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 these properties from the existing stereotype:
- Tagged Values
- Shape Scripts
- Stereotype colors
- Metatype properties
Create a Stereotype extending a non-UML Object
Step |
Description |
See also |
---|---|---|
1 |
Identify the base UML type of the non-UML object that you want to extend. You can reveal an element's base UML type by deleting its Stereotypes. For example, create a SysML1.3 Block and, using the Properties window, delete the Block element's Stereotype. The element's type will change from Block to Class. |
|
2 |
In the Project Browser, locate the Package with the <<profile>> Stereotype and open its child diagram. If you do not have an existing <<profile>> Package, use the 'MDG Technology Builder' option in the Model Wizard to create a new technology, then open the diagram from the newly created <<profile>> Package. |
Using the Profile Helpers |
3 |
Drag the 'Metaclass' icon from the 'Profile' page of the Diagram Toolbox onto the diagram. The 'Extend Metaclass' dialog displays. |
Profile Toolbox |
4 |
Select the 'Stereotypes' tab. |
|
5 |
From the drop-down list, select the Profile to extend (for example, 'SysML1.3') and select the checkbox next to the non-UML Stereotype to extend (for example, 'Block'). Click on the . The appropriate Stereotype element is added to the Profile diagram. |
|
6 |
Add a new Stereotype by dragging the 'Add Stereotype Profile Helper' from the Diagram Toolbox. This will be the custom Stereotype that extends the non-UML type added to the diagram in step 5. When defining this Stereotype, add the Metaclass identified in step 1. For example, if you intend to extend a SysML Block, you would add the 'Class' Metaclass. When you have finished, the Stereotype element and Metaclass element are displayed on the Profile Diagram. |
Add Stereotypes and Metaclasses using Profile Helpers |
7 |
Draw a Generalize connector from the custom Stereotype added in step 6 to the non-UML Stereotype element added in step 5. |
|
8 |
Save the diagram as a Profile. |
Export a Profile |
9 |
Define a Toolbox Profile that has items for each of your Stereotypes. |
Create Toolbox Profiles using the Profile Helpers |
10 |
Incorporate the saved Profiles into an MDG Technology. |
Create MDG Technology File |
Example Stereotype Profile
This example shows a Stereotype Profile which defines the stereotype hardwareBlock. The hardwareBlock stereotype is an extension of SysML Block, from the SysML 1.3 MDG Technology.
Example Toolbox Profile
This example shows the Toolbox Profile which includes the hardwareBlock stereotype that is defined in the Stereotype Profile example above.
Notes
- When using a Shape Script to customize the Stereotype's appearance you can use the drawparentshape() method to render the shape that is defined for the non-UML object being extended
Learn more