Generalization Properties

You can modify an object's properties from its property sheet. To open a generalization property sheet, double-click its diagram symbol or its Browser entry in the Generalizations folder.

The General tab contains the following properties:

Property

Description

Name

Specifies the name of the item, which should be clear and meaningful, and should convey the item's purpose to non-technical users.

Code

Specifies the technical name of the object, which is used for generating code or scripts.

Comment

Descriptive comment for the object.

Parent

Specifies the parent object. You can use the tools to the right of the list to create an object, browse the complete tree of available objects or view the properties of the currently selected object.

Child

Specifies the child object. Click the Properties tool to the right of this box to access the property sheet of the specified object.

Stereotype

Extends the semantics of the object beyond the core UML definition. The stereotype <<implementation>> means that the child object inherits the implementation of the parent object but does not make its interfaces public, nor support them (thus violating its substitutability).

Visibility

Specifies the visibility of the object, how it is seen outside its enclosing namespace. You can choose between:


  • Private – only to the generalization itself

  • Protected – only to the generalization and its inherited objects

  • Package – to all objects contained within the same package

  • Public – to all objects (option by default)

Generate parent class as table

Selects the "Generate table" persistence option in the Detail tab of the parent class property sheet. If this option is not selected, the "Migrate columns" persistence option of the parent class is selected.

Generate child class as table

Selects the "Generate table" persistence option in the Detail tab of the child class property sheet. If this option is not selected, the "Migrate columns" persistence option of the child class is selected.

Discriminant Attribute

Specifies a persistent attribute (with a stereotype of <<specifying>>) in the parent table. Click the New tool to create a new attribute. This attribute will only be generated if the child table is not.

If the generalization is created in a use case diagram, you cannot change the type of objects linked by the generalization. For example, you cannot attach the dependency coming from a use case to a class, or an interface.


Created October 7, 2009. Send feedback on this help topic to Sybase Technical Publications: pubs@sybase.com