Attributes

Attributes define the properties or internal data elements of an element. Not all element types support attributes, and others have restrictions; for example, attributes of Interfaces must have Public scope. In the Project Browser, elements with attributes (typically Classes) have their attributes listed under the element name, each preceded by a blue box (). When depicted in diagrams, the attributes are listed in the first properties compartment of the element, as shown in this Customer Class example.

Attributes themselves have several important characteristics, such as type, scope (visibility), derivation and notes.

Access

Ribbon	Design > Element > Features > Attributes
Context Menu	Right-click element in Project Browser or diagram \| Features & Properties \| Attributes or Right-click attribute in Project Browser \| Properties \| Properties
Keyboard Shortcuts	F9
Other	In Project Browser, double-click on an Attribute

Maintain Attributes

Action	Detail	See also
Create and Modify Attributes	On the 'Attributes' page of the Features window, you create and modify attributes.	Create and Manage Attributes Attribute Tagged Values
Move and Copy Attributes	You can copy or move existing attributes between elements, if the target element also supports attributes.	Copy Features Between Elements Move Features Between Elements The Element Browser
Define Properties	You can create property implementations specific to your coding languages for each attribute.	Create Properties
Identify Inherited Attributes	The attributes of an element can be inherited from one or more successive parent elements in the model. On a diagram, you can show which attributes are inherited from which 'owning' element in the hierarchy.	Display Inherited Attributes

Notes

Attributes, with Operations, Receptions, Interaction Points and Connection Points, are collectively referred to as Features of an element
If you are creating many attributes, go to the 'Attribute/Operations' page of the 'Preferences' dialog ('Start >Settings > Preferences > Source Code Engineering > Attribute/Operations') and de-select the 'After save, re-select edited item' checkbox; now, when you create an attribute and click on the Save button, the 'Attribute' page fields clear ready for you to enter the details of the next attribute - this helps you when you want to create attributes quickly and might not necessarily want to fully define each one as you create it
If the parent element provides source or target roles for a connector, the connector can be attached to a specific attribute (as a feature)
An alternative method of creating relationships between elements and attributes is to drag an attribute onto an Activity diagram, which generates an Object element named after the attribute; you then create relationships to and from this Object element

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