Mailbox (dictionary item)

Model Parts, Diagrams, Dictionary Items, and Properties > Dictionary items > Mailbox (dictionary item)

For automation interface information about a Mailbox, see Mailbox (automation interface).

A mailbox is a mechanism for transferring data between synchronized tasks, one task posting the information for another to pick up. The operations associated with a mailbox are:

• Post

• Pend

• Check

You can create a Mailbox through the context menu of a Package: right-click the Package, point to New, point to Proprietary, point to Concurrency, and then click Mailbox. In addition, you can create a Mailbox through a Concurrency Diagram.

When used on a diagram, a Mailbox's notation is as follows:

In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol

on the Mailbox's icon indicates that the item is a stub.

The following sections provide information about how a Mailbox 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, a Mailbox has these properties:

• Number of Instances

• Visibility

The Class box on the Options tab of a Mailbox's Property Pages shows the Class, Data Type or Interface that owns the Operations that implement the Mailbox.

Owned by

Owns

Dependency — The Dependency is owned jointly by the Mailbox and the other associated item. The access permissions you have to a Dependency are determined by the access permissions of the dependent item.

Defined in these parts of the model

Concurrency Model

Shown on these diagrams

Concurrency Diagram

Variant Diagram

Can be linked to these dictionary items

In addition to the owning Package or Model, a Mailbox can be linked to the following items.

Class — The linked Class contains the Operations required to implement the Mailbox (drag Class to Mailbox symbol on diagram).

Data Type — The linked Data Type contains the Operations required to implement the Mailbox (drag Data Type to Mailbox symbol on diagram).

Interface — The linked Interface contains the Operations required to implement the Mailbox (drag Interface to Mailbox symbol on diagram).

Stereotype

Like most other items in a Model, a Mailbox can be linked to an Activity Partition, Comment, Frame Box, General Node, General Flow, General Flow Diagram Node, Constraint (applied), General Flow Diagram Flow or Swimlane.