Product extensibility

The extensibility capabilities provided by the Rational® UML modeling products build on top of the Eclipse features, in the form of additional plug-ins and related extension points and APIs.

In addition, the Rational products offer a unique capability for extending the workbench without creating a formal plug-in, through pluglets.

The Modeling APIs allow you to manipulate models. Of the included packages, the Modeling Services Layer (MSL) API is noteworthy because it is useful for batched model change validation and notification. The Notation API exposes aspects of diagram appearance, including color and size.

The Patterns API describes the patterns framework, which can be used to apply patterns to a set of model elements. This API supplements the pattern authoring and application capability provided directly in the modeling products.

The Transformations API describes the transformation framework, which is designed to transform one model into another, or into another metamodel. Only transformations created in Rational Software Architect or Rational Systems Developer will generate code; Software Architect and Systems Developer ships with support for Java™ and C++ transformations, but the framework can be used to support other languages.

The RAS API is used to manipulate assets that conform with the Reusable Asset Specification, providing functionality that builds on the RAS capabilities in the modeling products.

Pluglets are Java applications that provide an alternative to plug-ins for extending the workbench. Like plug-ins, pluglets provide access to the APIs associated with plug-ins, and pluglet authors can use the Java development environment. However, the pluglet can be tested in the same instance of the workbench and a menu item is added for running the pluglet you create.

The Pluglets API exposes the properties and services used by pluglets.

The Rational UML modeling products continue to provide full support for using, creating, and extending standard Eclipse plug-ins.

Related information

Modeling API Reference

Modeling Extension Points Reference

Extending your Java environment with pluglets

Extending the RAS environment

Samples Gallery

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