Entity field definition

Overview

Next Design allows you to define fields for each entity.

Fields are individual inputs to the model. In object-oriented design, class attributes are equivalent to entity fields. You can define multiple fields for each entity outlining your model.

Below are the steps to define fields for an entity in the following order:

• field data type
• add fields
• remove field
• Edit field settings

Image of field definition

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field data type

The available data types for entity fields are:

Data Type	Description
String	Text characters can be entered Maximum size: 2GB
Integer	Positive and negative integers can be entered Range: -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
Real numbers	Positive and negative real numbers can be entered Approximate value range: -1.7E+308 to 1.7E+308
Boolean value	Boolean value (checked/unchecked) can be entered
Rich Text Edit Tool	Enter content including formatted text, tables, images, hyperlinks, and more
Enum Type	You can enter a value of the specified enum type
Class	Can hold multiple related models

note

• A field's data type cannot be changed after the field is added.

add a field

There are multiple ways to add fields to an entity:

• Add fields in class diagram
• Add fields in profile navigator
• Add fields in inspector
• Add new fields while modeling in the form

Add fields in class diagram

To add a field to an entity using a class diagram, follow these steps:

Operation procedure

1. Move the pointer over the field display area of ​​the entity and click the [+] icon that appears in the upper right corner of the field display area.
2. Click to display the Add New Fields dialog. Enter the settings and specify the Data Type.
3. When specifying a default type such as [String] as the data type
   • Select a data type from the choices.
4. When specifying an existing entity as the data type
   • Click the [...] button to the far right of [Data Type].
   • Click to open a finder to search for entities.
   • Searching for an entity from the list on the finder and clicking it will enter that entity in the [Data Type].
   • Select the additional items [Multiplicity] and [Field Type] from the choices.
5. After entering other setting items, click the [OK] button.
6. This will show the added field in the list of fields the entity has.

For details on setting items for fields, see "Editing field settings" below.

Adding Fields in the Profile Navigator

To add fields to an entity using the profile navigator:

Operation procedure

1. On the profile navigator tree, select the entity you want to add the field to.
2. Do one of the following to display the Add New Fields dialog:
   • Right-click the selected entities and click Add > Filelds from the context menu.
   • Click Profile > Metamodel > Filelds from the ribbon.
3. Input in the [Add New Fields] dialog is similar to "Adding Fields on Class Diagrams" above.
4. If you press the [OK] button after entering the setting items, the added field will be displayed directly under the entity.

Add fields by inspector

To add a field to an entity using the inspector, do the following:

Operation procedure

1. On the class diagram or profile navigator, select the entity you want to add the field to.
2. Select Metamodel in the top tab of the inspector.
3. Click the [+] icon displayed at the bottom right of the field list in the [Filelds] group in the inspector to display the [Add New Fields] dialog.
4. Filling in the [Add New Fields] dialog is similar to "Adding Fields on a Class Diagram" above.
5. If you press the [OK] button after entering the setting items, the added field will be added to the field list.

Fields can also be added using the above procedure when the inspector is displayed during modeling.

Adding new fields while modeling in a form

To add new fields while modeling in your form, follow these steps:

Operation procedure

1. Display the form in the model editor and select the model (or a field in that model) to which you want to add the field.
2. Do one of the following to display the Add New Fields dialog:
   • Right-click the selected model and click Add New Field from the context menu
   • Click Profile > Metamodel > Filelds from the ribbon
   • Click Profile > Form > Add New Fields from the Ribbon
   • Click Form > Form > Add New Fields from the Ribbon
3. Input in the [Add New Fields] dialog is similar to "Adding Fields on Class Diagrams" above.
4. If you press the [OK] button after entering the setting items, the added field will be added to the form as well as to the meta model.

remove field

There are multiple ways to remove fields from an entity:

• Delete field in class diagram
• Delete fields in profile navigator
• Delete field in inspector

Delete field in class diagram

To remove a field from an entity using a class diagram, do the following:

Operation procedure

1. Select the target field in the class diagram and execute [Delete] from the context menu or press the delete key.

Deleting Fields in the Profile Navigator

To delete an entity's fields using the profile navigator:

Operation procedure

1. Select the target field and execute [Delete] from the context menu or press the delete key.

Deleting Fields by Inspector

To delete an entity's fields using the inspector:

Operation procedure

1. Select Metamodel in the top tab of the inspector.
2. Select the target field from the field list and click the [-] icon displayed at the bottom right of the field list.

You can also remove fields in the inspector by following these steps:

Other operating procedures

1. Display the inspector while modeling and select Metamodel from the tabs at the top of the inspector.
2. Delete fields from the field list as in the previous step.

Edit field settings

To edit the settings of an existing field using the inspector:

Operation procedure

1. Click View > Pane > Inspector from the ribbon to display the inspector.
2. Select the entity (or model) that has the target field by doing one of the following:
   • Select an entity in the profile navigator.
   • Select an entity in a class diagram.
   • Select a model in the model navigator.
   • Select a model in the model editor.
3. Make sure Metamodel is selected in the top tab of the inspector, or click to select it.
4. Move the pointer over the desired field in the list of fields in the Filelds group in the Inspector and click the edit icon that appears on the far right to display the Field Settings dialog.
5. Change the settings in the [Field Settings] dialog and press the [OK] button to reflect the changes.

reference

• For more information on field settings, see Reference > Profile Settings and Modeling Changes.