Sometimes it is necessary  to use data-types and/or functions defined in header files given by an other developer. In this case the best way is to import these header files as external files to the working model. For external files no code is generated.

In the following article two models are mentioned. A working model with whom the application is developed and an import model to perform Reverse Engineering.

1 – Initial import

To import external sources to a Rhapsody model Reverse Engineering can be used. In the following steps the import process is described.

1. 1. Open Rhapsody (depending on the language of the given source files choose Rhapsodoy in C or Rhapsody in C++)
   2. Create a new project (the import model).
   3. Open Tools > Reverse Engineering
   4. Choose Logical Modelling

      
      

   5. Browse to file which have to be imported and select them.
      
      
   6. Click Next and set External elements and Single top level package.
      
      
   7. Import files with Next  and Finish. After that you should get something like in the next figure
      
      
      At the package icon the small yellow arrow shows that no code is generated for the content of this package.
      
      
   8. (Optional) If the sources are in C and should be used in an C++ model (the working model) the language of the unit has to be changed to C++. With a right click of the package open the context menu and choose Unit > Edit Unit… and open the following window.
      Switch the language to C++ and click OK.
   9. Close the import model and open the working model in which the sources should be used.
   10. Choose  File > Add to model… and browse to the created package.
       As options choose As Unit and Copy Into Model.

   11. Now the data-types and functions can be referenced in the working model. In the following picture some samples of usage are shown.

       Select return type

       

       

       
       

       or argument type

       

       or with the shortcut Ctrl + Space in the implementation.

2 – Add additional header files

If new header files has to be imported to the externalSources package proceed as follows:

1. Open Rhapsody (depending on the language of the given source files choose Rhapsodoy in C or Rhapsody in C++)
2. Create a new project (the import model).
3. Open Tools > Reverse Engineering
4. Choose Logical Modelling
   
   
   
5. Browse to file which have to be imported and select them.
   
   
   
6. Click Next and set External elements and Single top level package. Choose another package name (externalSources_new) than in the working model.
   
   
   
   
7.  Import files with Next  and Finish. After that you should get something like in the next figure.
   At the package icon the small yellow arrow shows that no code is generated for the content of this package.
8. (Optional) If the sources are in C and should be used in an C++ model (the working model) the language of the unit has to be changed to C++. With a right click of the package open the context menu and choose Unit > Edit Unit… and open the following window.
   Switch the language to C++ and click OK.

    

9. Close the import model and open the working model in which the sources should be used
10. Choose  File > Add to model… and browse to the created package.
11. Now the new file can be moved to the externalSources package. It is easier to handle only one external package.
    
    
12. After that you should get something like in the next figure.
    
    
13. Now the new file can be moved to the externalSources package. It is easier to handle only one external package.
14. Following video shows step 9 to 13:
    [wpvideo aFGPYz13]

     

That was it! Thanks to Dennis Koelbel for creating this article and video!

Happy Modeling with Rhapsody!

Walter van der Heiden (wvdheiden@willert.de)