Level: Introductory Rational staffIBM
29 Apr 2004 Anwers to some of the most common IBM Rational XDE questions. Editor's note
On June 5, 2006 IBM announced the withdrawal of the Rational Rose XDE product family listed below. The Rational XDE components are being withdrawn from the market; however, the Rational Rose components will continue to be supported and will be re-packaged into a new set of offerings.
For more comprehensive information on the product migrations with the IBM Rational June 2006 product release plans, please visit: http://www.ibm.com/software/rational/support/migrations/
This article was originally published in December, 2003.
Editor's note: IBM® Rational® Rose XDE Developer (.NET Edition) was released prior to the launch of Microsoft® Visual Studio 2005 and will only work with Visual Studio 2003.
This document answers frequently asked general questions about the IBM® Rational® XDE™ Developer products, updated for v. 2003, that are now packaged as components of products in the IBM® Rational Rose® XDE™ product family. It covers not only the different editions of Rational XDE Developer but also the separately available Rational XDE Modeler.
The questions in this document are divided into the following categories:
If you have further questions, you can contact Customer Support or refer to the release notes for Rational XDE Developer.
Overview
What is Rational XDE Developer?
Rational XDE Developer is an extended development environment that provides seamless design and development for Java platform and .NET developers right in their IDE. Powerful pattern engine support, code templates, data modeling, Web publishing, and automatic or on-demand synchronization of code and models are available to help jump-start and accelerate software development projects. The individual Rational XDE Developer products are as follows:
- IBM Rational XDE Developer v2003 -- Java Platform Edition: When installed stand-alone, this product includes IBM WebSphere® Studio Workbench, an IDE based on the Eclipse platform; alternatively, it can be installed into IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer. You can also optionally install it into an independently obtained Eclipse 2.x installation. This product is a component of IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer for the Java Platform.
- IBM Rational XDE Developer v2003 -- .NET Edition: This product, a component of IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer for Visual Basic, supports Microsoft® Visual Studio .NET in a way that allows users to work in a single environment.
- IBM Rational XDE Developer Plus: This product includes Rational XDE Developer v2003 along with Rational PurifyPlus™ and a Visual Trace feature for creating sequence diagrams from running applications. There are both Java platform and .NET editions, and both editions are components of IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer Plus.
What is Rational XDE Modeler?
Rational XDE Modeler is a tool for modeling in the Unified Modeling Language (UML). It's included in all the individual Rational XDE Developer products and is also available separately as a component of IBM Rational Rose XDE Modeler.
Rational XDE Modeler lets you create semantically rich UML models for your architecture, business needs, and management-level communication. Developers using Rational XDE Developer can reference and generate working code from these models. Developers can round-trip-engineer changes, and architects can easily see if any architectural changes are necessary, thereby maintaining architectural integrity. Architects can use multiple-model support and cross-model impact analysis to obtain visibility of the implementation and compliance of their designs through iterations of the project, and they can quickly comprehend (on a scope that would be difficult without Rational XDE Developer) the global impact of proposed architectural enhancements.
Is Rational XDE Developer IBM's next-generation modeling technology?
Rational XDE Developer not only improves UML support and other modeling capabilities but also goes far beyond that: it helps accelerate development by combining modeling with development into one tightly integrated environment, facilitating many aspects of development that a simple modeling tool -- even Rational Rose -- can't accomplish. Note, however, that Rational XDE Developer is not a replacement for Rational Rose; IBM will continue to support and maintain Rational Rose.
Since models can follow source code so closely, aren't you just giving up on architecture?
No. Certainly a code model in Rational XDE Developer can instantly reflect changes in source code. But Rational XDE Developer is designed for, and even encourages, the use of multiple models. The architecture model can be viewed and compared simultaneously with a design model. The ability to have references between multiple models and to cut and paste between models revolutionizes the way architecture can be practiced.
Rational XDE Modeler enables the creation of models and diagrams at any level of abstraction, from free-form diagrams for management review to detailed design models for translation into code. It allows designer and architects to use a single modeling tool throughout the design and development lifecycle.
What benefits does Rational XDE Developer offer to developers?
