Find Property

Searching for model elements using any number of properties.

Context

You can use the Find dialog to search for model elements which fulfill certain properties. This includes properties and stereotype properties. You can also limit the search to one element type.

For example, you can search for Processes (element type) with the Visibility (property name) "Public" (property value).

Properties are marked with an icon to identify the type. When you select a property that is an enumeration, the first selectable value is displayed.

If there are properties with the same name, enumerations are merged into a single property and their value sets are mixed up.

  • In the case of properties with the same name of the type "String", "Boolean Term", or "Integer", only one property is displayed; however, all elements of the element type that have the specified value are found.
  • In the case of properties with the same name but different types, all relevant properties are displayed - with the same name. They can then be distinguished by their icon.

If the value of a property is a string, you can define a placeholder instead of a specific value. To do this, enter any text between two $ signs, e.g. $Name$ for the name of a property. You can then specify a value for the placeholder when you run the search. This approach is advantageous when you are combining multiple properties and want to save the search and call it from the menu later.

Example

Element type: Class, Stereotype property: implementation, Name property: "$Name$".

At runtime, a dialog appears that asks for a value for Name. You then have the option to search for classes of a particular stereotype.

How to proceed

  1. Select Start>Browse>Find (Ctrl+F).

    The dialog of the same name appears.

  2. Select the Find Property tab.

  3. Deactivate the Itemize only instantiated types check box if you do not want to constrain the drop-down list of element types and stereotypes to the types used in the model.

    The search will not return any hits for types not used but it may be useful to deactivate if you want to save the search without it being linked to the current model.

  4. To consider a particular element type of the element, activate the Element Type radio button and select the type of elements being searched for from the Element Type drop-down list.

    Continue with step 6.

  5. To consider a particular stereotype when searching for elements, activate the Stereotype radio button and select the type of element being searched for from the Stereotype drop-down list.

  6. You can use the Conditions group to decide how individual conditions are linked. Activate the respective radio button for this. Each row in the table shows a condition. You can use the and buttons to add or remove other conditions.

    • Name: Select the desired property.

    • Operator: The available operators depend on the type of the property.

    • Value: Select the desired value or enter one. The value area depends on the type of property.

  7. If you do not want to restrict the search, select the Entire Innovator model entry from the Search Scope drop-down list in the Search Options group.

  8. If you want to constrain the search to selected elements and their subelements, e.g. a package, then select the Within selected area entry.

  9. If you want to constrain the search to selected elements, then select the Current selection only entry.

  10. If you want to constrain the search to the current content in the Result region, then select the In the result region entry.

  11. Activate the Overwrite result region check box in the Search Options group if you want the search hits to replace the previous content in the result region.

    If you do not do this, then the results are added to the previous results.

  12. Click on Find.

    The dialog remains open to continue your search or add new entries. You can continue to work normally in the model while the search is being carried out.