For the style manager, new functionality is provided to allow for quick and easy specification of connection patterns, to be defined for style users. To create a connection pattern, open the style in AcmeStudio and select ‘Connection Patterns’ button. Here, one can view a list of current connection patterns, as well as create new ones.
To create a new pattern, simply click on the ‘New’ button. A dialog will be displayed where the user can select the type of objects that will define the connection rule. Note, a connection rule can be sufficiently general not to specify component information by selecting Any – should this be the case, the create pattern will match for any type of component. When all five required types have been chosen (first port and role type, connector type, second port and role type) the user can click ‘finish’ to create the connection pattern, or click ‘next’ to set advanced options.
The first advanced option present to style designers on pattern creation is the ability to specify default names for created objects. Instead of using the default stems ‘p’ (for ports) and ‘r’ (for roles), can specify default stems for the two ports and roles in the four text boxes at the top of the dialog. AcmeStudio will use the prefix that users specify in the appropriate fields.
As well, many style designers will want their connection patterns to be ‘bi-directional’, that is, a user should be able to invoke the pattern in ‘either direction’ (source -> target or target -> source). If the designer wishes to define his rule as such, the radio button ‘Rule will be bi-directional’ will accomplish this – it will create the pattern in both directions so users will be able to invoke it in either manner. These radio button choices are visible at the bottom of the dialog.