Chapter 5 Building Dynamic Diagrams

Creating a recursive message in a sequence diagram

A message is recursive when the object sends the message to itself. In this case, the arrow starts and finishes on the lifeline of the same object.

The Create and Self-Destroy actions, and the Support delay option are not available with a recursive message.

When you create Undefined or Return recursive messages from the tool palette, the control flow value is already selected:

Message type Symbol
Undefined recursive message
Return recursive message

You can also create an Undefined recursive message and change the control flow value afterwards.

Example


You can choose to create a recursive message with or without activation from the tool palette.

When you create a recursive message with activation, the recursive message is automatically attached to an activation and its control flow value is a Procedure Call which, by default, starts the activation.

Activation symbols are automatically created on the object lifeline as shown below:


Steps To create a recursive message without activation:

  1. Click the Self Message tool in the palette.
  2. Click the object lifeline to create a recursive message.

Steps To create a recursive message with activation:

  1. Click the Self Call Message tool in the palette.
  2. Click the object lifeline to create a recursive message with activation.

 

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