| Prev | Next |
Metamodel Constraints and the Quick Linker
When you drag the Quick Linker arrow to create a relationship to another element, a menu of available connector types and - if no target element is selected on the diagram - a menu of available element types display. The tables in this topic show where the names of the connector and element types are drawn from when you have - or have not - provided values for the Metamodel constraint properties.
Rule Filtering
The metamodel constraints primarily define what connections are valid. The Quick Linker is built from these valid relationships and is then filtered in a number of ways in order to present the relevant relationships to the user.
Item |
Detail |
See also |
|---|---|---|
|
Toolbox Filtering |
By default for all new diagrams the elements and relationships offered by the Quick Linker are restricted to match the types available in the toolbox. This can be changed by the user on a diagram by selecting the Complete view for the diagram or unchecking the ' to Toolbox' option within the Quick Linker menu. |
Create Toolbox Profiles Custom Metamodel Diagram View |
|
Common Relationships |
Relationships defined with the _IsCommon property will not be offered as suggestions when a new element also needs to be created. These UML relationships include this behavior when they are used with a metarelationship:
|
Special Attributes |
Connector Labels
This table identifies the points from which the Quick Linker can retrieve names to display in the menu for the available connector types.
Item |
Detail |
See also |
|---|---|---|
|
Meaning Forwards and Meaning Backwards |
Stereotypes with values defined in the _MeaningForwards and _MeaningBackwards properties will use those values to describe the connector in the Quick Linker menu. Note: If _MeaningBackwards is not defined for a stereotype, the Quick Linker will offer an option to create the relationship in the backwards or reverse direction. |
Special Attributes |
|
Metatype Name |
Stereotypes with values defined in the _Metatype properties will use those values to describe the connector in the Quick Linker menu when no 'name' properties are defined. |
Define a Stereotype as a Metatype |
|
Stereotype Name |
If no _MeaningForwards, _MeaningBackwards or _Metatype values are defined, the stereotype name will be used as the menu label for a relationship. |
|
|
Metaclass Name |
When using a Metarelationship connector to include UML relationships between your stereotypes, you do not have control of the labels used for the relationship. The Quick Linker will use the same labels as are used when those relationships are available between UML elements. |
Element Labels
When you have dragged the Quick Linker to empty space, a menu displays the types of target element available. This table identifies where the Quick Linker retrieves names from to display in the menu of available elements.
Item |
Detail |
See also |
|---|---|---|
|
Metatype Name |
Stereotypes with values defined in the _metatype properties will use those values to describe the element in the Quick Linker menu. |
|
|
Stereotype Name |
If no _MeaningForwards, _MeaningBackwards or metatype values are defined, the name of the stereotype will be used as the menu label for an element. |
Define a Stereotype as a Metatype |
|
Metaclass Name |
When using a Metarelationship connector or Stereotypedrelationship connector to link your stereotypes to UML elements, you do not have control of the labels used for the element. The Quick Linker will use the same labels as are used when those elements are connected under UML. |