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

Define Parameters

Within the properties of an operation, Activity or Interaction, you can define parameters to control how that object and its subordinate objects behave.

The order or sequence of the parameters in the object properties is reproduced in code. You can set and manage the order using facilities available within the Parameter tab of the object Features dialog.

Access     In diagram or Project Browser:
 
Click on element | Element | Operations (F10) > Operations > Parameters or
Right-click on element | Features & Properties | Operations > Operations > Parameters
 

Define the Parameters

Field/Option/Button

Action

See also

Parameter

Overtype the New Parameter text with the new parameter name.

 

 

Type

Click on the drop-down arrow and click on:

·The required data type of the operation, as defined by the code language (data type)  or
·<none> for no type (or you can type in a value manually if you prefer), or
·Select Type and browse for the appropriate operation classifier (you can add a new one if there are no classifiers that suit)

 

To add new code language data types that can be displayed in this list, see the Data Types topic.

 

 

 
 

Select <item> Dialog

 

 
Data Types

Default Value

(Optional) Type a default value for the parameter.

 

 

Stereotype

(Optional) Type in the appropriate stereotype name, or click on the Browse ( ... ) button and select one using the Stereotype Selector.

 

 

Alias

(Optional) Type an alternative name or reference for the parameter.

 

 

Direction

Click on the drop-down arrow and select the way the parameter is passed to a function:

·In = By Value
·InOut = By Reference
·Out = Passed By Reference, but only the return value is significant
·Return - Indicates that the parameter is a returned value

 

 

 

Operation Parameters by Reference

Fixed Value

Click on the drop-down arrow and select True, even if the parameter passed by reference.

 

 

Multiplicity

Click on the Selector button ( ... ) to display the Multiplicity dialog (see below), and specify the multiplicity of the parameter.

 

 

Notes

Click on the Selector button ( ... ) and type any additional notes on the parameter. These notes are unformatted.

 

 

Define Multiplicity

Field/Option

Action

See also

Lower bound

Type a lower limit to the number of elements allowed in the collection.

 

 

Upper bound

Type an upper limit to the number of elements allowed in the collection.

 

 

Allow Duplicates

Select the checkbox if you want to allow duplicates.

This maps to the UML property isUnique, value FALSE.

 

 

Multiplicity is Ordered

Select the checkbox if you want to indicate that the collection is ordered.

 

 

OK

Click on this button to save the changes and close the dialog.

 

 

Notes

·To organize parameters into the required sequence, and reorganize the display of information, right-click on the background of the Parameter tab or on a specific parameter and select from the same context menu options as for the Operations panel
·Set the amount of parameter detail to display in a specific diagram using the Show Parameter Detail drop-down list on the Features tab of the Diagram Properties dialog; the setting applies only to the current diagram, and the default is to show the type only
·You can set Tagged Values on a parameter, as well as on the parent operation

 

Learn more