Model Parts, Diagrams, Dictionary Items, and Properties > Dictionary items > Initial node (dictionary item)
Initial node (dictionary item)
For automation interface information about an Initial Node, see Control node (automation interface). For automation interface purposes, an Initial Node is a Control Node that has its Node Type set to Initial Node.
An Initial Node is a node at which flow starts when the activity is invoked. An Activity may have more than one Initial Node.
Create an Initial Node through a Modeler explorer pane or an Activity Diagram:
• In a Modeler pane, right-click an Activity or Structured Activity Node, and select New > Control Node > Initial Node.
• On an Activity Diagram, click the Initial Node button, and then click in free space or inside an Activity Partition, Interruptible Activity Region or Structured Activity Node.
When used on an Activity Diagram, an Initial Node's notation is as follows.
The View Options on an Activity Diagram allow you to show or hide the Name. In addition, the view options allow you to dock the Initial Node onto the boundary of an Activity Partition. The view options are set through the Control Node entry. See Control node view options - activity diagram.
On an Activity Diagram, you can populate an Initial Node's missing Activity Flows, Comments and Constraints: right-click the Initial Node, point to Populate, and then click the appropriate command.
In the Dictionary pane, Initial Nodes are listed in the UML\Control Nodes folder.
In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol on the Initial Node's icon indicates that the item is a stub.
The following sections provide information about how an Initial Node is used in the model. For more information about a property, item, model part or diagram, click it.
Properties
In addition to the standard properties an Initial Node has these properties.
Owned by
Activity
Structured Activity Node — Applies only when the Initial Node is scoped directly to a Structured Activity Node.
Owns
Comment
Constraint
Control Flow — The Control Flow is owned jointly by Initial Node and the associated item. The access permissions you have to a Control Flow are determined by the access permissions you have to its source item.
Dependency — The Dependency is owned jointly by the Initial Node and the other associated item. The access permissions you have to a Dependency are determined by the access permissions of the dependent item.
IO Flow — The IO Flow is owned jointly by the Initial Node, the IO Flow's other linked item and the IO Flow's IO Item.
Object Flow — The Object Flow is owned jointly by Initial Node and the associated item. The access permissions you have to an Object Flow are determined by the access permissions you have to its source item.
Defined in these parts of the model
Activity Model
Shown on these diagrams
Activity Diagram
Variant Diagram
Can be linked to these dictionary items
In addition to the owning Activity or Structured Activity Node, an Initial Node can be linked to the following items.
Stereotype — To make an Initial Node valid for a Stereotype, set up Control Node a valid item type.
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Creating an initial node
Overview of activity modeling
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