Structured Specification Tab

Note:

An entry for the basic path displays in the Entry Points tab, as Step 0 with no value in the Join column (the basic path does not rejoin itself).

Note:

The values in the Uses, Results and State columns, whilst optional, are significant if you want to generate a diagram from the specification. If you type the name of an element linked to the current element (and listed in the Context References tab), the element name is highlighted and underlined.

Icon

Use to

Save changes to the scenario specification.

Display the basic path specification (only if another specification is currently displayed).

(Only enabled when the basic path is displayed - you cannot add an alternate path to another alternate path or an exception path.)

Create a branch from the selected step to an alternate path scenario - select the path from the displayed list. If the appropriate scenario does not yet exist, double-click on the new path line and type the scenario name, then click off the line and back on to it. Click on the OK button.

(Only enabled when the basic path is displayed - you cannot add an exception path to another exception path or an alternate path.)

Create a branch from the selected step to an exception path scenario - select the path from the displayed list. If the appropriate scenario does not yet exist, double-click on the new path line and type the scenario name, then click off the line and back on to it. Click on the OK button.

Move the currently-selected step one place up.

Move the currently-selected step one place down.

Display a list of diagrams that you can generate from the scenario; select the type of diagram that you want to generate.

Generate Test Cases based on this Use Case scenario; you can generate either internal Test Cases or External Test Cases.

Delete the selected step from the scenario.

Display the Help topic for this tab.

Option

Use to

Create Structure From Clipboard Text - New Lines

Create Structure From Clipboard Text - Sentences

Generate a set of steps from a text description or list captured on the clipboard. A new step is generated:

• after each carriage return in the captured text (New Lines), or
• for each sentence in the text; that is, after each full stop/space/capital letter combination (Sentences).

If a set of steps is already displayed, it is overwritten by the generated steps.

Create Structure From Generated Activity Diagram

Generate a set of steps from an Activity Diagram created for a Use Case.

If a set of steps is already displayed, it is overwritten by the generated steps.

Add Alternate Path

Create a branch from the selected basic path step to an alternate path (see previously).

Add Exception Path

Create a branch from the selected basic path step to an exception path (see previously).

Set Step As 'User'
Set Step As 'System'

Switch the entity responsible for performing the action of the selected step between user and system.

Link Step to Use Case

Either include the actions of an existing Use Case element, extend an existing Use Case element, or invoke a Use Case as the action of the selected step. Selecting the appropriate sub-option displays the Select Use Case dialog, which you use to browse for and select the required Use Case element.

The appropriate includes, extends or invokes stereotyped connector is created between the current element and the selected Use Case.

For the include and extend actions, any text in the Action field is overwritten by the link to the Use Case. For the invoke action, the following link is added to the end of the Action text:

[Invokes: <Use Case Name>]

Merge With Step

Merge the selected step with another. A list of the other steps in the scenario displays; click on the step to merge with the selected step.

Move After Step

Move the selected step to another position in the scenario. A list of the other steps in the scenario displays; click on the step after which to position the selected step.

Delete

Delete the selected step. A prompt displays to confirm the deletion. Any subsequent steps are moved up one place.

Option

Use to

Create

Create a glossary definition or a new element based on the highlighted text.

Link Step to Use Case

Either incorporate the actions of an existing Use Case element, or extend an existing Use Case element, as the action of the selected step. Selecting the appropriate sub-option displays the Select Use Case dialog, which you use to browse for and select the required Use Case element.

Any text in the Action field is overwritten by the link to the Use Case.

Link to existing Element

(Uses and Results fields only.) Create a Realization or Dependency relationship to a Requirement, Feature or other element elsewhere in the model.

You select the element and connector types from submenu options, which then display the Select Element dialog, which you use to browse for and select the required element.

Insert Context Reference

Add a reference to an element stored elsewhere in the model, and create an entry for the element in the Context References tab.

Selecting this option displays the Select Element dialog, which you use to browse for and select the required reference element.

See also the Floating Toolbar section, below.

Insert glossary definition

Insert an existing glossary term at the cursor position. To select the term, double-click on it in the displayed list.

When you select the term it is inserted into the field as highlighted and underlined text, which displays the definition when you move the cursor over it. If you highlighted part of the original text, the term overwrites that text.

Split Step

Splits the selected step into two consecutive steps.

The option is available only if you highlight a portion of the text in the selected field. The new step takes the highlighted text as its Action text.

Search for <text>

Displays a sub-menu of options for locating the selected text in a number of locations.

Undo

Undo any unsaved changes you have just made in the step.

Cut

 
Perform simple editing operations on the highlighted text.

Copy

Paste

Delete

Select All

Option

Use to

Edit Path

Display the steps of the scenario in the Structured Specification tab, with the first step highlighted.

Join with Step

(Available only if the basic path scenario is displayed in the Structured Specification tab. Not available to edit the basic path scenario.)

Highlight the Join field and its drop-down arrow. Click on the drop-down to define or change the step number at which the alternate or exception path rejoins the basic path. Select End if the path does not rejoin the basic path steps.

Delete

(Available only if the basic path scenario is displayed in the Structured Specification tab. Not available to delete the basic path.)

Delete the relationship between the selected path and the basic path, and remove the entry from the Entry Points tab.