How to: Design Application Systems on System Diagrams 

In System Designer, you can design an application system by adding applications or other systems to a system diagram, which represents a single system definition. You can also copy and paste applications and systems on the same diagram or copy them between diagrams of the same type in different instances of Visual Studio.

Note

Before you can begin designing a system, the solution must contain a system diagram. Definitions of the applications or systems that you want to add to the system must also exist in the solution. Applications are defined on the application diagram, while systems are defined on system diagrams. If the solution contains an application diagram with defined applications, you can create a system diagram from selected applications on the application diagram. For more information, see How to: Create System Diagrams. Otherwise, you can add a blank system diagram or an existing system diagram from another solution. For more information, see How to: Add System Diagrams to Solutions.

For more information, see the following topics:

To design an application system on a system diagram

  1. From the System View window, drag an application or system to the inside of the system definition (the outermost gray system shape) on the system diagram.

    Tip

    If the System View window is closed, open it. For more information, see How to: Display the System View Window.

    A use of the selected application or system appears inside the system definition container shape.

  2. Repeat the previous step to add more uses of the same application, a different application, or another system.

    Tip

    You can also right-click the application or system in System View and choose Add to System Diagram.

When you add the first use of an application or system, the default use name is the same as its definition. However, members within a system must have unique names. In addition, uses of an application or system display both their use and definition names when they are different. Therefore, when you add subsequent uses, the use name is incremented appropriately and appears with its definition name.

Tip

Rename each use according to the role that it plays in the system. For example, a sports equipment catalog application that supports different business lines within a system might name uses of a common catalog application as GolfCatalog, TennisCatalog, and SwimCatalog.

The system you are currently designing does not appear in the System View window because you cannot add a circular reference to that system. After you design a system, it becomes available in System View when you create or open another system diagram.

You can now configure the system, provide access to members of the system, and define communication pathways within the system. For more information, see Overview of System Designer.

See Also

Tasks

Walkthrough: Designing Application Systems

Other Resources

Designing Application Systems on System Diagrams