Rhapsody Tip #36 - Stamp Mode including double-click in 8.3.1 (Simple)

Stamp Mode has been in the IBM Rational Rhapsody drawing toolbar for a long while. This short 1 min info video shows how it works and what it's for and also highlights an improvement to it in Rhapsody v8.3.1 (2018). If you double rather than single click a tool then essentially stamp mode will become enabled. This reduces the effort required to enable it by making it easier to turn.

Rhapsody Tip #35 - Nested ports in SysML 1.3 (Intermediate)

Rhapsody supports the SysML concept of nested ports. However, it's not always easy to remember how to enable these. This short video illustrates how to do nested ports with SysML proxy ports and their associated InterfaceBlock. Nested ports are enabled via a right-click menu on the SysML port. Interestingly when you add a nested port to a port, then it is added to the Block or InterfaceBlock that is typing the port. This video shows a proxy port example with an InterfaceBlock. Rhapsody also supports the same capability with FullPorts. As such you could use similar steps to model physical interfaces with Full Ports typed by Blocks.

The video uses 8.3 although this capability was fist introduced in 8.1.3. This is all part of a SysML language that can weave many different types of tapestries. If you want to know which is the best tapestry to weave then that's a different question ;-)

MBSE with OMG SysML (and Rhapsody) Open Training 3-4 5-6th July near Nuneaton, UK

I'm pleased to announce plans to run an Open/Public training for OMG SysML at HORIBA-MIRA near Nuneaton 3-6th July 2018.

If you just want tool-neutral SysML awareness there's an option to just do the first 2 days. Training will be 4 days for those wanting deep-Rhapsody learning (3 days if you just want Rhapsody essentials). Plenty of options, therefore, but if you have specific needs then feel free to discuss. Training would be with latest Rhapsody release, 8.3 (although I could cover some 8.3.1 preview bits on day 4, if needed).

https://www.horiba-mira.com/our-services/capabilities/model-based-systems-engineering

Rhapsody Tip #34 - Diagrams: Bridges for line intersections - new in 8.3.1 (Simple)

With 8.3.1 in the release pipeline, this video gives taster of one of the customer-requested usability enhancements in the RC1 open beta. Of-course, Visio does this kind of thing but it's nice to see that the team are polishing IBM Rational Rhapsody's diagramming capabilities and this is one of my favorites. The feature works when the line is rectilinear_arrows or rounded_rectilinear_arrows. Two  properties can be used to control it.

General::Graphics::RectilinearBridgeDrawing turns it on and off,
and
General::Graphics:::RectilinearBridgeShape can be set to Rounded, Rectangle, Triangle, or Space.

There's few notable things in the release so stay tuned for more 8.3.1 videos.

Next INCOSE UK MBSE Meeting - 21 Jun 18

FYI: The next INCOSE UK MBSE interest group meeting is Thursday, 21st of June, 2018 in Reading RG2 6GF. These tend to be really well attended with a  mix of different industries/companies/tool users. At the last meeting in March I did a session on the different port types in SysML that seemed to be well received as it was quite interactive.

Time: 10:00 to 16:00 (Provisional dependent on agenda)

For those that don't know WG exists:
https://incoseonline.org.uk/Groups/Model_Based_Systems_Engineering/Main.aspx?CatID=Groups&SubCat=Model_Based_Systems_Engineering

Attendance would require you to be on the list though.

Systems-of-Systems and Use Cases: An Insulin Pump System Example (9 min video with captions)

I tend think use cases are great before they force you to think about your system boundary. That said, I've been in plenty of meetings where everybody is agreeing on the use case, but participants actually have completely different perceptions of the system context. Like the statement "controlling the speed has nothing to do with my system, it's done by this other system" is an interesting one when talking about Cruise Control. Clearly if your system is a vehicle then the system will be controlling the speed. If your system is a sub-set of the vehicle, then it will depend on which bit you own.

In this video I walk through an example of an insulin pump system, or more precisely, two systems that relate to an insulin management system to show how each level can have use cases, but that the use cases differ in the level of abstraction. The key is that the concept of abstraction allows us to deal with complexity at the system-of-system level by focusing on essential detail only. It's also abstraction that enables us to keep things valid and current as the detail is fleshed out. My view is that one should create different use cases at each level and give ownership to the teams. Like when a sky-diver jumps out of an airplane, the first thing they look for is not the gate in the field. The same thing applies with models. This video illustrates using an Insulin Pump Management System to illustrate the value of abstraction. It shows shows an example of how to use Rhapsody's Allocation Wizard to allocate system functions to parts of a system.

Rhapsody 8.3.1 Open Beta

Rhapsody released tend to be aligned with Jazz platform cycles (6 monthly). This means that the time for 8.3.1 is approaching.

There is actually an open beta version you can download (obviously needed if you're testing Rhapsody Model Manager backend, like me).

The Rhapsody 8.3.1 beta link is on Jazz.net, all downloads tab:
https://jazz.net/downloads/rhapsody-model-manager/milestones/6.0.6RC1?p=allDownloads

Scroll to the bottom to find the Rhapsody Open Beta link. You might need to fiddle around a bit to get the IBM ID login to come up but it should allow you to download the zip.

Remember, although multiple Editions of Rhapsody can be installed, you need to be careful that the DLLs are registered correctly if you're using some of the add-ins (or you uninstall one of them hoping to use another).

Check out the bridges!