Rational XDE Developer enables developers to extend their development experience.
Traditional lifecycle support tools are only loosely coupled to the development
environment; they have their own user interface, requiring you to use ALT+TAB
to go back and forth between two environments. This makes for an awkward and
unproductive user experience. In contrast, Rational XDE Developer provides a
seamless design and development environment. Its visual design and development
tools are tightly integrated with IBM® WebSphere Studio and Microsoft Visual
Studio .NET, giving the developer a single user experience. In addition, Rational
XDE Developer Plus includes IBM® Rational® PurifyPlus™, which offers a set of runtime
analysis tools that detect memory errors, highlight application performance
bottlenecks, and identify untested code. These features help you find problems
in your code and fix them before they surface in your customer's environment.
Since PurifyPlus is integrated directly into WebSphere Studio and Visual Studio
.NET, you can easily analyze your code for reliability and performance without
ever leaving your development environment.
What are the operating system requirements for Rational XDE Developer?
The operating system requirements for v2003 are as follows:
- Windows 2000 Professional, Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3 (Service Pack 2 is recommended)
- Windows 2000 Server, Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3
- Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3
- Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 1
Windows NT 4.0 support will be added later as a service release.
Windows 2003 Server will not be officially supported; however, the installer will not block installation on Windows 2003 Server.
Is there a UNIX edition of Rational XDE Developer v2003?
UNIX® is not currently supported in Rational XDE Developer. Support is being considered for a future release, although the specific timing (if ever) is at IBM's sole discretion. Rational Rose is the best alternative for those requiring a modeling solution for the UNIX platform.
What languages does Rational XDE Developer support?
Java, C#, and (starting with v2002 Release 2.1) Visual Basic .NET and the languages related to ASP.NET communication.
Are there plans for Rational XDE Developer to support Ada?
No.
What is the target customer for Rational XDE Developer?
Rational XDE Developer is targeted at developers of Java platform applications, Microsoft .NET C# applications, and (starting with v2002 Release 2.1) Visual Basic .NET and ASP.NET applications. To be more specific, it's for .NET C#, Visual Basic .NET, and ASP.NET developers, developers using WebSphere Studio Application Developer or any Eclipse-based IDE, and Java platform developers who haven't yet chosen an IDE or are looking for a new IDE. Many companies have developers who are just getting started with the Java platform (for example, Cobol developers migrating to it) who are also good candidates for using Rational XDE Developer.
What is the target customer for Rational XDE Modeler?
Rational XDE Modeler is targeted at architects and designers who want their architecture and design clearly defined, understood, and fully leveraged by the development teams and who don't write much, if any, production code.
Which editions of Rational XDE Developer include Rational XDE Modeler?
Both the Java platform and .NET editions (and consequently both editions of Rational XDE Developer Plus).
Does Rational XDE Developer support XMI import/export?
Yes. Starting with Rational XDE Developer v2003, XMI import/export is supported.
Does Rational XDE Developer support reporting?
Yes. Rational XDE Developer v2003 offers built-in capabilities for report generation and publishing a model to the Web. In addition, if you need more complex, customized reports, you can use Rational SoDA® (offered separately by IBM) or write an application using the Rational XDE Extensibility (RXE) API.
Does Rational XDE Developer support automatic diagram creation (reverse-engineered from code)?
Fully automated diagram creation is not supported; however, you can create diagrams using the Add Related Shapes capability.
Does Rational XDE Developer offer integration with Rational RequisitePro for integrated use-case management (IUCM)?
Yes, RequisitePro® is integrated with Rational XDE Developer, enabling developers to navigate between model elements and requirements.
Is Rational PurifyPlus integrated with Rational XDE Developer?
Rational XDE Developer Plus v2003 includes Rational PurifyPlus (along with the Visual Trace feature for automatically creating sequence diagrams from running applications).
Will Rational XDE Developer ever support reverse engineering of sequence diagrams from code (as in Borland Together ControlCenter)?
