In a message sequence chart it is often important to segment the process into multiple logical parts. You can use the ‘---’ element to draw a horizontal line acorss the chart with some text, e.g., to summarize what have been achieved so far.
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Similar to this, using the ‘...’ element can express the passage of time by making the vertical lines dotted.
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Sometimes one merely wants to add some text to a chart. In that case the empty element can be used either like ‘: text;’. The symbol ‘|||’ simply inserts an empty row.
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The above construct always places the text in the middle of the chart. Smaller
chart explanations are better done via the text at
command.
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More options to comment and annotate your chart can be found in Annotating the Chart.