A node is a run-time physical object on which components may be
deployed. In the UML metamodel it is a sub-class of
Classifier
.
A node is represented on a class diagram as a three dimensional box, labeled with its name.
The details tabs that are active for nodes are as follows.
ToDoItem
Standard tab.
Properties
See Section 22.2.2, “Node Property Toolbar” and Section 22.2.3, “Property Fields For Node” below.
Documentation
Standard tab.
Style
Standard tab. The Bounds:
field
defines the bounding box for the node on the diagram.
![]() | Warning |
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Beware that in the 0.14 release of ArgoUML, the bounding box just refers to the front face of the cube. This means that the three dimensional top and side may be ignored, for example when determining the limits of a diagram for saving graphics. Altering the |
Source
Standard tab, but with no contents.
![]() | Caution |
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A node should not generate any code, so having this tab active is probably a mistake. |
Constraints
Standard tab. ArgoUML only supports constraints on Classes and Features (Attributes, Operations, Receptions, and Methods), so this tab is grayed out.
Tagged Values
Standard tab. In the UML metamodel,
Node
has the following standard tagged
values defined.
persistence
(from the
superclass, Classifier
). Values
transitory
, indicating state is
destroyed when an instance is destroyed or
persistent
, marking state is
preserved when an instance is destroyed.
semantics
(from the
superclass, Classifier
). The value is a
specification of the semantics of the
node.
derived
(from the
superclass, ModelElement
). Values
true
, meaning the node is
redundant—it can be formally derived from other
elements, or false
meaning it
cannot.
![]() | Note |
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Derived nodes still have their value in analysis to introduce useful names or concepts, and in design to avoid re-computation. |
![]() | Note |
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The UML |
Go
up
Navigate up through the package structure.
Delete
This deletes the node from the model
![]() | Warning |
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This is a deletion from the model
not just the diagram. To delete a node
from the diagram, but keep it within the model, use the main
menu |
Name
Text box. The name of the node. The name of a node has a leading capital letter, with words separated by “bumpy caps”.
![]() | Note |
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ArgoUML does not enforce this naming convention. |
Generalizations
Text area. Lists any node that generalizes this node.
Button 1 double click navigates to the generalization and opens its property tab.
Stereotype
Drop down selector. Node is a type of classifier,
and so it has the default stereotypes of a classifier
as defined in the UML standard.
ArgoUML provides the
standard
stereotypes
for a classifier:
metaclass
,
powertype
,
process
,
thread
and
utility
.
Navigate Stereotype
icon. If a
stereotype has been selected, this will navigate to the
stereotype property panel (see Section 15.4, “Stereotype”).
Modifiers
Check box, with entries abstract
,
leaf
and root
.
abstract
is used to declare
that this node cannot be instantiated, but must always be
specialized. The name of an abstract node is displayed in
italics on the diagram.
leaf
indicates that this
node cannot be further specialized.
root
indicates the node can
have no generalization.
Namespace
Drop down selector. Allows altering the namespace for the node. This is the package hierarchy.
Specializations
Text box. Lists any specialized node (i.e. for which this node is a generalization.
Components
Text box. Lists any components (see Section 22.4, “Component”) designed to be deployed on this type of node.
Button 1 click navigates to the selected entry, button 2 gives a pop up menu with three entries.
Open
. Navigate to the
selected component.
Move Up
. Only available where
there are two or more components, and the component selected is
not at the top. It is moved up one.
Move Down
. Only available where
there are two or more components listed, and the component
selected is not at the bottom. It is moved down
one.