Use Stereotypes and Profiles

Use profiles to add properties to components, ports, and connectors in System Composer™. Import an existing profile, apply stereotypes, and add property values. To create a profile, see Define Profiles and Stereotypes.

In this topic, you will learn how to:

1. Import profiles into a model or a dictionary.

2. Apply a stereotype to a model element and add property values.

3. Remove stereotypes using the Property Inspector.

4. Extend stereotypes with other stereotypes to include their properties through an inherited mechanism. For example, a UserInterface stereotype can be an extension of a SoftwareComponent stereotype, and add a property called ScreenResolution.

Import Profiles

The Profile Editor is independent from the model that opens it, so you must explicitly import a new profile into a model. The profile must first be saved with an .xml extension. Navigate to Modeling > Profiles > Import . Select the profile to import. An architecture model can use multiple profiles at once.

Alternatively, open the Profile Editor by navigating to Modeling > Profile Editor. You can import a profile into any open dictionaries or models.

Note

For a System Composer component that is linked to a Simulink^® behavior model, the profile must be imported into the Simulink model before applying a stereotype from it to the component. Since the Property Inspector on the Simulink side does not display stereotypes, this workflow is not finalized.

To manage profiles after they have been imported, navigate to Modeling > Profiles > Manage .

Apply Stereotypes

Apply stereotypes to architecture model elements using the Property Inspector or the Apply Stereotypes dialog. You can also quick-insert a new component with the stereotype applied. For information about applying stereotypes to functions in software architectures, see Apply Stereotypes to Functions of Software Architectures.

Apply a Stereotype using the Property Inspector

Once the profile is available in the model, open the Property Inspector by navigating to Modeling > Property Inspector. Select a model element.

In the Stereotype field, use the drop-down to select the stereotype. Only the stereotypes that apply to the current element type (for example, a port) are available for selection. If no stereotype exists, you can use the <new / edit> option to open the Profile Editor and create one.

When you apply a stereotype to an element, a new set of properties appears in the Property Inspector under the name of the stereotype. To edit the properties, expand this set.

You can set multiple stereotypes for each element.

Use Apply Stereotypes Dialog to Batch Apply Stereotypes

You can also apply component, port, connector, and interface stereotypes to all applicable elements at the same architecture level. Navigate to Modeling > Apply Stereotypes. In Apply Stereotypes, from Apply stereotype(s) to, select Top-level architecture, All elements, Components, Ports, Connectors, or Interfaces.

Note

The Interfaces option is only available if interfaces are defined in the Interface Editor. For more information, see Create Interfaces.

You can also apply stereotypes by selecting a single model element. From Scope, select Selection, This layer, or Entire model.

You can also apply stereotypes to data interfaces or value types. When interfaces are locally defined and you select one or more interfaces in the Interface Editor, the options for Scope are Selection and Local interfaces.

When interfaces are stored and shared across a data dictionary and you select one or more interfaces in the Interface Editor, the options for Scope are Selection and either dictionary.sldd or the name of the dictionary currently in use.

Note

For the stereotypes to display for interfaces in a dictionary, in the Apply Stereotypes dialog box, the profile must be imported into the dictionary.

Quick-Insert New Component with Stereotype Applied

You can also create a new component with an applied stereotype using the quick-insert menu. Select the stereotype as a fully qualified name. A component with that stereotype is created.

Remove Stereotypes

If a stereotype is no longer required for an element, remove it using the Property Inspector. Click Select next to the stereotype and choose Remove.

Extend Stereotypes

You can extend a stereotype by creating a new stereotype based on the existing one, allowing you to control properties in a structural manner. For example, all components in a project may have a part number, but only electrical components have a power rating, and only electronic components — a subset of electrical components — have manufacturer information. You can use an abstract stereotype to serve solely as a base for other stereotypes and not as a stereotype for any architecture model elements.

For example, create a new stereotype called ElectronicComponent in the Profile Editor. Select its base stereotype as FunctionalArchitecture.ElectricalComponent. Define properties you are adding to those of the base stereotype. Check Show inherited properties at the bottom of the property list to show the properties of the base stereotype. You can edit only the properties of the selected stereotype, not the base stereotype.

When you apply the new stereotype, it carries its defined properties in addition to those of its base stereotype.