Data type (dictionary item)

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

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, and select New > UML > Structure > Data Type.

• Through the context menu of a Class or Interface: right-click the item, and select New > 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.

For information about the View Options available for this symbol, see Data type view options - class diagram

When used on a Composite Structure Diagram, the following notation is used.

On a Composite Structure Diagram, Data Types can be shown as frames through the Data Type's View Options.

For information about the View Options available for this symbol, see Class view options - class diagram

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:

◦ Using a parameter signature to specify properties

◦ Using an attribute signature to specify properties

◦ Using an event signature to specify name and parameters

◦ Using an operation signature to specify properties and parameters

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.

Properties

In addition to the standard properties, a Data Type has these properties:

• Abstract (Is Abstract through the automation interface)

• Attribute Order

• Formal Template Parameters (Parameters through the automation interface)

• Operation Order

• Persistent (Is Persistent through the automation interface)

• Template (Template Class through the automation interface)

• Template Specialization (Is Template Specialization through the automation interface)

• Template Specialization Parameters

• Type Definition Order (not accessible through the automation interface)

• Union (Is Union through the automation interface)

• Visibility

Owned by

Owns

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.

Attribute

Comment

Constraint

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.

Exception

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.

Operation

Role

Ternary Role — The Ternary Role is owned jointly by the Data Type and the associated Ternary Association.

Use Case

A Data Type can own the following diagrams:

Composite Structure Diagram

General Flow Diagram

Text Diagram

Use Case Diagram

Defined in these parts of the model

Class Model

Used in:

Concurrency Model

Object Interaction Model

Shown on these diagrams

Class Diagram

Composite Structure Diagram

Variant Diagram

For information about how the View Options affect the presentation of Data Types, see Data type view options - class diagram.

Can be linked to these dictionary items

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

Stereotype

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.

Like most other items in a Model, a Data Type 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.

Can be used as a data type for these items

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.