Goals of this lesson
- Usage of Databases
- Transferring data between pools by using Databases
Model 3e uses Data Stores to store data in a database and to transfer it across the pools' borders.
How-to
Transferring Data between Pools
- In the first activity of the bottom pool we define x = 5
- Afterwards we transfer x to the first Data Store by assigning x to the Data property of the Data Association (see the highlighted area in the figure below).
- Data Associations can (similarly to Message Flows) transport data.
- You simply need to enter the desired data's name into the Data property.
- x is now stored in the Database, and the first activity of the upper pool can read it.
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Figure 2: Simulation Properties of a Data Association - The Data property is highlighted
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Renaming data
As you might note (while examining the model on your own), we did not simply transfer x to the upper pool, but we also renamed it to y due to the AS qualifier in the Data Association's Data property (x AS y).
Transferring Data back to the original pool
- The upper edge behind the gateway has a condition defined: y == 5.
- If this is true, the upper pool's second activity sets y = 6 and writes it to the second Data Store.
- Note that the variable also gets renamed back to x (y AS x).
- When the condition is not met, the process terminates.
Using the new data
- Now the bottom pool's second activity reads the new x from the second Data Store.
- The process then uses it for decision-making at the gateway.
- The bottom edge's condition checks for x == 6. Is this the case, the third activity will be executed, otherwise the process just terminates.
- Since the new x is equal to 6, the third activity is being executed.
Extra Info: Using different Data Stores which resemble the same semantic Data Store
- By assigning Data Stores the same name, they become the same object.
- This can be very useful for extensive models.
- Imagine Model 3e to be much larger with one write / read operations at the beginning and at the end of the model.
- By using just one Data Store you would have to draw Data Associations across the model, which could get very confusing (especially if you also use some Message Flows).
- Therefore you can gain clearness by putting up one Data Store at the beginning and one at the end of the model, both with the exact same name.