UML Attribute Properties dialog box (Attribute category)

Name

Type or edit an identifier string as a name for the attribute. Typically, attribute names begin with a small letter, for example, maximum-size or color.

Stereotype

Choose the stereotype you want from the drop-down list. If a stereotype you want to use isn't listed, you can add a new stereotype or edit an existing one by clicking Stereotypes on the UML menu.

Prefix

Type any language-specific annotation text here you want to use to further identify an attribute.

Suffix

Type any language-specific annotation text here you want to use to further identify an attribute.

Type

Choose an implementation type for the attribute. If the data type you want isn't listed, right-click a data types package in the tree view in the Model Explorer, point to New and then choose DataType, or create a new class.

Expression

Displays the result of data you've added under Prefix, Type, and Suffix.

Visibility

Choose the visibility (public, private, or protected) that applies to the attribute. Public means the attribute is publicly available to any class. Protected means the attribute is available inside the class and to its subclasses. Private means that the attribute can only be used inside the class.

Multiplicity

Choose the possible number of data values that can be held by an instance. If the multiplicity is 1, then the attribute holds exactly one value.

InitialValue

Type the value of the attribute upon initialization.

Changeable

Changeable indicates whether the attribute value can be modified after the element is created. None means no restrictions on modification. Frozen means the value can't be altered after the element and its values are instantiated. AddOnly is meaningful only when the multiplicity is not fixed to a single value. It means that additional values can be added but, once added, cannot be removed or altered.

OwnerScope

Choose Instance if each object created by the class has its own value of the attribute. Choose Classifier for owner scope if the attribute value is owned by the class itself. A classifier-scope attribute is underlined.

TargetScope

Choose Instance if the attribute value is an instance of its data type. Choose Classifier for target scope if the attribute value is the type itself.

Documentation

Type any documentation you want to add to the element as a tagged value. When you select the shape or icon representing the element, the documentation you type here also appears in the Documentation window.