Define Properties of Operations

You create and modify the operations of an element on the 'Operations' tab of the 'Features' dialog. This tab itself contains panels and tabs that you can use to completely define the operations you need for an element. You can, however, simply create a number of operation names if you want to create operations quickly and not necessarily fully define them as you create them.

Access

Ribbon	Design > Element > Operations
Context Menu	Right-click element in diagram \| Features and Properties \| Operations or Right-click element in Project Browser \| Operations or Right-click operation in Project Browser \| Operation Properties
Keyboard Shortcuts	F10
Other	In Project Browser, double-click on an Operation

Create and define Operations

Field/Button	Action	See also
Name	Overtype the New Operation... text to create a new operation, or click on the name to edit an existing operation.
Parameters	Lists the parameters that have been defined for this operation on the 'Parameters' tab.	Define Parameters
Return Type	(This option is not shown for State or StateMachine elements.) Defaults to 'void'. To change this, overtype the field or click on the drop-down arrow and click on: The required data type returned by 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.	Data Types Select Dialog
Action	Define the action of the operation: do, exit or entry. (Displayed for operations of State or StateMachine elements.)	State Machine State
Scope	Click on the drop-down arrow and select one of: Public Protected Private Package
Stereotype	(Optional) Define one or more stereotypes for the operation; either: Type a stereotype name, or Click on the button and select the stereotype from the 'Stereotype Selector' dialog	Stereotype Selector
Alias	(Optional) Type an alternative name or reference for the operation.
Method <operation name> panel	Define the detailed properties of the selected operation.	Operation Details
Parameters tab	Define parameters to modify how the operation takes action.	Define Parameters
Notes tab	Enter any comments and discussion you want to record on the operation; you can format the notes text using the Notes toolbar at the top of the field. You can also perform a range of operations on the Notes text, using the 'Notes' context menu.	Notes Notes Toolbar
Behavior tab	Define the behavior or functionality of the operation.	Operation Behavior
Redefines tab	(Optional) In a Generalize relationship, configure the selected operation to redefine an operation in the target element. You can also set up the operation to check for an exception, and at that point switch control to a specified Classifier.	Redefine Operation and Check for Exceptions
Pre tab	Define pre-conditions that modify the action of the operation.	Operation Constraints
Post tab	Define post-conditions that modify the action of the operation.
Tagged Values tab	Define any Tagged Values that the operation has.	Operation Tagged Values
Close	Click on this button to close the 'Features' dialog, saving all information you have recorded in it.

Context Menu options

Right-click on the upper panel, or on a specific operation name.

Option	Action	See also
Add New	Add a new operation to the list, with default values in the dialog fields. Shortcut: Ctrl+N
Copy as New	Copy a selected operation as a new operation. Provide a new name for the operation and click on the OK button. Shortcut: Ctrl+C
Restore Sort Order	If you have used the column header arrows to reorganize the sequence in which the operations are displayed, click on this option to redisplay them in the default sequence (alphabetical by name).
Move up	Move the selected operation one row up the list. Shortcut: Ctrl+Up Arrow
Move down	Move the selected operation one row down the list. Shortcut: Ctrl+Down Arrow
Field Chooser	Display the 'Field Chooser' dialog, which contains any column headings not currently applied to the page. Drag a column heading from the 'Field Chooser' into the preferred position in the row of column headings. You can also drag the column headings into a different sequence. To return a column heading to the 'Field Chooser', drag it out of the heading row.	List Header
Enable Group Box	Show or hide the Group Box, in which you reorganize the list sequence of the operations according to one or more characteristics.
Toggle Filter Bar	Show or hide the Filter Bar, in which you type text strings that the data in the corresponding column must match in order to be listed.
Delete	Immediately delete the selected operation from the element. Shortcut: Ctrl+Del

Notes

This helps you when you want to create operations quickly and might not necessarily want to fully define each one as you create it

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