Responsibilities

The Responsibility window provides a convenient method of quickly identifying, creating and deleting rules applied to an element. The window shows the name and main properties of the entities that impose such rules or restrictions on the element, namely the element's:

• Internal and external requirements
• Internal constraints (not external Constraint notes)
• Scenarios
• Files

Each entity type is listed on a separate tab of the window.

The Responsibility window is typically used to examine Use Case and Test Case elements, and any other elements that realize an internal Requirement.

Access

Select the element in the Browser window or diagram and select one of these options to display the Responsibility window:

The Requirements Tab

On the 'Requirements' tab you initially create the internal requirements of the selected element. If an internal requirement later proves to have broader scope, you can select a context menu option to convert it to an external Requirement element.

To add a requirement to the element, overtype the Add Requirement text with the name of the requirement, and then tab across the 'Status' and 'Priority' fields. These fields immediately default to 'Proposed' and 'Medium'; if you want to change either value immediately, click on the drop-down arrow at the right of the field and select the required value.

If you right-click on an internal requirement name, a context menu displays providing these options:

• Add New - to open the 'Requirements' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can define the requirement
• Modify Selected - to again open the 'Requirements' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can add or change the details of the requirement
• Move External - to display the 'Find Package' dialog, on which you locate a Package to hold the new external Requirement element
• Delete - to delete the requirement from the element; a prompt displays to confirm the deletion

If, however, you click on an external Requirement name, only two options are enabled, to locate the element either in the Browser window or in diagrams.

The Constraints Tab

On the 'Constraints' tab you can create the constraints of the selected element and set them in a required sequence.

To add a constraint to the element, overtype the Add Constraint text with the name of the constraint, and then tab across the 'Type and 'Status' fields. These fields immediately default to 'Invariant' and 'Approved'; if you want to change either value immediately, click on the drop-down arrow at the right of the field and select the required value.

If you right-click on a constraint name, a context menu displays providing these options:

• Add New - to open the 'Constraints' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can define the constraint
• Modify Selected - to again open the 'Constraints' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can add or change the details of the constraint
• Move Up and Move Down - to move the selected constraint into a different point in the list of constraints
• Delete - to delete the constraint from the element; a prompt displays to confirm the deletion

Moving Requirements and Constraints between elements

A requirement or constraint you define for one element might be usefully moved to another if, for example, you are moving your model through stages in a lifecycle or, indeed, modeling a lifecycle. It is possible to simply drag the requirement or constraint from either the appropriate tab of the Responsibility window or the 'Details' tab of the Inspector window, onto a different element on a diagram.

From the Browser window, open the diagram containing the target element, then click on the element from which to move the requirement or constraint. It is convenient to have both source and target elements on the same diagram, but it is possible to select the source element in the Browser window or on a different open diagram.

It is also convenient to have compartments enabled on the target element, with the 'requirement ' and/or 'constraints' compartments selected, so that you can observe the addition of the moved item. (Right-click on the element and select 'Compartment Visibility', then select the 'Requirements' and 'Constraints' checkboxes.)

Click on the item that you intend to move, and simply drag it onto the target element. The item name will display in the appropriate compartment of that element. What you would observe might resemble this illustration.

The Scenarios Tab

On the 'Scenarios' tab you can create the scenarios of the selected element. The first scenario you create here defaults to the Basic Path, and subsequent scenarios default to Alternate Paths. You cannot change the path type here, but if you edit the scenario elsewhere the tab reflects any changes you have made.

To add a scenario to the element, overtype the Add Scenario text with the name of the scenario. When you click off the name, the 'Type' field is automatically set, and the 'Structured Scenario' field is populated with an Edit button. To add details of the scenario steps, click on the Edit button to display the Scenarios view for the element - this is identical to the 'Scenarios' page of the 'Properties' dialog for the element.

You can add a description of the scenario using the Notes window; the 'Notes' field for the scenario is then updated with that text.

If you right-click on a scenario name, a context menu displays providing the option to delete the scenario. If you select this option, a prompt displays to confirm the deletion.

The Files Tab

On the 'Files' tab you can link to one or more files external to the repository. To link a file to an element, use the 'Add New' context menu.

If you right-click on a file name, a context menu displays providing these options:

• Add New - to open the 'Files' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can create a link to the file
• Modify Selected - to again open the 'Files' page of the element's 'Properties' dialog, where you can add or change the details of the file
• Launch File - to  open the file and read its content
• Delete - to delete the file from the element; a prompt displays to confirm the deletion

Learn more

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