Properties of elements on UML sequence diagrams
Note
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In a UML sequence diagram, each element on the diagram has properties. To see the properties of an element, right-click the element on the diagram or in UML Model Explorer and then click Properties. The properties appear in the Properties window.
Note
This topic is about the properties of elements in UML sequence diagrams. For more information about how to read UML sequence diagrams, see UML Sequence Diagrams: Reference. For more information about how to draw UML sequence diagrams, see UML Sequence Diagrams: Guidelines.
Properties of Elements
| Property | Default | Element | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | A default name | All | Identifies the element. |
| Qualified Name | Package :: Name | All | Identifies the element uniquely. Prefixed with the qualified name of the package that contains it. |
| Work Items | 0 associated | All | The number of work items associated with this element. To associate work items, see Link model elements and work items. |
| Description | (blank) | All | You can make general notes about the item here. |
| Color | (default for element type) | Lifeline, Message | The color of the shape. This is a property of the shape, rather than the element it displays. |
| Type | (blank) | Lifeline | The type of the instance that the lifeline represents. If there is a reference symbol displayed in the header of the lifeline, then this class or interface exists separately in UML Model Explorer, and can be displayed on a class diagram. |
| Actor | False | Lifeline | Indicates whether the lifeline represents a user, device or software component that is external to the component that the diagram is about. |
| Kind | Complete - a message that has both sender and receiver. Found - a message that has an unspecified sender. Lost - a message that has an unspecified receiver. |
Message | Indicates which ends of a message are attached to a lifeline. You cannot change this property. It is set when you create the message. |
| Sort | AsynchCall - an asynchronous message. SynchCall - a synchronous message. Reply - the return part of a synchronous message. CreateMessage - an instance creation message. |
Message | The type of message. You cannot change this property. It is determined by the tool that you use to create the message. |
| Operation | (empty) | Message | A method called by the message in the receiving lifeline. Visible only if the receiving lifeline is linked to an interface or a class. |
| Refers to | A sequence diagram | Interaction Use | The sequence diagram called by this interaction use. |
| Interaction Operator | Set when you used the Surround With command | Combined Fragment | The operator represented by this fragment or collection of fragments. |
| Guard | (empty) | Interaction Operand in a Combined Fragment | The sequence in the fragment will not occur unless the guard is true. To select the top fragment of any combined fragment, click underneath the fragment title. |
| Min, Max | (no restriction) | Loop Combined Fragment | The minimum and maximum number of times the loop is executed. |
| Messages | (empty) | Consider and Ignore Combined Fragments |
The messages that are considered or ignored in this fragment. |
See Also
UML Sequence Diagrams: Reference UML Sequence Diagrams: Guidelines Describe control flow with fragments on UML sequence diagrams