Working with an Instance Specification - UML 2.0

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You can instantiate a classifier using the Object Inspector or the in-place editor.

Use the following techniques with an instance specification:

1. Instantiate a classifier using the Object Inspector.
2. Instantiate a classifier using the in-place editor.
3. Define the features of an instance specification.
4. Add a slot to an instance specification element.
5. Associate a slot with a structural feature.
6. Set the slot value.
7. Define the slot stereotype.

To instantiate a classifier using the Object Inspector

1. Select an instance specification in your diagram.
2. In the General node of the Object Inspector, select the instantiates field.
3. Click the chooser button.
4. In the Choose Class or Interface for Type dialog box, select the classifiers from the available contents, using the Add and Remove buttons.
5. Click OK when ready.

To instantiate a classifier using the in-place editor

1. Select an instance specification in your diagram.
2. Press F2 to open the in-place editor. Alternatively, click twice on the instance specification name.
3. Type the name of an existing classifier, delimited by a colon, next to the instance specification name. For example, InstanceSpecifcation1:Class1.
4. Press Enter.

To define the features of an instance specification

1. Insert slots into an instance specification element.
2. Associate the slots with the attributes of the instantiated classifiers.
3. Set the value and define the slot stereotype.

To add a slot to an instance specification element

1. Add an instance specification element to your diagram.
2. Right-click the instance specification element on your diagram and choose New > Slot on the context menu.

To associate a slot with a structural feature

1. Select a slot in an instance specification element.
2. Expand the General node of the Object Inspector.
3. In the defining feature field, click the chooser button.
4. In the Choose Attribute for Defining Feature dialog box, select the desired attribute and click OK.

To set the slot value

1. Choose a slot.
2. Do one of the following:
   • In the Object Inspector of the slot, type the desired string in the value field.
   • Invoke the in-place editor for the slot and type the value next to the slot name, delimited by an equal sign.

To define the slot stereotype

1. In the Object Inspector of the slot, expand the General node.
2. In the Stereotype filed, enter the stereotype value.

See Also

• UML 2.0 Class Diagram
• UML 2.0 Interaction Diagrams
• UML 2.0 Component Diagrams
• UML 2.0 Composite Structure Diagrams