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Basic Operations


Starting the MSC Editor

In the Organizer, MSCs are handled as references, which you can add and remove from any of the Organizer chapters. There are several ways you can start the MSC Editor:

Starting the MSC Editor Stand-alone

You have the possibility to start the MSC Editor stand-alone. This is however only recommended if you are using the MSC Editor for viewing a generated trace since you will not be connected to the Organizer and you will loose e.g. MSC reference navigation capabilities. If you have bought the MSC as a trace tool only (i.e. only at trace license) this will be your only option.

Note:

If you are making a custom interactive trace, you should not start the MSC Editor/Tracer yourself, since in that case the editor will not be able to connect with the tracing application. You need only start the MSC Editor manually when viewing saved MSC diagrams or generated MSC/PR files.

On Windows you start the MSC Editor by writing sdtmsce.exe [ <filename> ] at the command prompt. It is also possible to set up a shortcut. Please refer to your operating system documentation for further information.

On UNIX you start the MSC Editor by writing sdtmsc [ <filename> ] at the command prompt.

The optional <filename> may either refer to a GR file (usual suffix .msc) or an MSC/PR file (usual suffix .mpr). If you enter an incorrect filename the MSC Editor will terminate without giving any notice.

Starting on an Existing MSC

To start the MSC Editor on an existing MSC, you either use an MSC icon connected to an MSC diagram file, or add a new MSC icon for an MSC diagram.

Starting on an Existing MSC Icon

To start the MSC Editor on an existing MSC managed by the Organizer:

  1. In the Organizer select the icon that represents an MSC. (The MSC icon must be connected to a file.)
    • Alternatively, if the MSC is associated with an SDL diagram, you can select the associated MSC link icon (looking like an MSC icon displayed in dashed form).

Figure 332 : An MSC icon and an associated MSC icon

  1. Start the MSC Editor by the Edit menu choice on the Organizer's Edit menu or by double-clicking the MSC icon.
    The MSC Editor window is displayed, the current MSC data is read from file and the upper left portion of the chart is displayed.
Starting on an Existing MSC, not Managed by the Organizer

To start the MSC Editor on an existing diagram that is not managed by the Organizer (i.e. not contained in the Organizer structure) you must first include it into the Organizer, before the MSC Editor can be started.

To include an existing MSC into the Organizer:

  1. Select the place in the Organizer where you want to add the MSC. The MSC will be added as a new root diagram after a selected document or chapter, or at the top level of a selected module.
  2. Select Add Existing from the Organizer's Edit menu.
  3. In the dialog that is opened, find and select an MSC diagram file. Set the filename filter to *.msc to only list MSCs. The MSC is added to the Organizer structure, and is opened in the MSC Editor.
    If an SDL diagram was selected in the Organizer, an association link to the MSC is also added to the SDL diagram.

Starting on a New (Nonexisting) MSC

To start the MSC Editor on a new MSC, you either use an unconnected MSC icon, or add a new MSC icon.

Starting on an Unconnected MSC Icon

To start the MSC Editor on an existing but unconnected MSC icon:

  1. Select an unconnected MSC icon in the Organizer.
  2. Open the unconnected MSC by the Edit menu choice on the Organizer's Edit menu or by double-clicking the MSC icon. A dialog is opened:

Figure 333 : The Edit dialog

  1. Make sure the Show in editor option is set. Then click OK to open the MSC Editor on the new, empty diagram.
    • You can also change the name of the MSC diagram before it is opened.
    • To copy the contents of an existing MSC diagram file before opening the new diagram in the MSC Editor, select the option Copy existing file and enter a filename.
Starting on a New MSC Icon

To add a new MSC icon to the Organizer and start the MSC Editor on that icon:

  1. Select the place in the Organizer where you want to add the MSC. The MSC will be added as a new root diagram after a selected document or chapter, or at the top level of a selected module.
  2. Select Editors > MSC Editor from the Organizer Tools menu. A new MSC diagram icon is added to the Organizer structure, and the new diagram is opened in the MSC Editor. If an SDL diagram was selected in the Organizer, an association link to the MSC is also added to the SDL diagram.
    • Alternatively, select Add New from the Organizer Edit menu. A dialog is opened. Select an MSC diagram type, enter a name in the New document name field and click OK.

Exiting the MSC Editor

  1. Select Exit from the File menu. If the MSC Editor holds any MSC that you have modified but not saved, a dialog is issued, prompting you to save the changes before the application terminates.
  2. The dialog informs you about the name of the diagram in turn to be saved. Depending on if you want to save the changes or not:
    • Click Save to save changes made to the current diagram. The MSC Editor prompts you to save the next modified diagram, alternatively exits if there are no more diagrams to save.
    • Click No Save to close the current diagram without saving it. The MSC Editor then prompts you to save the next modified diagram, alternatively exits if there are no more diagrams to save.
    • Click Save All to save all changes made to all diagrams. Once all diagrams are saved, the MSC Editor will exit.
    • Click Quit All to exit the MSC Editor without saving any MSCs.
    • Click Cancel if you want to continue the MSC Editor session.

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