Display Options FAQs

This UML specification contains presentation options so that the user can select which display option they prefer. This means that it is in no way possible to specify what each individual element should look like.

A wide variety of conventions have also come about in practice which specify which display options should be used when.

Example: Associations

The names of the associations and their read direction are important factors when analyzing diagrams, whereas the role names are not; this is the other way round in design diagrams.

Graphic depiction of nodes and edges is set with the Diagram Notation and SERM Edge Notation for Entity Relationship and Data Vault diagrams.

Graphic depiction is set with the Diagram Notation display option (Innovator or Standard) for BPMN diagrams.

The display options available for a specific diagram stereotype for a specific graphical element are essentially specified by the model elements assigned using the Diagram Contents relationship role.

A wide array of rules can be defined according to the following pattern for setting how an element should be displayed:

• If a graphical element represents a model element with a certain stereotype then the rule which was set for this graphical element-stereotype combination applies, as do all rules which apply for any graphical elements of this type ("*" rules).
• As well as the stereotype, other properties of the graphical element or model element should be taken into consideration so that a rule can be used; along with the stereotype, these make up the other parameters of a rule

Graphic depiction is set with the Diagram Notation and SERM Edge Notation for elements in Entity Relationship and Data Vault diagrams.

Graphic depiction is set to BPMN standard notation with the Diagram Notation display option for elements in BPMN standard notation.

A list of the defined rules in a pre-defined order (from top to bottom) is searched through until the first suitable rule is found which matches a statement about the display option being searched for; this is done to determine the value of a special display option for a graphical element.

Each of these rules was stored in the configuration by entering values for their parameters. Only using these rules can you fully determine which display options are even available. Generally speaking this means that special display options are not available if parameter values are not entered.

A rule is set for display options available using the configuration; this specifies whether

• A value is assigned for it
• It should be used at all (by explicitly setting a Boolean value to "No") or
• The setting of another rule is allowed (by not using the display option in this rule)

The default settings then apply:

• New Entity Relationship and Data Vault diagrams are displayed in the Standard SERM notation
• BPMN diagrams have the Innovator display
• Font and color is "DefaultFixed, black"
• The value is set to "No" for all Boolean options
• The first value is taken for options with fixed enumerated values

The "Composed Name" setting needs to be selected for "Display Name Type" in order to display the parameters of an operation as well as its name. Then, both "Name" and "Parameters" are added as values for "Component of display name".

The display option of the same name in the "Parameter" level below regulates how the parameter names are displayed according to a rule (e.g. for "*" or a special parameter stereotype).

To now display the parameter type, too, the "Component of display name" display option must be defined one level deeper in the context of a rule for the type and must be set to the value "Name".

In order to display the roles of a relationship as well as its name, the "Composed Name" setting must be chosen for "Display Name Type".

To display the name, properties or multiplicity of a role, the corresponding display option must be defined one level deeper ("Display of role names", "Display of Role Properties", or "Display of role multiplicity").

The following priority ruling applies:

• If the values are defined in various profiles then the values from the profile which is the highest in the configuration's sort order apply.
• If the values are defined in various rules within the same profile then the values of the rule which is the highest in the graphical element type's sort order apply.
• If the values are defined within the same rule then the value which is highest in the display options' sort order applies.

Always compliant. There is no point carrying out an exact comparison for abstract stereotypes. If a sub stereotype should be treated differently for an instantiated stereotype, a rule can then be set for it which will then be higher up in the evaluation order.

You do not set a value for this parameter. Such parameter values are shown with "*" in the dialog.