Updating XAL
When the scenario changes after the XAL has already been generated, use Update XAL to propagate the changes to the existing file without regenerating from scratch.
When Update XAL appears
The action button in the scenario tab changes label and colour based on the alignment state of the two artefacts:
| Button label | Colour | State | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generate XAL | Green | Enabled | No XAL file exists yet (NO_XAL), or the existing XAL was uploaded manually without a generation history (OUTDATED_UPLOAD) |
| Update XAL | Green | Disabled | Scenario and XAL are aligned — no action needed |
| Update XAL | Yellow | Enabled | The scenario has been modified since the last generation — the XAL is out of date (SCENARIO_AHEAD) |
| Update XAL | Yellow | Disabled | The XAL has been manually edited after generation — use Sync Scenario instead (XAL_MODIFIED) |
| Update XAL | Yellow | Enabled | Both artefacts have been modified independently — a confirmation is required before proceeding (DIVERGED) |
The yellow colour is a visual signal that the two artefacts are out of sync. Click Update XAL to bring the XAL back in line with the scenario.
What is different from Generate XAL
When generating for the first time, Arianna builds the automaton graph from scratch. When updating, it receives the existing graph alongside the new scenario and produces only the changes required — preserving unchanged states, transitions, and node identifiers.
This surgical approach avoids unnecessary restructuring of an automaton that may already be partially or fully correct.
The context Arianna receives depends on what is available in the current session:
| Available | Context passed to Arianna |
|---|---|
.dot file from a previous generation |
New scenario + existing .dot (preferred — most structural context) |
No .dot, but XAL exists |
New scenario + existing XAL (used as structural reference) |
The .dot file is retained internally by the session after each generation. It is not shown in the repository explorer, but it is used automatically by Update XAL when available.
After updating
The XAL file is overwritten with the new version and reloaded in the graph. The alignment indicator returns to green.
If the update introduces validation errors, the same automatic retry and download fallback as a fresh generation applies.