Generating docs from UML model with Rational Tools?

Question

Does anyone know if there's a usable tool for generating RUP-style artifacts from a UML model in the rational toolset (i.e. Rational Software Architect, App Developer etc)?

Specifically, I need to be able to extract information from class (and potentially sequence) diagrams and create software design documents, preferably using Word (or maybe PDF).

I've tried BIRT and its just not usable. Is there anything else out there that is?

Thanks

Answer 1

Haven't used it for a few years but SoDA used to be the main way to generate docs with Rational tools. It wasn't free back then, not sure about now.

That's the only 'out of the box' doc generator I know of. However you should be able to use some/most of the eclipse modelling tools to roll your own by extracting model info into some intermediate format and then generating docs. So, for example, you could:

• Use xtend2 to extract model info and write as restructured text files
• Use sphinx to generate html or pdf from the .rst files.

hth.

Answer 2

There is the Rational Publishing Engine.

I'm not sure how closely this resembles either BIRT or SoDA, whether it's a rehash or a from-scratch implementation or what, but it's what's supported by IBM at the present time.

I have no first-hand experience with it, but I have a colleague who does and he seems to like it.