Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Create Stereotypes Extending non-UML Objects

A Profile is typically defined by extending Core UML object types to create your own modeling language or technology, however you can also extend non-UML objects defined by another existing technology such as Archimate, BPMN, or SysML.

Extending a non-UML object allows inheritance of the following properties from the existing stereotype:

Tagged Values
Shape Script
Stereotype Colors
Metatype properties

Create a Stereotype extending a non-UML Object

Step

Description

See also

1

In the Project Browser, locate the package with the <<profile>> stereotype and open it's child diagram.

If you do not have an existing <<profile>> package, use the MDG Technology Builder option in the Model Wizard dialog to create a new technology, then open the diagram from the newly created <<profile>> package.

 

Using the Profile Helpers

2

Drag the Metaclass icon from the Profile page of the Diagram Toolbox onto the diagram.

The Extend Metaclass dialog displays.

 

Profile Toolbox

3

Select the Stereotypes tab.

 

 

4

Select the Profile you wish to extend from the drop list.  (E.g. SysML1.3). Check the box next to the non-UML stereotype you want to extend (E.g. block).  Click on the OK button.

The appropriate Stereotype element is added to the profile diagram.

 

 

5

Add a new Stereotype by dragging the Add Stereotype Profile Helper from the Diagram Toolbox.

Enter a name for your custom stereotype (E.g. myBlock).  This will be the custom stereotype which extends the Non-UML type added to the diagram in step 4.  When defining this stereotype, do not add any metaclasses to the Extensions field.

Click the Next button twice, then click Finish.

 

Add Stereotypes and Metaclasses using Profile Helpers

6

Draw a Generalize connector from the Custom Stereotype added in step 5 to the non-UML Stereotype element added in step 4.

 

 

7

Save the diagram as a Profile.

 

Export Profile

8

Incorporate the saved Profile into an MDG Technology.

 

Create MDG Technology File

Notes

When using a shape script to customize the stereotype's appearance you can use drawparentshape() method to render the shape which is defined for the non-UML object being extended.
All non-UML objects themselves are an extension of a UML Type.  You can reveal an element's base UML Type by deleting it's stereotypes.  For example, create a SysML1.3 Block. Using the Properties Window, delete the Block element's stereotype.  The element's Type will change from Block to Class.  If the stereotype is used in a toolbox profile then this is the BaseUMLType which should be used when defining the toolbox item.

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