To create a link, there must be at least one association
that connects one of the base classes of the type of one of the objects
to a base class of the type of the second object.
Procedure
- Click the Link tool.
- Click the first object.
- Click the second object.
- If wanted, name the link and press Enter.
Results
The new link is created in the diagram,
and is displayed in the browser under the Link category. You
can drag-and-drop links in the browser to other classes and packages
as needed; however, you cannot create links in the browser.
The following figure shows links in an object model
diagram. Notice that links shown in dark green to distinguish them
from associations, which are drawn in red. In addition, the names
and multiplicity of links are underlined.
By default, the role name and multiplicity
of a link are not displayed. Right-click the link and select Display
Options to select the items you want to display.
Note the following behavior:
- Links can be drawn between two objects or ports
that belong to objects. One exception is the case when a link is drawn
between a port that belongs to a composite class and its part (or
a port of its part).
- When drawing a link, the product finds the association
that can be instantiated by the newly drawn link and automatically
maps the link to instantiate the association.
- If you draw a link between two objects with implicit
type and there no associations to instantiate, the product automatically
creates a new, symmetric association.