UML Association Properties dialog box (Association category)

Use the Association category to select the association end for which you want to edit adornments.

Name

Type a name for the association.

Full Path

The UML Model Diagram template automatically provides full information about the element's path in the system model hierarchy. You can't edit this information but if you move elements the path automatically updates.

Name Reading Direction

Choose a reading direction (forward or backward) or choose none specified.

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.

End Count

A binary association has only two ends so you cannot change the end count here. For an n-ary association, choose the number of association ends you want.

Association Ends

Lists the association ends.

To quickly edit the most commonly used settings for an association end, click a field in the Association Ends list, and then select or type a value.

To access all of the settings for an association end, select the association end in the list, and then click Properties.

• End Name  Type an end name for the association end. The name indicates the role played by the class attached to the end.

• Aggregation  Choose the aggregation you want. Only one association end can be an aggregation.

• None means that the end is not an aggregate.

• Shared means that the end is an aggregate and that the other end is a part and must have the aggregation value of none. The part can be contained in other aggregates. Choosing this option adds a hollow diamond to the end.

• Composite means the end is a composite and that the other end is a part and must have an aggregation value of none. The part can't be part of any other composite. Choosing this option adds a filled diamond to the end.

• Visibility  Choose the type of visibility (public, private, or protected) that applies to the association end.

• Multiplicity  Choose an option to specify the number of target instances that can be associated with a single source instance across the association.

• IsNavigable  Select to indicate that navigation is supported toward the target instance. Selecting this option adds an arrow to the association end. Clear it to indicate that navigation is not supported. To decrease complexity in diagrams, navigability is often shown only in exceptional situations.

Properties

After you select an end, click to display the UML Association End Properties dialog box, which includes four categories you can use to add property values to define an association end: Association End, Qualifier Attributes, Constraints, and Tagged Values.