Getting Started with IBM
Rational System Developer
01/06/2011
What is it?
 Rational Systems Developer is a UML diagram editor, but much
more than a diagram editor. It is a powerful tool for software
design.
 It is based on Eclipse, and supports UML 2.0.
 In INF113, we will use it to develop several kinds of UML diagrams:
Use Case, Activity, Sequence……
Please note that it is not an active product now, it has merged with
Rational Systems Architect in 2009, but they are very similar.
Where you can find it?
 The first choice is to buy it from IBM, however, it is very
expensive!
 You can download a free trial and install it on your own
desktop/laptop.
 The BEST choice is to use it in ICS labs! (ICS 183, 189, 192, 193,
and 364 Windows labs)
http://www.ics.uci.edu/~lab/labs_specs/software.php
How to use it?
 Rational System Developer
 I will use a simple use case diagram to demonstrate how to
use it step by step (Other diagrams are similar).
 This example is to develop a simple Phone book application:
How to use it? - Start it.
 Rational Systems Developer
How to use it? – Create Your 1st Project (1)
 Follow:
1. File> New> Project> Others
2. Select UML Project, then click Next
3. Key in MyPhoneBookUMLProject as project name
4. Select Blank model
5. Key in Phone Book UML Model as UML model’s file
name, remember to cancel create a default diagram in the
new model. Then, click Finish.
Step by step screen shots follows:
How to use it? – Create Your 1st Project (2)
How to use it? – Create Your 1st Project (3)
How to use it? – Create Your 1st Project (4)
How to use it? – Create a Use Case Diagram (1)
 Follow:
1. In the model explore view (left part of the window), right
click: Phone Book UML Model, then select Add Diagram> Use
Case Diagram.
2. Key in UseCaseDiagram as the file name.
3. Use Palette to draw the diagram. Just select elements
(actor, use case, association…) you want to use in your
diagram, and click the panel.
How to use it? – Create a Use Case Diagram (2)
How to use it? – Create a Use Case Diagram (3)
Palette for
use case
diagram
How to use it? – Create a Use Case Diagram (4)
You can edit
the properties
here
How to use it? – Publish (1)
 You can publish your design in web page and document
format: Modeling> Publish> web (document)
How to use it? – Publish (2)
Select the
folder to
publish to
How to use it? – Publish (3)
Input the
folder
address, you
can view the
published
content in
web explorer
How to use it? – Publish (3)
You can view
the published
content by
click the
hyperlink in
frontpage.
More resources?
 IBM developerworks, search the tutorials and documents
for Rational Systems Architect (very similar to Systems
Developer)
 Various technical forums…
 Books: (I don’t suggest you buy them!)
THE END.
THANKS