Properties Window for Attributes

The docked Properties window provides a convenient and immediate way to view and edit common properties of modeling objects, including attributes. When you click on an attribute in the Project Browser or a diagram, the Properties window immediately shows the attribute's properties on the 'Attribute' tab. You can also swiftly display the properties of other types of object such as elements, connectors and diagrams on the same window without having to open and close separate dialogs.

Access

Ribbon

After selecting the Properties window using one of these methods, click on the first required attribute.

Start > Explore > Properties > Properties or

Design > Element > Features > Attributes: right-click on an attribute | Properties window or

Show > Portals > Window > Properties > Properties

Keyboard

Alt+1, click on the required attribute

General Settings

Field	Description	See also
Name	Displays the name of the selected attribute. If necessary (for example, if it is a place-holder name) overtype this name with a new name.
Type	Displays the assigned type of the attribute. If necessary, click on the drop-down arrow and select either a different type, or the 'Select Type' option to display the 'Select Type' browser to locate a classifier element as the type.	Select Dialog Data Types
Stereotype	If the attribute has a stereotype, this field displays the stereotype name. To add or change the stereotype, click on the browse icon and use the 'Stereotype for <attributename>' dialog to select the stereotype from the appropriate profile.	Stereotype Selector
Scope	Displays the scope of the attribute. If you need to change the scope, click on the drop-down arrow at the right of the field and select the appropriate value.
Alias	Displays any alternative name or reference for the attribute. If you need to add or change the alias, overtype the field.
Initial Value	Displays the initial value of the attribute. If you need to add or change the value, overtype the field.

Advanced Settings

Field	Description	See also
Containment	Displays the type of containment specified for the attribute. If you need to change this setting, click on the drop-down arrow at the right of the field and select the appropriate value.
Static	The flag indicating if the attribute is a static member; to change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Property	If the attribute has automatic property creation, click on the button to define how it should be implemented for the programming language you are modeling for. The 'Create Property Implementation' dialog displays.	Create Properties
Const	The flag indicating if this attribute is constant (read-only, blocked from change). To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Is Literal	(For Enumeration elements.) The flag indicating if the attribute is an enumeration literal. To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Transient	(For Java code.) The flag indicating whether or not the attribute can change regardless of what the code is performing. To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Derived	The flag indicating whether the attribute is derived from one or more other attributes; for example, full name can be derived from the last name and first name attributes. To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Derived Union	The flag indicating if the attribute is a derived union (that is, derived from a strict union of all properties that are constrained to subset it). To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate. As an example, you might set this field to True for a Class 'Schoolbus' with an attribute 'Passengers [0..48]' that is a derived union with these attributes subsetting it: SeatedPassengers [0..36] StandingPassengers [0..10] WheelchairPassengers [0..2]
Is ID	The flag indicating whether the attribute can be used to uniquely identify an instance of the containing Class. To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Multiplicity	Click on the button to display the 'Multiplicity' dialog, and define the multiplicity of the attribute. Lower Bound - Type the lower limit to the number of attributes that must be in the collection Upper bound - Type the upper limit to the number of attributes allowed in the collection Allow Duplicates - Select the checkbox to indicate that duplicate values are allowed; this field maps to the UML property isUnique, with a value False Multiplicity is Ordered - Select the checkbox to indicate that the collection is ordered OK - Click on this button to save the information and close the dialog
Is Collection	The flag indicating whether the attribute is a collection (array), so that it can contain multiple concurrent values, or a single value. To change this flag, type 'F' or 'T' in the field, as appropriate.
Container Type	If the attribute is a collection, type the name of the container type for the collection.

Notes

By default, the attributes are listed in alphabetical order; before being able to change this sequence, you must deselect the 'Sort Features Alphabetically' checkbox on the 'Objects' page of the 'Preferences' dialog (select the 'Start > View > Preferences' ribbon option and then the 'Objects' page) - the system prompts you to allow it to make this change for you
The Properties window for attributes also has a 'Redefines' tab, which lists any Redefined Property or Subsetted Property added to the selected attribute; click on the appropriate Add button to add or change the properties in the lists, selecting each property from the 'Select Property' dialog
The window also has a 'Constraints' tab on which you define the constraints on the attribute

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