Symbols and Lines in SDL Diagrams
Symbols in Both SDL Structure and Behavior Diagrams
|
Class
|
Defines a newtype. Contains three sections: Name, attributes and operators.
|
Symbols in SDL Structure Diagrams
|
Text
|
Declares SDL entities such as signals and data types.
|
|
Comment
|
Contains comments in the diagram. Is attached to other symbols.
|
|
Text extension
|
Is attached to other symbols. Used if the text in another symbol is too large for the symbol. Put the last part of the text or the complete text in the text extension symbol.
|
|
Block reference
|
References a block diagram in a system, system type, sub-structure, block or block type diagram. Also used for instantiation of a block type.
|
|
Process reference
|
References a process diagram in a block or block type diagram. Is also used for instantiation of a process type
|
|
Block substructure reference
|
References a substructure diagram from a block or block type diagram.1
|
|
Service reference
|
References a service diagram in a process or process type diagram, from a service interaction page. Also used for instantiation of a service type.
|
|
Procedure reference
|
References a procedure diagram from any other diagram.
|
|
System type reference
|
References a system type diagram from a package diagram.
|
|
Block type reference
|
References a block type diagram from a package, system, system type, block or block type diagram.
|
|
Process type reference
|
References a process type diagram from a package, system, system type, block or block type diagram.
|
|
Service type reference
|
References a service type diagram from a package, system, system type, block, block type, process or process type diagram.
|
|
Operator reference
|
References an operator diagram from any other diagram.
|
|
Gate
|
Defines a gate in a block type, process type or service type diagram. Is attached to the diagram frame.
|
1
Not often used, because "block A in block C" is a commonly used shorthand for the more syntactically correct "block A in substructure B in block C".
|
Symbols in SDL Behavior Diagrams 1(2)
|
State
|
Defines a state or terminates a transition in an already defined state. Is followed by an input, save continuous signal or priority output signal.
|
|
Input
|
Receives a signal. Always preceded by a state symbol. Together, they define the start of a transition. Is followed by the behavior of the transition.
|
|
Save
|
Saves signals from being discarded when being received in the current state (that does not handle the signal). Always preceded by a state symbol. Is not followed by any symbols.
|
|
Output
|
Sends a signal from a transition
|
|
In/out connector
|
Out connector: A jump/join/goto symbol that finishes the definition of a transition on one page, if there is not enough space. Is always associated via a name with an in connector that continues the definition.
In connector: The label symbol that is followed by the rest of the transition.
|
|
Procedure call
|
Calls a procedure that does not return a value from a transition. (A value returning procedure is called from a task symbol.)
|
|
Create request
|
Creates an instance of a process in a transition
|
|
Enabling condition/ continuous signal
|
Enabling condition: Is preceded by an input symbol. Contains a boolean expression that decides if the transition below it should be taken or not.
Continuous signal: Is preceded by a state symbol. Is followed by the behavior of a transition. Contains a boolean expression that is continuously evaluated while in the state. The following transition is taken when the expression evaluates to true.
|
|
Priority input
|
Specifies that this signal reception has higher priority than normal signal reception in the same state. Primarily intended to give signals between services in the same process higher priority than other signals. Not often used.
|
|
Procedure start
|
The start symbol in a procedure diagram. Is followed by the behavior of the start transition.
|
|
Procedure return
|
The symbol in a procedure diagram that finishes the execution of the procedure and returns to the procedure caller.
|
|
Procedure reference
|
References a procedure diagram from any other diagram.
|
|
Gate
|
Defines a gate in a block type, process type or service type diagram. Is attached to the diagram frame.
|
Symbols in SDL Behavior Diagrams 2(2)
|
Text
|
Declares the SDL entities such as variables, timers and types.
|
|
Comment
|
Contains comments in the diagram. Is attached to other symbols.
|
|
Text extension
|
Is attached to other symbols. Used if the text in a symbol is too large for the symbol. Put the last part of the text or the complete text in the text extension symbol.
|
|
Decision
|
Specifies alternative paths in the behavior part of a transition. Contains an expression. Each path is labeled with an answer that should match the expression for the path to be taken.
|
|
Task
|
Is used for writing textual code in the behavior part of a transition. Contains for example variable assignments, for-loops and calls of value returning procedures.
|
|
Macro call
|
Calls a macro diagram in the behavior part of a transition. Macros are a depreciated feature of SDL, consider using procedures or diagram inheritance instead.
|
|
Transition option
|
Specifies alternative paths in the behavior part of a transition. Similar to a decision symbol, but the expression must be built up of constants and (external) synonyms that can be evaluated once before execution of the system starts. Not often used.
|
|
Start
|
Starts the execution of the current diagram instance in a process, process type, service or service type diagram. Is followed by the definition of the behavior of the start transition.
|
|
Stop
|
Stops the execution of the current diagram instance in a process, process type, service or service type diagram.
|
|
Macro inlet
|
The start symbol in a macro diagram. Macros are a depreciated feature of SDL, consider using procedures or diagram inheritance instead.
|
|
Macro outlet
|
The end symbol in a macro diagram. Macros are a depreciated feature of SDL, consider using procedures or diagram inheritance instead.
|
|
Operator reference
|
References an operator diagram from any other diagram.
|
Lines in Both SDL Structure and Behavior Diagrams
|
Comment line
|
Associates a comment symbol with another symbol. To create it, select the comment symbol and drag the line handle to another symbol.
|
|
Text extension line
|
Associates a text extension symbol with another symbol. To create it, select the text extension symbol and drag the line handle to another symbol.
|
|
Gate line
|
Defines a gate in a block type, process type or service type diagram. To create it, select it from the symbol menu and attach it to the diagram frame.
|
|
Aggregation line
|
Defines that the class connected to the simple line end is contained in the class connected to the diamond line end. To create it, select the container class symbol and drag the aggregation line handle (a diamond). To create a line breakpoint, click in the diagram background. To attach the aggregation line to its final destination, click the border of the contained class symbol.
|
|
Association line
|
Defines an association between two class symbols, can be unidirected or bidirected. To create it, select one class symbol and drag the association line handle (a rectangle). To create a line breakpoint, click in the diagram background. To attach the association line to its final destination, click the border of the associated class symbol.
|
Lines in SDL Structure Diagrams Only
|
Channel
|
Defines a part of a communication path for signals, either between two blocks or between one block and the environment (i.e. the diagram frame). To create it, select a block symbol and drag the line handle. To make line breakpoints, click in the diagram background. To attach the line to its final destination (either another block or the diagram frame), click the symbol border. After creation, the channel can be reversed or made bidirectional. The arrow is movable and an arrow at the end of the channel indicates that the channel does not delay signals being sent.
|
|
Signal route
|
Similar to a channel. The differences are that a signal route connects to processes and services instead of blocks, and that a signal route arrow cannot be moved around.
|
|
Create line
|
Defines that the process where the create line starts, can create instances of the process where the create line ends. The create line is optional. To create it, select the process symbol and drag the create line handle. To make line breakpoints, click in the diagram background. To attach the create line to its final destination, click the symbol border.
|
Line in SDL Behavior Diagrams Only
|
Flow line
|
Defines the order that symbols are executed in. Starts at the bottom of a symbol and ends at the top of another symbol. To create it, select a symbol that can be followed by other symbols and drag the flow line handle. To make line breakpoints, click in the diagram background. To attach the flow line to its final destination, click the symbol border. Note that two symbols can only be connected with a flow line if the SDL syntax rules allow it.
|