains:

single_class

If a parent class or a child class is added to the diagram then they are connected to each other using an inherit relationship. The attributes of the child class defined in the parent class are now moved to the parent class:

class_with_parent

If a class is added to the diagram describing an object value property of another class then the classes are also connected using a association relationships. If there is also a reflective property defined then the arrows are shown on both editpoints, otherwise only one arrow is shown:

class_with_association

As there are no object type property types in CMIS, this feature will not work for CMIS repositories.

If the relation between the two classes is marked as “cascade on delete” then a much stronger relation is assumed. In this case the classes are connected using an aggregation relation:

class_with_aggregation1

With the palette on the right side of the editor a note can be added to the diagram. When the note icon is dropped on the diagram the user is prompted for a text and next the note will be placed on the diagram.

class_diagram_note

Editor Actions

The delete, undo and redo commands can be performed using the standard edit menu of Eclipse. The diagram can also be printed using the standard File > Print command.

class_diagram_context_menu

Beside these actions the context menus supports some additional functionality:

  • Refresh Class Diagram Class refreshes the class definition from the Content Engine and redraws the class.
  • Show Properties shows the properties of the selected element. The editor uses the standard Eclipse properties view for editing properties. The content of the properties view depends on the selected element:
Selection Properties
Diagram Show Display Names
Show Icons
Class Visible Attributes
Visible Relations
Position
Note Text
Size
Position
  • Export diagram to image exports the entire diagram to an image file.
  • Export class to image exports the selected class to an image file.