Source Role

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This description refers to the role of the Source element in a relationship, but applies equally to the role of the Target element.

A link can have certain properties assigned to one end, and be associated with the particular role that element plays in the relationship. You can enter details about this role to further develop your model.

Set Source Role Details

To set the source role details, follow the steps below:

1.Double-click on a connector. The Connection Properties dialog displays.
2.Select the Source Role tab.
3.Enter the required details and click on the OK button.
 
AssociationPropertiesDialog
 

Field

Description

<Type> Role

Type the name of the role to be played.

Role Notes

Type any required notes about the role.

Derived Union

Select this checkbox if the role value or values can be computed from other information.

Owned

Select this checkbox if the role is owned by the opposite class as opposed to the association.

Derived Union

Select this checkbox if the role is derived from the properties that subset it.

Multiplicity

Type a value, or click on the drop-down arrow and select the role multiplicity. (You can define the values of this field on the Cardinality tab of the UML Types dialog.)

This is the range of instances of the role that can be active in the relationship; for example, one employee can be assigned to tasks; for the target role you define the range of instances (e.g. tasks) the employee could be assigned to.

The  values have the following formats:

·*, or 0..* - zero, one or many instances
·0..n - zero or up to n instances, but no more than n
·n - exactly n instances
·n..* - n, or more than n instances.

Note that you can also define source and target element multiplicity in the element Attribute properties.

Ordered

Select this checkbox if the role is a list and the list is ordered.

Allow Duplicates

Select this checkbox if the role can contain duplicate elements (relevant only if multiplicity is > 1).

Containment

Select the nature of the containment at the Destination (reference, value...).

Access

Select the access level for the role.

Aggregation

Select the type of aggregation that this role uses.

Target Scope

Select the level at which this role applies (instance or classifier).

Navigability

Select whether or not this role is navigable (non-navigable ends are shown depending on diagram properties).

Changeable

Select whether this role is subject to change.

Constraints

Type any constraint on the role.

Qualifier

Type any qualifiers or restrictions on the role.  Separate multiple qualifiers with a semi-colon.

Stereotype

Type or select any stereotype that applies to this end of the association.

Member Type

Type a role type that can be used when generating collection classes for multiplicity > 1.

Note: Source role details are displayed at the start end of a connector. If you have drawn the link the wrong way, you can always use the Reverse Direction menu  option from the connector context menu.