MagicDraw allows for displaying the messages when leaving or entering a sequence diagram, interaction use, or combined fragment. The Gate is a connection point for representing a message from the outside to the current sequence diagram, interaction use, or combined fragment.
Gates can be used in three cases:
- For passing and returning arguments to InteractionUse, which calls some Interaction.
- For displaying “exceptions“ as messages that stops an interaction execution and leaves it.
- For “calling“ sequence blocks represented as CombinedFragments.
Gate has no notation. Gates are created as message ends when drawing messages to/from a diagram frame, an interaction use, or a combined fragment.
To create a formal gate, do one of the following
To draw create an actual gate of the formal gate, do one of the following
- Draw a call, send, create, or delete a message to the interaction use, which refers to the diagram with the formal gates. The Select Formal Gate dialog opens.
- Draw a reply message from the interaction use, which refers to the diagram with the formal gates. The Select Formal Gate dialog opens.
- Draw a call, send, create, or delete a message to the combined fragment (outside combined fragment). The Select Formal Gate dialog appears.
To select a formal gate for the actual gate
- Do one of the following:
- Draw a message.
- From the message shortcut menu, choose Select Formal Gate.
- In the open dialog, select one of the listed formal gates and click OK. An actual gate is created.
