Object shape

In a static structure diagram, an object represents a particular instance of a class. An object has a name, which is underlined to indicate an instance-level element, and attributes.

Objects usually appear in conceptual models (where they represent real-world concepts and do not specify behavior) or in object diagrams that show a snapshot of a system at a point in time. In class diagrams, objects are used mainly to show examples of data structures.

Name an Object shape and add other property values

Open the element's UML Properties dialog box by double-clicking the icon that represents the element in the tree view or the shape that represents the element in a diagram.

Tip: Control which property values display on a shape in a diagram by right-clicking the shape, and then clicking Shape Display Options. In the UML Shape Display Options dialog box, select and clear options to display or hide property values.

In the Properties dialog box, use the Attribute Values category to edit an attribute associated with the class of which the object is an instance.

To quickly edit the most commonly used settings for an attribute, click a field in the Attributes list, and then select or type a value.

To access all of the settings for an attribute, select the attribute in the Attribute Values table, and then click Properties.

Hide the attributes section of an Object shape

Right-click the shape, click Shape Display Options, and then, under Suppress, select Attributes.

Control which property values are displayed on the Object shape

Right-click the shape, click Shape Display Options, and then select or clear options to show or hide values.