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Move Requirement External

Elements in Enterprise Architect can have internal requirements (responsibilities) that define what the element must accomplish. These can overlap or duplicate more formal requirements that the system in general must meet, so a modeler could decide to make an element's internal requirement into an external Requirement element. This is often done to allow a number of elements to implement the need expressed in the requirement. This can be achieved using the 'move external' function.

Access

On a diagram or in the Project Browser, select an element and:

Ribbon

Design > Element > Responsibilities > Requirements

Context Menu

Right-click on element | Properties | Responsibilities > Requirements

Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt+Enter > Requirements

Shift+Alt+R

Other

Double-click on element > Requirements

Change an element's internal requirement into an external requirement element

Step

Action

1

Right-click on the internal requirement to change to an external requirement.

A short context menu displays.

2

Click on the 'Move External' menu option.

The 'Find Package' dialog displays.

3

Locate and click on the Package to place the new Requirement element in.

4

Click on the OK button.

A new Requirement element is created in the target Package, with a Realization connector from the current element to the Requirement.

In the 'Properties' dialog, the Requirement is now marked with a 'Yes' in the 'External' column, and the dialog fields are disabled. To edit its details, double-click on the Requirement. The Requirement element's own 'Properties' dialog displays.

Notes

  • When an internal requirement is made into an external requirement element it is still viewable from within the element; any change to the external requirement will be reflected in the internal requirement and vice versa
  • When an internal requirement is made into an external requirement element, the 'Stability' field and its value for the internal requirement are translated into the Stability Tagged Value in the external requirement

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