Page title:Introduction

Caption:IBM Rational design patterns are applied to Unified Modeling Language 2.0 models to modify a design. To help you start, the IBM Rational patterns function contains Design Patterns and Sample Patterns.

Page text:Welcome. This tour offers you an overview of the tools and some of the pattern application and pattern author features. Creating and using patterns promotes software reuse; designing patterns once and using them many times. Tasks related to the pattern application are performed in the Modeling perspective using the Pattern Explorer view.


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Page title:Design and Sample Patterns

Caption:You can use the Design or Sample Patterns to practice applying different types of patterns and observe the results. The Design Patterns is a group of advanced patterns that you can apply.

Page text: The pattern is applied to elements in a Unified Modeling Language (UML) model to modify these model elements in a specific way. The Design Patterns capture frequently used or complex structures and processes. Using them helps eliminate redesign and promotes software consistency. Sample Patterns are also available in the Pattern Explorer view.


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Page title:Sample Patterns documentation

Caption:Another set of pattern samples is available for you to install from the Samples Gallery, the Patterns to apply sample.

Page text:The Sample Patterns are documented and you can open help files for patterns and parameters in the Pattern Explorer view. The documentation opens in the Help window. The documentation provides a good way to compare multiple pattern capabilities and requirements.


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Page title:Using the Apply Pattern wizard

Caption:When you use the Apply Pattern wizard, a pattern instance is created both in the diagram editor and in the model.

Page text:The Pattern Explorer is like a toolbox, that contains the tools necessary to create pattern instances. You can create a pattern using the Apply Pattern wizard.


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Page title:Dragging patterns

Caption:You can drag a pattern to a UML 2.0 model or to the diagram editor for a model. A pattern instance is created in the model, and also reflected in the diagram editor.

Page text: The Singleton pattern is unique and applying it to an element shows the power of patterns to modify elements. One of the methods for applying patterns is to drag the pattern onto an element.


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Page title:Using the Pattern Authoring view

Caption:You can open the Pattern Authoring view, which is required for creating patterns. When a Pattern Authoring plug-in project is created, a pattern library is also created. You can add one or more patterns to the library. You can also add one or more parameters, and specify one or more subtypes for the pattern.

Page text:Using the Pattern Authoring feature, you can create three types of patterns: Package, Class and Collaboration. You can also control the target types.


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Page title:Summary

Caption: Pattern authors can create a patterns library example under the new example plug-in project, the UML modeler plug-in examples section. To learn how to create patterns, authors can examine the sample source. The patterns can then be modified and would subsequently be displayed in the Pattern Explorer view of another run-time instance of the product.

Page text:The Pattern Explorer and Pattern Authoring views contain pattern user-assisted modeling features that help make creating complex patterns and applying them to UML models an easy exercise. They enable you to create effective patterns that can be applied to complex UML models.