For automation interface information about a Data Type, see
Class (automation interface). For automation interface purposes, a Data Type is a Class object that has its Is Structure attribute set to TRUE.
A data type is an abstract class that represents the general notion of being a data type, that is, a type whose instances are identified only by their value.
A Data Type can be assigned as a data type for an Attribute, Operation, Parameter or Type Definition.
You can create a Data Type in the following ways:
• Through the context menu of a Package: right-click the Package, point to New, point to UML, point to Structure, and then click Data Type.
• Through the context menu of a Class or Interface: right-click the item, point to New, and then click Data Type.
• Through a Class Diagram.
• By copying an existing Data Type. Modeler copies the Data Type's links, child items and child diagrams. For more information, see
Copying items.
When used on a Class Diagram, a Data Type's notation is as follows.
When a Data Type owns only Attributes or only Operations, the following notation is used.
Abstract Operations are shown in italic text.
If through the View Options some Attributes or Operations are not shown, the following notation is used.
If the Data Type models a template class, its Formal Parameters are displayed in a box that overlaps the top right corner of the Data Type.
In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol on the Data Type's icon indicates that the item is a
stub.
On a Class Diagram the View Options for a Data type allow you to show or hide:
• Attributes and Operations of a Data Type by access
• Access Characters
• Attribute Signatures and Operation Signatures.
For information about using a Signature to create a Return Type and Parameters for an Operation, and a Type and Default for an Attribute, see the links below:
When using in-place editing to change a signature on a Class Diagram, use the Ctrl+Enter keys to add a return and use the Enter keys to save the changes.
• Full Name
• Stereotypes
To help you work with Super Data Types and Sub Data Types, Modeler includes the Class View Browser. To open the Class View Browser for a Data Type, right-click the Data Type, and then click Browse Class. For more information about the Class View Browser, see
Class view browser.
The Items tab of a Data Type's Property Pages allows you to create Attributes and Operations.
The following sections provide information about how a Data Type is used in the model. For more information about a property, item, model part or diagram, click it.
Association — The Association is owned jointly by the Data Type and the associated item. The access permissions you have to an Association are determined by the access permissions you have to the item at the start end of the Association.
Dependency — The Dependency is owned jointly by the Data Type and the associated item. The access permissions you have to a Dependency are determined by the access permissions of the dependent item.
Generalization — The Generalization is owned jointly by the Data Type and the associated Data Type. The access permissions you have to a Generalization are determined by the access permissions you have to the sub Data Type.
IO Flow —The IO Flow is owned jointly by the IO Flow's source item, target item and IO Item, all of which can be a Data Type.
These items appear on the Concurrency Diagram. These items are linked with a Data Type so that Operations of the Data Type can be used to implement the item.
When used as a data type, Modeler creates a special link between the Data Type and the referencing item. You cannot navigate this link through the Links Editor.