Call behavior action (dictionary item)

Model Parts, Diagrams, Dictionary Items, and Properties > Dictionary items > Call behavior action (dictionary item)

For automation interface information about a Call Behavior Action, see Action node (automation interface). For automation interface purposes, a Call Behavior Action is an Action Node that has its Node Type set to Call Behavior Action.

A Call Behavior Action invokes a behavior directly rather than invoking a behavioral feature that, in turn, results in the invocation of that behavior.

Create a Call Behavior Action through a Modeler explorer pane, an Activity Diagram or a Class Diagram:

• In a Modeler pane, right-click an Activity or Structured Activity Node, and select New > Action Node > Call Behavior Action.

• On an Activity Diagram tab:

◦ Click the

Call Behavior Action button, and then click in free space or inside an Activity Partition, Interruptible Activity Region or Structured Activity Node. You are prompted to select or create an Activity that is called by the Call Behavior Action.

◦ Drag the called Activity from a Modeler pane to the Activity Diagram, in free space or inside an Activity Partition, Interruptible Activity Region or Structured Activity Node.

• On a Class Diagram tab: click the

Composition button, click the calling Activity, and then click the called Activity. Modeler creates a Call Behavior Action for the calling Activity.

A Call Behavior Action's Linked Item is an Activity. On a Call Behavior Action, an Input Pin or Output Pin represents the Return Type or a Parameter of the Call Behavior Action's Activity:

• If when you create a Call Behavior Action you select an Activity that has a Return Type, Modeler creates an Output Pin named Return Pin. The Data Type of the Output Pin is set to the Return Type of the Activity.

• If when you create a Call Behavior Action you select an Activity that has Parameters, Modeler creates Input Pins and Output Pins on the Call Behavior Action for those Parameters.

Note that Modeler ensures that the name of an Input Pin or Output Pin that represents a Parameter matches the name of its linked item (a Parameter):

• If you change the name of the Input Pin or Output Pin, Modeler changes the name of the linked item to match.

• If you change the name of an Input Pin's or Output Pin's linked item, Modeler changes the name of the Input Pin or Output Pin to match.

When used on an Activity Diagram, a Call Behavior Action's notation is as follows.

The View Options on an Activity Diagram allow you to show the name, action type and name of the linked item. The view options are set through the Action Node entry. For more information, see Action node view options - activity diagram.

When an Activity calls another Activity through a Call Behavior Action, a Class Diagram can show that Call Behavior Action as a composite aggregation symbol that links the two Activities. When shown on a Class Diagram, a Call Behavior Action's notation is as follows:

The View Options on a Class Diagram allows you to show or hide the name of the Call Behavior Action. The View options are set through the Association entry. For more information, see Association view options - class diagram.

On an Activity Diagram, you can double-click a Call Behavior Action to open child and associated diagrams of the linked Activity.

On an Activity Diagram, you can populate a Call Behavior Action's missing Activity Flows, Input Pins, Output Pins, Comments and Constraints: right-click the Call Behavior Action, point to Populate, and then click the appropriate command.

When you create a Call Behavior Action you must create or select the Activity that is called by the Call Behavior Action. After creating a Call Behavior Action you cannot link that Call Behavior Action to a different Activity. You can view which Activity is linked to a Call Behavior Action through the Call Behavior Action's property pages: on the Items tab, select Linked Item.

In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol

on the Call Behavior Action's icon indicates that the item is a stub. For more information, see Stubs.

For information about creating Input Pins and Output Pins on a Call Behavior Action, see Creating an output pin.

Note In the Dictionary pane, Call Behavior Actions are listed in the UML\Action Node folder. To specify that a Stereotype can be applied to Call Behavior Actions, set up Action Node as a valid type.

In the Modeler panes, a short-cut symbol

on the Call Behavior Action's icon indicates that the item is a stub. For more information, see Stubs.

The following sections provide information about how a Call Behavior Action 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 Call Behavior Action has these properties:

• Synchronous (Is Synchronous through the automation interface)

• Visibility

Owned by

Activity - The Activity that scopes the Call Behavior Action.

Activity - The Activity that is the Linked Item for the Call Behavior Action.

Structured Activity Node - Applies only when the Call Behavior Action is scoped directly to a Structured Activity Node.

Owns

Comment

Constraint

Control Flow - The Control Flow is owned jointly by the Call Behavior 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 Call Behavior 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 Call Behavior 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.