Rational XDE Developer Plus supports Visual Trace of running applications, which can capture and create sequence diagrams based on actual executing code. This is far superior to the static sequence diagrams produced by ControlCenter, which only give you a view of static software; there are a lot of other factors that come into play that affect the actual running software. Reverse-engineered sequence diagrams don't participate in runtime debugging or testing, so you can't relate such a diagram to a specific usage scenario. Also, static diagrams display all code paths at the same time, forcing you to view unnecessary, unfiltered information.
Does Rational XDE Developer have Rational QualityArchitect capabilities?
No; however, the Visual Trace capability is available in Rational XDE Developer Plus to assist with such tasks.
Does Rational XDE Developer use the location registry for attached documents?
No. You should use the URI to specify document locations.
Does Rational XDE Developer have a customer-accessible API, like the Rose Extensibility Interface (REI) in Rational Rose?Rational XDE -- Data Modeling FAQ
Yes. Rational XDE Developer currently has a customer-accessible API, the Rational XDE Extensibility (RXE) API, that's read-only. There are plans to make it read/write in a future release, although the specific timing is at IBM's sole discretion.
Does Rational XDE Developer include support for XML Schema (XSD)?
There is currently no support for XML in Rational XDE Developer. This support is being planned for a future release, although the specific timing (if ever) is at IBM's sole discretion. Rational XDE Developer does, however, support file import/export in XMI format.
Note that in the Java platform edition of Rational XDE Developer you can generate XML deployment descriptors for J2EE™ components.
Will Rational XDE Developer work with an external editor?
Yes, in the Java platform edition of Rational XDE Developer. You can set preferences to associate specific editors with specific file extensions so that when you open a file, Rational XDE Developer will bring up the associated editor; however, the integrated Rational XDE Developer features will not be available in those editors.
Purchase and Packaging
As a Rational Rose customer, how do I migrate to Rational XDE Developer?
All Rational Rose customers are eligible to use the corresponding Rational XDE product. For more information, contact your account representative at IBM.
Will I receive IBM WebSphere Studio Application Developer or Microsoft Visual Studio .NET along with Rational XDE Developer?
No, you must separately purchase these products from IBM or Microsoft.
Can I evaluate Rational XDE Developer before committing to purchase it?
Yes. Evaluation software can be downloaded from IBM's "Trials and betas" page.
Installation and Licensing
Can I install a Rational Suite on the same machine as Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, you can install Rational XDE Developer and a Rational Suite® on the same machine. If you'll be using Rational XDE Developer with WebSphere Studio Application Developer, the recommended installation order is:
- WebSphere Application Developer
- Rational Suite
- Rational XDE Developer
Note that a change in installer technology requires that before installing Rational XDE Developer v2003, you uninstall and then reinstall any pre-v2003 installations of a Rational Suite.
Can I run a Rational Suite and Rational XDE Developer at the same time?
Yes.
Does Rational XDE Developer integrate with Rational Suite products?
Rational XDE Developer integrates with numerous Rational Suite products, including Rational Rose, RequisitePro, ClearQuest®, ClearCase®, SoDA, and ProjectConsole™. In addition, Rational XDE Developer Plus includes Rational PurifyPlus.
Can I run Rational Rose and Rational XDE Developer at the same time?
Yes; however, the IUCM integration works with only one product at a time.
Can I install both the Java platform and .NET editions of Rational XDE Developer on the same machine?
Yes; however, you must use the same release of each. You cannot mix different releases.
How can I find out what's new in a particular version of Rational XDE Developer?
The best source of information about what's new is the release notes.
What if I have multiple versions of WebSphere Studio products or Visual Studio .NET installed when I install Rational XDE Developer v2003?
Users who have multiple versions of WebSphere Studio products installed, or who have both Visual Studio .NET 2002 and 2003 installed, will be asked to pick one version during installation. Any old models will need to be upgraded; however, this is an automated step.
Can I install Rational XDE Developer on more than one machine at once?
Yes. The Rational XDE Developer license agreement is per-user, not per-machine; a user key is requested during the installation process, and only that licensed user is authorized to use the installed software.
Does Rational XDE Developer use the FLEXlm license management technology?
