Define fields for an entity

Overview

Next Design allows you to define fields for each entity.

A field is an individual input item for a model. In object-oriented design, the attributes of a class correspond to the fields of an entity. You can define multiple fields for each entity, which is the template for a model.

The following describes the steps to define fields for an entity in the following order:

• Field data type
• Add a field
• Delete a field
• Edit field settings

Field definition image

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Field data type

The following data types can be used for entity fields.

Data Type	Description
String	Allows you to enter text characters Maximum size: 2GB
Integer	Allows you to enter positive and negative integers Value range: -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
Real	Allows you to enter positive and negative real numbers Approximate value range: -1.7E+308 to 1.7E+308
Boolean	Allows you to enter boolean values (checked/unchecked)
Rich Text Edit Tool	Allows you to enter content including formatted text, tables, images, hyperlinks, etc.
Enum Type	Allows you to enter values of the specified enumeration type
Class	Allows you to hold multiple related models

note

• The data type of a field cannot be changed after the field is added.

Adding a field

There are several ways to add a field to an entity:

• Adding a field in a class diagram
• Adding a field in the Profile Navigator
• Adding a field in the Inspector
• Adding a new field while modeling in a form

Adding a field in a class diagram

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

Operation procedure

1. Move the pointer to the field display area of the entity and click the [+] icon that appears in the upper right corner of the field display area.
2. Clicking this will display the [Add New Fields] dialog. Enter the settings and specify [Data Type].
3. If you want to specify a default type such as [String] as the data type

• Select the data type from the options.

4. When specifying an existing entity as the data type

• Click the [...] button to the right of [Data Type].
• Clicking this opens a finder to search for an entity.
• Search for an entity from the list in the finder and click it to enter that entity in [Data Type].
• Select the additional items [Multiplicity] and [Field Type] from the options.

5. Enter other settings and then press the [OK] button.
6. The added field will then be displayed in the list of fields that the entity has.

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

Adding a field in the profile navigator

To add a field to an entity using the profile navigator, follow these steps:

Operation Procedure

1. In the Profile Navigator tree, select the entity to which you want to add a field.
2. Do one of the following to display the [Add New Fields] dialog.

• Right-click the selected entity and click [Add] > [Fields] from the context menu.
• Click [Profile] > [Metamodel] > [Fields] from the ribbon.

3. The input in the [Add New Fields] dialog is the same as in "Adding Fields in Class Diagram" above.
4. After entering the settings, press the [OK] button, and the added field will be displayed directly under the entity.

Adding Fields in Inspector

To add a field to an entity using the Inspector, follow the steps below.

Operation procedure

1. In the class diagram or profile navigator, select the entity to which you want to add a field.
2. Select [Metamodel] from the tabs at the top of the Inspector.
3. Click the [+] icon displayed in the lower right of the field list in the [Fields] group in the Inspector to display the [Add New Fields] dialog.
4. The input in the [Add New Fields] dialog is the same as in "Adding Fields in Class Diagram" above.
5. After entering the settings, press the [OK] button to add the added field to the field list.

You can also add fields using the above procedure when the Inspector is displayed during modeling.

Adding a new field while modeling in a form

To add a new field while modeling in a form, follow the steps below.

Operation procedure

1. Display the form in the model editor and select the model (or the field of that model) to which you want to add a field.
2. Do one of the following to display the [Add New Fields] dialog.

• Right-click the selected model and click [Profile] > [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. The input in the [Add New Fields] dialog is the same as in "Adding a field in a class diagram" above.
4. After entering the settings, press the [OK] button. The added field will be added to the metamodel and the form at the same time.

Delete a field

There are several ways to delete a field from an entity:

• Delete a field in the class diagram
• Delete a field in the profile navigator
• Delete a field in the inspector

Delete a field in the class diagram

To delete a field from an entity using a class diagram, follow these steps:

Operation procedure

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

Delete a field in the profile navigator

To delete a field from an entity using the profile navigator, follow these steps:

Operation Procedure

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

Delete Fields in Inspector

To delete an entity field using the Inspector, follow the steps below.

Operation Procedure

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

You can also delete a field in the Inspector by following the steps below.

Other steps

1. When modeling, display the Inspector and select [Metamodel] from the tab at the top of the Inspector.
2. Remove the field from the field list as in the previous step.

Edit field settings

To edit the settings of an existing field, use the Inspector as follows:

Steps

1. Click [View] > [Pane] > [Inspector] from the ribbon to display the Inspector.
2. Do one of the following to select the entity (or model) that has the target field.

• Select the entity in the Profile Navigator.
• Select the entity in the Class Diagram.
• Select the model in the Model Navigator.
• Select the model in the Model Editor.

3. Make sure that [Metamodel] is selected from the tab at the top of the Inspector, or click to select it.
4. Move the pointer over the target field in the field list in the [Fields] group in the Inspector and click the edit icon that appears on the right side 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 details on field settings, see Reference > Profile Settings and Modeling Changes.