Hello, I would like to find some article (free to download) giving
example of solving "8 queens" or "n-queens" famous programming problem
using UML. I need example with more than one diagram. Thanks in
advance!

Hi, olexiy-ga:

You wrote: "I would like to find some article (free to download) giving
example of solving "8 queens" or "n-queens" famous programming problem
using UML. I need example with more than one diagram."

Here is an article, free to download, which describes the solution of
the "N Queens" problem using SQL.  It contains two UML diagrams which
I've looked at:

[N Queens]
http://www.planet-source-code.com/URLSEO/vb/scripts/ShowCode!asp/txtCodeId!953/lngWid!5/anyname.htm

The two UML diagrams are present as JPG files:

  SolutionAlgorithm.jpg
  SearchAllSolutions.jpg

the ZIP-compressed download.


regards, mathtalk-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by olexiy-ga on 30 May 2005 22:32 PDT

Dear mathtalk,

I'm not sure that those two in your example are UML diagrams. Yes,
authour says it's UML but it is not... UML has 9 predefined diagrams:

Class Diagram 
Object Diagram 
Statechart Diagram 
Activity Diagram 
Sequence Diagram 
Collaboration Diagram 
Use Case Diagram 
Component Diagram 
Deployment Diagram 

I wanted to find any example that uses at least two of them.

Thanks for your help!
Olexiy

---

Clarification of Answer by mathtalk-ga on 31 May 2005 19:41 PDT

Hi, olexiy-ga:

Yes, the author of that freely downloadable paper about solving the N
Queens Problme does say that the two illustrations are UML diagrams. 
He further tells us that these diagrams were prepared using:

[Visual Paradigm for UML]
http://www.visual-paradigm.com/product/vpuml/

There is a free version (for noncommercial use) that can be downloaded
from that site.

The Unified Modeling Language attempts to standardize definitions of
various sorts of diagrams used in software development:

[Types of UML Diagrams -- Unified Modeling Language (UML)]
http://www.smartdraw.com/tutorials/software-uml/uml.htm

"UML defines nine types of diagrams: class (package), object, use
case, sequence, collaboration, statechart, activity, component, and
deployment."

Note in particular this discussion of the characteristics of the Activity Diagram:

"Activity diagrams illustrate the dynamic nature of a system by
modeling the flow of control from activity to activity. An activity
represents an operation on some class in the system that results in a
change in the state of the system. Typically, activity diagrams are
used to model workflow or business processes and internal operation."

A more detailed discussion given here:

[UML Activity Diagramming Guidelines]
http://www.agilemodeling.com/style/activityDiagram.htm

by Scott W. Ambler makes the point that:

"In many ways UML Activity diagrams are the object-oriented equivalent
of flow charts and data-flow diagrams (DFDs) from structured
development (Gane & Sarson 1978)."

Perhaps you did not immediately see the relevance of these diagrams
with the method of solution implemented using Oracle SQL and Forms
because of the terse style of the author's presentation.  Some careful
reading of all the parts of the download might be helpful.  The two
diagrams are related, one (SearchAllSolutions.jpg) providing a
surrounding context for the other (SolutionAlgorithm.jpg), and I would
agree, if this is your point, that the two are the same _kind_ of UML
diagram.

However I must point out that your original Question asked for more
than one diagram and does not require them to be of different kinds.

Nonetheless Google Answers guarantees your satisfaction with the
Answer you receive.  For their standard information on the options
open to you if you are not satisfied with an Answer, see this portion
of the Google Answers FAQ:

[What if I don't like my answer? Can I get a refund?]
http://answers.google.com/answers/faq.html#refund


best wishes, mathtalk-ga