Tag definition (dictionary item)

For automation interface information about a Tag Definition, see Tag Definition.

Tag Definitions (and Stereotypes) provide a way of extending the properties and linking capabilities of items in a Model. For information about extensibility through stereotypes and tag definitions, see Overview of Extensibility through Profile, Stereotypes and Tag Definitions.

You can create a Tag Definition in the following ways:

• Through the context menu of a Package: right-click the Package, point to New, point to UML, point to Profiles, and then click Tag Definition.

• Through the context menu of a Stereotype: right-click a Stereotype, point to New, and then click Tag Definition.

After creating a Tag Definition it cannot be used until it is published. To publish a Tag Definition: On the Tag Definition's Property Pages, click the Usage tab, and then click Publish.

After publishing a Tag Definition:

• It cannot be renamed in a sandbox or in the trunk if there are unreconciled sandboxes.

If a Tag Definition is not linked to any Stereotypes that have model item types defined, you can publish that Tag Definition without database write access permissions; however, having published the Tag Definition, you require database write access permissions to make the Tag Definition useable, that is:

• Link the Tag Definition to a Stereotype that has model item types defined.

When a sub Stereotype inherits a Tag Definition through a Generalization, you can redefine that Tag Definition independently of the super Stereotype's Tag Definition. To redefine a Tag Definition: right-click the Tag Definition, and then click Redefine.

When shown on a Profile Diagram, a Tag Definition's notation is as follows:

For information about the View Options available for showing Tag Definitions on the Stereotype symbol, see Stereotype View Options.

If you apply a Tag Definition to an item that appears on a diagram, you can display the Tag Definitions on the diagram. For more information about displaying Stereotypes and Tag Definitions on a diagram, see Overview of Displaying Stereotypes and Tag Definitions on Diagrams.

In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol

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

You may experience problems if you apply a Tag Definition to an item and the Tag Definition's name matches an automation interface property name of that item.

The following sections provide information about how a Tag Definition is used in the model. For more information about a property, item, model part or diagram, click it.

In addition to the standard properties, a Tag Definition has these properties:

• Browsable — (Browseable through the automation interface)

• Data Type — (Tag Definition Type through the automation interface)

• Hidden — (Tag User Visible through the automation interface)

• Mergeable — (Tag Mergeable through the automation interface)

• Model Item Types — (Meta Model Type through the automation interface)

• Published — (Released through the automation interface)

• Read Only — (Tag Read Only through the automation interface)

• Values — (for Enumerations) (Enum Literals through the automation interface)

The advanced customization properties are as follows:

A Stereotype can appear on a diagram when it has been applied to an item that appears on a diagram.