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Properties of Elements in Use Case Diagrams

In a UML Use Case Diagram in Visual Studio Ultimate, 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 Use Case Diagrams. For more information about how to read UML activity diagrams, see UML Use Case Diagrams: Reference. For more information about how to draw UML activity diagrams, see UML Use Case 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 How to: Link from Model Elements to Work Items.

Description

(none)

All

You can make general notes about the element here.

Color

(default)

All

The color of the shape. Unlike other properties, this is a not a property of the element that the shape displays.

Image Path

(none)

Actor

The file path of an image that should be used instead of the default actor icon. The icon should be a resource file within the Visual Studio project.

Subjects

(none)

Use Case

The Subsystem or other type that owns the use case.

You can set it by placing the use case on a Subsystem in the diagram.

Visibility

Public

Use Case, Actor, Subsystem

Public - globally visible.

Package - visible within the package.

IsAbstract

False

Use Case, Actor, Subsystem

If true, the type cannot be instantiated, and is intended as a base for specialization by other definitions.

Is Indirectly Instantiated

True

Subsystem

The subsystem exists only as a design artifact. At run time, only its parts exist.

Hyperlink

(none)

Artifact

The URL or file path of the diagram or document to which the artifact provides a link.

For a list of the properties of associations, see Properties of Associations in UML Class Diagrams.

See Also

Concepts

UML Use Case Diagrams: Reference

UML Use Case Diagrams: Guidelines