No. Rational XDE Developer currently doesn't use enforced licensing; however, the Rational XDE Developer license agreement is per-user, which is neither floating nor node-locked. Rather, the license is valid for a single user on any machine. Users need to provide a key for installation.
Modeling/UML Support
Which UML version does Rational XDE Developer currently support? Does it support UML 2.0?
It supports UML 1.4, although not all UML 1.4 capabilities are supported; for example, collaboration diagrams and object diagrams are currently not supported.
Support for UML 2.0, when it's finalized, is planned for the future. As of this writing, it's not entirely clear what constitutes UML 2.0, since some issues are still open.
Is IBM involved in the UML 2.0 specification?
Rational Software is the company that invented UML, and now, as part of IBM, it's spearheading the definition of UML 2.0. Grady Booch and James Rumbaugh of IBM are directly involved in this work, as are other IBM experts (including Rational XDE Developer product management).
Does Rational XDE Developer include support for Advanced UML (UML debugging, state machine automation)?
No, not currently.
Can Rational XDE Developer be used to do free-form modeling?
Yes. As opposed to being just a free-form drawing tool like Microsoft Visio, or just a code visualization tool like Borland Together ControlCenter, Rational XDE Developer unites the strength of a semantically rich UML tool with the freedom and flexibility of customized diagramming using a variety of standard built-in shapes. Free-form designs within your model enable you to include comments and diagrams covering nonstandard UML items, or annotations clarifying your designs, without any constraints.
When I upgrade, will my models be converted to the latest version of Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, all of the models will be converted.
How are models stored in Rational XDE Developer? Are they separate .mdl files, or are they just the code?
In Rational XDE Developer, models are stored separately in an XML format (not XMI or Petal). The file extension is .mdx. You can have multiple models in a project and can work simultaneously with multiple models or projects.
Are there different kinds of models?
Yes. There are two basic kinds of models: content models and code models (one code model per project). Content models can be used for diagramming of any type and are generally used for analysis and design; code models are used for synchronization with code.
In addition, Rational XDE Developer has numerous specialized models. For example, in the Java platform edition, it has different model types for Web models, servlet models, JAR deployment models, and so on.
Is it possible to convert a content model to a code model?
You can change the model type from Content to Code, but there is no support for doing that within the Rational XDE Developer user interface, since the model type property is read-only (it's set in the template you started from). This is intentional, to discourage switching back and forth between model types or attempting to use that capability to maintain multiple code models in a project (switching between them periodically by changing the model type property).
However, there may be situations in which conversion between these two model types is warranted -- for example, because of a simple mistake or confusion when the user started. A couple of options are available to fix things up in that case:
- You can create a code model and move the items from the content model into it.
- You can change the content model to a code model by editing the XML and changing the value for the model type tag from Content to Code. (Note that, in general, editing the XML directly is strongly discouraged.) The next time you open the model with its type set to Code, it will become the code model for the project (or, if the project already has a code model, you'll be presented with a dialog box asking you to pick a code model for the project).
Can I have a reference from element to element between models?
Yes. Multiple-model reference is possible in Rational XDE Developer. You can have a reference between two user models (content or code models) or a reference to a reference model (a read-only model).
Starting with Rational XDE Developer v2003, model elements that have been cross-referenced into another model/diagram have a visual indicator: a diagonal arrow in the upper-left corner of the element.
I customized some of the tool sets in my Toolbox by removing some items, but now I need to use the deleted tools. How can I get back to the default Toolbox?
Open a diagram in the Modeling perspective. Right-click on the Toolbox and click Customize Toolbox; then click the Reset button to restore the Toolbox to its original configuration.
Can I associate custom icons with model elements?
You can associate an icon with a stereotype (setting the stereotype field via the properties editor) and then switch to displaying the model element in iconic format.
What is .ratl_comp_root and how is it used?
It's the location identification file, which contains a tag that defines the location (from the location registry) of a directory. This means that if you choose to move a model file, you always have to move the parent directory with all of the model files in the directory. This is extremely important if you have two or more model files in a directory; you have to move all of them at the same time, because they're identified with the same location. Moving just one of the model files out of a directory of many is not supported.
