XMI import from VisualParadigm shows inout direction in method signature
Leonardo Toccafondi
Environment:
Source Tool: Visual Paradigm 17 (Windows 11)
Target Tool: StarUML 7.0.0 (Windows 11)
Import Format: XMI 2.1
Diagram Type: Class Diagram
Action Performed: Trying to clean up the visual display of operation parameters in a Class Diagram imported from an XMI file.
Step 1: Export a Class Diagram model containing operations with input parameters from Visual Paradigm 17 via XMI.
Step 2: Import the XMI file into StarUML 7.0.0.
Step 3: Open the imported Class Diagram.
Step 4: Observe the operation signature on the class diagram.
Result: Signatures explicitly show the parameter direction, even for the default input parameters. (e.g., + myOperation(in myParam: string): void).
Step 5: Attempt to hide the parameter direction (e.g., the in tag).
Attempt A: Right-click the Class -> Format menu. Only the Show Operation Signature toggle is available, which either hides or shows the entire parameter list, but does not offer a format choice to remove the direction tag.
Attempt B: Check the Property Editor for the Class or Operation. No relevant display/format setting is found.
Expected Result:
Ideal (Configuration exists): StarUML should have a view-level setting (on the Class or Diagram) to select the desired parameter display format (e.g., 'Name and Type Only', 'Name Only', 'Full Signature'). Selecting 'Name and Type Only' would hide the in direction tag.
UML Default Behavior: When manually created in StarUML, the in direction for parameters is typically suppressed by default (unless StarUML 7 has changed this). The XMI import process should respect the model's structure but not force a verbose display when the tool's default is less verbose.
Actual Result:
The parameter direction (in) is explicitly displayed for all parameters, likely due to how Visual Paradigm exports the XMI or how StarUML interprets it, and there is no user-facing option in StarUML 7 to suppress this display, leading to cluttered diagrams.
StarUML
Thank you,