[gmf-dev] edges not showing after copy with EcoreUtil.Copier

[Gregory Jansen <count0@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have after create advice that supplies an 
AbstractTransactionalCommand. The command uses the EcoreUtil to replace 
the new object in the model with a copy of a template object. This was 
my way of putting a list of template objects onto the palette. I just 
add add a parameter to the normal create tool/request and my advice 
makes the substitution. Here is the callback in my advice:

    @Override
    protected ICommand getAfterCreateCommand(final CreateElementRequest 
request) {
        if (request.getParameters().containsKey("templateElement") &&
                request.getElementType() == 
CrosswalkElementTypes.MetadataBlock_3018) {
            return new 
ReplaceNewObjectWithTemplateCommand(request.getEditingDomain(), request);
        }
        return null;
    }

Here is the way the command above works:

    @Override
    protected CommandResult doExecuteWithResult(IProgressMonitor 
monitor, IAdaptable info) throws ExecutionException {
        EObject result = null;
        EObject n = request.getNewElement();
        EObject template = 
(EObject)request.getParameter("templateElement");
        EcoreUtil.Copier copier = new EcoreUtil.Copier(false, true);
        //ViewRefactorHelper viewhelp = new ViewRefactorHelper();
        EObject copy = copier.copy(template);
        copier.copyReferences();
        EcoreUtil.replace(n, copy);
        //viewhelp.refactor(n, copy);
        result = copy;
        return CommandResult.newOKCommandResult(result);
    }

The behavior that results is fine in terms of the semantic model, but 
the notation seems to get strange in two ways.

First, the resulting node is no longer at the position at which it was 
dropped. It seems to show up in the center of the content pane instead.

Second, my model includes links/edges between sub-elements within the 
new node. These sub-element links do not show up unless I save, close 
and reopen the editor.

As you can see I've been experimenting with the ViewRefactorHelper 
class, but that didn't seem to help. I thought there was also some kind 
of "recording command" superclass that I could extend that would update 
the view to match the model. Any advice would be most appreciated.

many thanks,
Greg Jansen
UNC Chapel Hill