New Pattern Parameter window, General page

You use the General page of the New Pattern Parameter window, to add a parameter to a pattern.

Name
Identifies the name of the parameter for the pattern applier. It is used to create the pattern's Java™ class and other files that support the pattern. You can change the default name to provide a name that is more descriptive of the parameter's purpose in the pattern.
Class Name
Identifies the Java class for the parameter. A default name is created based on the parameter name with the following character exceptions: spaces and special characters are deleted and the initial character is capitalized. Accept the default name or create a new one.
Short Description
Explains the purpose of the parameter. You can include a prompt to guide the user to specify appropriate arguments for this parameter. This description is visible on the Short Description page of the Pattern Explorer view in addition to the help files, if they are generated for the pattern. The text also appears as a hover help on the diagram view when the user hovers over the parameter in the pattern instance.
Type
Specifies a UML 2.0 type for the parameter.
Allowable Subtypes
When available, indicates that the UML 2.0 type specified above is actually a collection of types. Select one or more subtypes to limit the argument types that the applier can choose for this parameter when applying the pattern. For example, there are 31 subtypes for a type selection of classifier that includes activity, node, state machine, stereotype, class, actor, and interface. If you do not specify a subtype in this field, all possible subtypes are available to the applier. Specifying all of the subtypes makes all possible subtypes available to the applier and displays the icon for each on the diagram view.
Note: Indicating an argument value using text entry for the types that have subtypes always sets this field to the default subtype.
Allow text entry of argument value
When selected, allows the pattern applier to specify an argument by typing the name of a new or existing element. Subtypes are disregarded when an argument is added using text entry because only the default subtype can be specified. For example, an interface is the default subtype for classifier so all text entries for classifier create a new interface or specify an existing interface.
Multiplicity
Indicates the allowed value or range of argument values that can be specified for the template parameter during pattern application.
Related tasks
Adding patterns and parameters to libraries
Adding parameters to patterns
Adding dependencies to parameters
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