Association(end).isID missing?

[Geert Bellekens]

A client of mine uses the isID property of an attribute to indicate a the fact that the attribute is a key for the element.
Now they also want to do this for associations. According to the UML specifications an association links 2 or more properties (=>association role). A Property has following attributes:

· aggregation : AggregationKind [1..1] = none
Specifies the kind of aggregation that applies to the Property.
· /isComposite : Boolean [1..1] = false
If isComposite is true, the object containing the attribute is a container for the object or value contained in the
attribute. This is a derived value, indicating whether the aggregation of the Property is composite or not.
· isDerived : Boolean [1..1] = false
Specifies whether the Property is derived, i.e., whether its value or values can be computed from other
information.
· isDerivedUnion : Boolean [1..1] = false
Specifies whether the property is derived as the union of all of the Properties that are constrained to subset it.
·[highlight] isID [/highlight]: Boolean [1..1] = false
True indicates this property can be used to uniquely identify an instance of the containing Class.

but I can't seem to find any checkbox or field on the association roles to indicate isID.

Am I missing something, or did I misunderstood something here? :-/

Since Simon makes sure EA follows the UML standard tot the letter I'm sure there must be something I overlooked.

Geert

[Paolo F Cantoni]

You won't find it in the DB as a field either.  But it may be held in one of the style fields.

Paolo

[Eve]

Since Simon makes sure EA follows the UML standard tot the letter I'm sure there must be something I overlooked.

I'm flattered, not infallible.

From what I can see: It can't be done in EA, and there's nothing in UML to say that it shouldn't be possible. The only restriction is that the end should be owned by the classifier, not the association. (Because to be part of the id it must be a member, which is defined by owns+imported)

For an immediate answer, adopting a convention for modelling this is probably the best you can do. (eg. Adding an isID tag on the end) If stereotypes on connector ends could shape script the labels for that end I would recommend that, but I think all shape scripts come from the association itself.

For a medium term solution, send the request in to us. I can't see any reason we can't get it added.

[Geert Bellekens]

Thank you Simon,

I'll send in the feature request.

Geert