If you delete the .ratl_comp_root file, it will be generated automatically as soon as you use the model; however, the references to the model will have to be reset to the new identification location.
Why do I need the Pathmap editor in Rational XDE Developer?
You need to set the paths while importing a Rational Rose model into Rational XDE Developer if the model uses paths.
Does Rational XDE Developer support business process modeling?
There's no official support; however, Rational XDE Developer has the basic capabilities you need to do business process modeling using UML and to use your own extensions of stereotypes.
Rational Rose vs. Rational XDE Developer
Was Rational Rose used to develop Rational XDE Developer?
Rational Rose was used to develop the initial Rational XDE release; we even developed a custom code generator to generate a significant part of the source of Rational XDE platform components. After the initial Rational XDE release, we set up a formal program for using the product itself in its own development, to gain experience and collect feedback from our internal users. This is an ongoing program, and the use of Rational XDE Developer in its own development will progressively increase.
Was Rational XDE Developer developed from a shared code base from Rational Rose?
The modeling concepts in Rational XDE Developer are the same as in Rational Rose, but Rational XDE Developer is built on a completely new code base and does not share code with Rational Rose. The Rational XDE Developer architecture is designed to blend the capabilities of an industry-leading IDE from IBM or Microsoft with the capabilities of Rational software modeling technology.
Can existing Rational Rose models be brought into Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, there is a migration tool to help you migrate Rational Rose models to Rational XDE Developer; however, language specifics (like Java and C++ properties, for example) do not migrate to Rational XDE Developer.
You can also bring in models via the XMI import/export capability.
Is there a tool for migrating Borland Together ControlCenter models to Rational XDE Developer?
This can be accomplished by converting the ControlCenter model to Rational Rose and then converting from Rational Rose to Rational XDE.
Another option is to import the source code and create the models that way.
Can I save Rational XDE Developer models as Rational Rose .mdl files?
No.
Is there a Model Integrator in Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, but it's not a separate application as in Rational Rose; rather, you access its functionality via the Compare-Merge submenu of the File menu. (Consequently, the documentation refers to it as the compare-merge capability rather than the Model Integrator.) Since this functionality is part of Rational XDE Developer itself, you can browse the results of the merged model as it's being created.
Can I do a Query > Expand Elements in Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, using the Add Related Shapes feature.
Is Rational Rose integrated with Visual Studio .NET or WebSphere Studio Application Developer?
No, and these integrations are not planned for Rational Rose. Rational XDE Developer is the solution for developers interested in Visual Studio .NET and WebSphere Studio Application Developer integration.
Is Rational XDE Developer a replacement for Rational Rose?
Rational XDE Developer is not a replacement for Rational Rose. Rational XDE Developer offers additional enhancements and capabilities that help accelerate development. Since Rational XDE Developer works inside the IBM or Microsoft development environment, developers can achieve productivity gains (through integrated design and development) that aren't possible using Rational Rose.
Is IBM planning to discontinue Rational Rose in favor of Rational XDE Developer?
There are no plans to discontinue Rational Rose, which is still a viable product and will be the better choice for many developers. Both products provide important development capabilities, and both will continue to provide value to developers.
Will my current Rational Rose expertise be valuable for using Rational XDE Developer?
Yes, UML knowledge and general modeling capabilities are valuable. However,
there are many important differences with Rational XDE Developer. We strongly
recommend that you take advantage of the training available through Rational
University.
Will new releases of Rational Rose have new features, or will new modeling features be implemented only in Rational XDE Developer?
Rational Rose bug fixes and maintenance releases will continue, but few enhancements are planned.
Does Rational XDE Developer support existing Rational RoseScripts?
No.
Does Rational XDE Developer work with Rational Rose partner products?
No, but we're working with partners to support future releases of Rational XDE Developer.
Are there features in Rational Rose that are currently not available in Rational XDE Developer?
Yes. Rational Rose offers the following features not available in Rational XDE Developer:
- Rational QualityArchitect, a set of tools for testing the business logic of an application from its design. However, the Visual Trace capability is available in Rational XDE Developer Plus to assist with such tasks.
- Integrations with third-party IDEs such as Borland JBuilder and Sun ONE Studio/Forte.
