How do I formally document a C# Attribute in UML?

Question

What is the proper way to document a C# Attribute on a class in a UML class diagram?

@Artur: if you have a problem, take it to http://meta.stackoverflow.com/, and then add a comment here with the link to your question there. — John Saunders, Jan 22 '11 at 04:41
@John Saunders: Phank you, I think it will be helpful for you too — Alan Turing, Jan 22 '11 at 04:58

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 22 '11 at 03:55

2

I haven't decided if this is my answer, but I figured I'd throw it out there for sake of discussion. Does this look acceptable?

alt text

Its an instance of the attribute type with the metadata values put into tagged values below. I just figured out how to add custom stereo types. The arrow is just a dependency arrow that is labeled as "applies".

answered Jan 22 '11 at 03:55

Jordan

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This is a dependency, by the way, on a diagram above – Alan Turing Jan 22 '11 at 04:06
You know, I've got a personal hater here, so i think it will not do the trick ;) I think you saw this obvious things first, and this looks like a dependency, so even dependency injection mechanisms sometimes can use attributes, that means something, actually ;) – Alan Turing Jan 22 '11 at 04:15
I like your post. By the way, UML is desighend to be capable, at least, describe weak dependencies, for example, between C# classes and class attributes. – Alan Turing Jan 22 '11 at 04:54
@Artur: This is dependency injection actually. I'm using MEF. ExportViewMetadataAttribute extends ExportAttribute. – Jordan Jan 22 '11 at 04:55

John Saunders · Answer 2 · 2011-01-22T04:37:31.283

I don't know if this is "standard", except that it uses a standard feature from UML:

Sparx Enterprise Architect, when reverse-engineering, for instance, a unit test class, uses tagged values for the attributes. A tagged value "Attribute" on the class, has the name of the attribute as a value, for instance, "[TestClass]". Similarly, "Attribute = [TestMethod]" is placed on the methods. An example would be:

[TestClass]
public class MyTests
{
    [TestMethod]
    public void DoSomeTest()
    {
    }
}

In this example, [TestClass] and [TestMethod] are .NET attributes (not UML attributes). They are short for [TestClassAttribute] and [TestMethodAttribute]. Both are classes deriving from the System.Attribute class.

An attribute simply adds metadata to the assembly. By itself, it has no runtime behavior.

How do I formally document a C# Attribute in UML?

2 Answers2

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