Model Parts, Diagrams, Dictionary Items, and Properties > Dictionary items > Create link action (dictionary item)
Create link action (dictionary item)
For automation interface information about a Create Link Action, see Action node (automation interface). For automation interface purposes, a Create Link Action is an Action Node that has its Node Type set to Create Link Action.
A Create Link Action is a write link action for creating links.
Create a Create Link Action through a Modeler explorer pane or an Activity Diagram:
• In a Modeler pane, right-click an Activity or Structured Activity Node, and select New > Action Node > Create Link Action.
• On an Activity Diagram: click the Create Link Action button, and then click in free space or inside an Activity Partition, Interruptible Activity Region or Structured Activity Node.
To access the Create Link Action button, click the arrow next to the Read Self Action button and click Create Link Action.
When you create a Create Link Action, you are prompted to select the Association that is created by the action. After creating a Create Link Action you cannot link that Create Link Action to a different Association. You can view which Association is linked to a Create Link Action through the Create Link Action's property pages: on the Items tab, select Linked Item.
On creation of a Create Link Action, Modeler creates two Input Pins:
• An Input Pin is created for the source Role of the Association that is linked to the Create Link Action. The name of this Input Pin is set to that of the source Role (its Linked Item), and the Input Pin's data type is set to the source item of the Association that is linked to the Create Link Action.
• An Input Pin is created for the end Role of the Association that is linked to the Create Link Action. The name of this Input Pin is set to that of the end Role (its Linked Item), and the Input Pin's data type is set to the destination item of the Association that is linked to the Create Link Action.
You cannot delete these Input Pins, and you cannot create any other Input Pins or Output Pins on a Create Link Action.
Modeler ensures that the name of each Input Pin matches the name of its Linked Item:
• If you change the name of the Input Pin, Modeler changes to the name of the Linked Item (source Role or end Role) to match.
• If you change the name of an Input Pin's Linked Item (source Role or end Role), Modeler changes the name of the Input Pin to match.
When used on an Activity Diagram, a Create Link Action's notation is as follows.
The View Options on an Activity Diagram allow you to show or hide the Name, Action Type and Linked Item Name. By default, the Action Type and Linked Item Name are shown. The view options are set through the Action Node entry. See Action node view options - activity diagram.
On an Activity Diagram, you can populate a Create Link Action's missing Activity Flows, Output Pins, Comments and Constraints: right-click the Create Link Action, point to Populate, and then click the appropriate command.
In the Dictionary pane, Create Link Actions are listed in the UML\Action Nodes folder.
In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol on the Create Link Action's icon indicates that the item is a stub.
The following sections provide information about how a Create Link Action is used in the model.
Properties
In addition to the standard properties a Create Link Action has these properties:
Owned by
Activity —The Activity that scopes the Create Link Action.
Structured Activity Node —Applies only when the Create Link Action is scoped directly to a Structured Activity Node.
Owns
Comment
Constraint
Control Flow —The Control Flow is owned jointly by the Create Link Action 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 Create Link Action and the other associated item. The access permissions you have to a Dependency are determined by the access permissions of the dependent item.
Exception Handler —The Exception Handler is owned jointly by the Create Link Action and the associated item. The access permissions you have to an Exception Handler are determined by the access permissions you have to its source item.
Input Pin —Only the two Input Pins that Modeler creates on creation of the Create Link Action.
IO Flow —The IO Flow is owned jointly by the Create Link Action, the IO Flow's other linked item and the IO Flow's IO 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, a Create Link Action can be linked to the following items.
Stereotype —To make a Create Link Action valid for a Stereotype, set up Action Node a valid item type.
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Like most other items in a Model, a Create Link Action 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.