Creating aliases for diagrams, items and links in supported PTC profiles (Utilities profile)
For supported PTC Profiles, such as the UPDM, SysML and UML profiles, the Utilities profile allows you to create aliases of the diagrams, items and links that are created by those profiles.
Through aliases you can change how a diagram, item or link appears in Modeler, such as, its type name, its icon, and the command names used to create it.
You can define the following alias information for diagrams, items and links:
• For a diagram, item or link item, you can specify the following alias information:
◦ Name Alias - specifies a name for the type of the diagram, item or link. The name you specify is used for menu commands and diagram toolbar buttons that relate to the diagram, item or link.
◦ Icon - specifies the icon to use for the diagram, item or link when shown in Modeler panes, such as the Packages pane. The icon is also used for diagram toolbar buttons.
You can specify an icon through a model object reference to a Symbol Style that defines the icon, or through the path and name of an ico file.
◦ Keyword property - specifies the value of the Keyword property for the diagram, item or link
◦ Scoping Name - specifies the scoping name to use for the diagram, item or link. The Scoping Name is used for submenus that contain the commands that relate to the diagram, item or link.
• For a diagram, you can additionally specify the following alias information:
◦ Page Ref - specifies the value of the Page Reference property, as displayed on the General tab the Property Pages.
• For a link, you can additionally specify the following alias information:
◦ Start Items - specifies the command name that is used when creating the link from a source item.
◦ End Items - specifies the command name that is used when creating the link from a destination item.
To create aliases:
• Create alias text diagrams for defining aliases.
• Define aliases in the alias text diagrams.
• Apply the aliases to the model.
You can optionally apply the aliases to other models. In addition, you can make the profile package you create available for selection in the New Model and Add Profile dialogs.
To create alias text diagrams for defining aliases:
The 'UPDM for DoDAF', 'UPDM for MODAF', and 'UPDM for NAF' profiles use alias text diagrams to define aliases for the core UPDM Profile. You can your own create alias text diagrams for the UPDM profile only when the 'UPDM for DoDAF', 'UPDM for MODAF', and 'UPDM for NAF' profiles are not present in the model. If you change aliases that are applied by the 'UPDM for DoDAF', 'UPDM for MODAF', or 'UPDM for NAF' profiles, those changes will be lost when the profile is updated.
1. Create a Package to contain the alias text diagrams.
2. Open the Package's Property Pages, click the Options tab, and select the Profile Package check box.
3. Right-click the Package, point to Tools, point to Profile Extensions, and then click Create Alias Text Diagrams.
4. From the dialog, select the base Profile that contains the diagrams, items and links for which you want to create aliases, and then click OK
Modeler creates the Package structure of the selected base profile in your Package, and creates alias text diagrams for defining aliases for the diagrams, items and links that appear in that base profile.
To define an alias in an alias text diagram:
1. Locate the alias text diagram that allows you to define the alias for the required diagram, item or link.
2. To find the required alias text diagram:
a. In the PTC profile, locate the sub-Package that contains the Stereotype that defines the diagram, item or relationship for which you want to create an Alias.
b. In your Package, locate the sub-Package that mirrors the sub-Package from the PTC profile.
c. Within your sub-Package, locate the required alias text diagram.
The Diagram Stereotype Aliases text diagram defines aliases for diagrams, the Node Stereotype Aliases text diagram defines aliases for items, and the Link Stereotype Aliases text diagram defines aliases for links.
3. Open the required alias text diagram.
4. Locate the entry for the diagram, item or link for which you want to set up aliases.
5. Make the required changes to the entry. For example:
[Block] Name Alias = My Block Icon = Symbol Style for My Alias Keyword = Scoping Name = My Structure Items
For an Icon use a Symbol Style item to define the icon, and then add that Symbol Style to the alias text definition as a model object reference. You can add the model object reference by dragging the Symbol Style to the alias text diagram.
6. Save the alias text diagram.
To apply the aliases to the model:
1. In the Packages pane, right-click the model, and then click Reinitialize Profile Helper.
When you reinitialize the Profile Helper, Modeler applies your aliases to the menus, dialogs and messages in the user interface.
2. Right-click the PTC profile Package that you used as the base profile, point to Tools, point to Profile Extensions, and then click Apply Profile Aliases.
When you apply profile aliases, Modeler applies property and style settings to the Stereotypes and Tag Definitions in the profile. In addition, Modeler regenerates the toolbar button scripts.
To apply the aliases to other models:
1. Export the Package that contains the alias text diagrams.
To export the Package: right-click the model, point to Tools > Package Import/Export, and then click Export. On the dialog, click Yes to export sub-Packages.
2. In the model to which you want the aliases, import the exported Package.
To import the Package: right-click the Package, point to Tools > Package Import/Export, and then click Import. Select the top-level pkf file that is named <package name>_<package id>.pkf.
3. In the Packages pane, right-click the model, and then click Reinitialize Profile Helper.
4. Right-click the Package you imported, point to Tools, point to Profile Extensions, and then click Create Alias Text Diagrams.