Patterns
What is a pattern, and what benefits do patterns offer to developers?
A pattern is an effective and efficient way to share code for solving common problems. Within the culture of a specific organization or domain, naming and then defining a pattern represents the codification of a common solution, drawn from proven prior experiences. Patterns provide a way to jump-start new projects with proven solutions and share those solutions among existing projects.
Patterns are also a powerful tool for enabling higher-level model-driven development. You can use patterns to perform transformations from a higher-level abstract model to a lower-level model -- for example, from a platform-independent design model to a platform-specific (such as J2EE) design model. Platform-independent models are key to the Object Management Group (OMG) Model Driven Architecture (MDA).
Rational XDE Developer enables you to create your own patterns, use previously created patterns, customize patterns, and apply patterns to your models. You can use patterns on their own to create new model elements or apply them to existing elements to extend them. Pattern capabilities in Rational XDE Developer include the engine to apply a pattern as well as an explorer and properties editor used to create patterns.
Can patterns be applied via a stereotype?
Yes. They can also be "bound" to UML elements via stereotypes. You can access this feature via the Tools > Patterns menu.
How can I make my favorite patterns easily accessible?
Rational XDE Developer automatically keeps track of patterns you've applied, and lets you access them through a "favorites" command in the right-click context menu for a class. You can also customize which patterns are listed as your favorites.
Does Rational XDE Developer include support for customized patterns?
Yes. Rational XDE Developer has a powerful pattern engine that lets you capture the knowledge of a few skilled team members into customized patterns that are then made available for the larger development team. If you don't like the patterns that are shipped with Rational XDE Developer, you're free to customize them as well.
Does the Reusable Asset Specification (RAS) import/export capability support multiple patterns in a single model?
Yes, you can import/export multiple patterns from a single model.
What's the best way to create a new pattern that extends an existing one provided as part of Rational XDE Developer?
The best way to do this for "canned" patterns (which are read-only) is to copy the pattern you want to extend and edit the copy. Be aware that if you do so, the extended pattern may not benefit from future changes that IBM makes to the original pattern.
Code-Related Questions
Can I turn off the model <guid> tags that are generated by Rational XDE Developer? If so, are there any disadvantages to doing so?
Yes, you can turn them off via preferences. In general, model <guid> tags exist solely to support cases in which you rename something. Normally, round-trip engineering relies on matching up code and model items by name. If an item is renamed, Rational XDE Developer uses the code <guid> tag to do the matching; without the <guid> tag, a rename operation will be interpreted by Rational XDE Developer as a delete-add operation.
Can code templates be used to put a version number in the code and increment it?
This should be possible. You'll need to store the version number somewhere on your disk and have the code template read it. A better solution would be to do it right and use a proper configuration management system to take care of this for you.
Can the template-generated areas be made read-only so that others cannot change anything between the <begin> and <end> tags?
By default, if you change something within the code template <begin> and <end> tags, it will get overwritten on the next synchronization. You can disable this by editing the template and selecting the One Time Expansion option; you can then modify the code between the <begin> and <end> tags as you please.
Can Rational XDE Developer derive a pattern from code?
Not in an automated way. However, you can reverse-engineer code, and then move the model elements to a pattern and parameterize them to create a pattern.
Does Rational XDE Developer support backup or rewind during program execution?
No, there is currently no support in Rational XDE Developer for this capability.
Configuration Management
What configuration management systems are supported in Rational XDE Developer?
Rational XDE Developer supports Rational ClearCase, Rational ClearCase LT, and (in the .NET edition) Microsoft Visual SourceSafe. For details regarding which versions are supported, see the release notes for Rational XDE Developer.
Does Rational XDE Developer work with CVS?
There is no official support for CVS in Rational XDE Developer at this time.
Documentation and Training
Where can I obtain documentation for Rational XDE Developer?
Information is available in the Help, through the Help topics or searches. You can access other online resources from within Rational XDE Developer by going to Help > Rational XDE Resources > Online Community.
You can also read the release notes for each product version by going to Start
> Programs > Rational Software > XDE > Release Notes.
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