UML syntax: Association generalization

[ronaldtse]

Association generalization

• Since associations are special classifiers, they can be generalized or inherited.
• The number of association ends has to remain equal and the corresponding classes have to be compliant to one another (they either are identical or have direct or indirect generalization relationship).
• The multiplicity of the superassociation can be restricted but not expanded.

Proposal:

class Employees
class Company
class MyCompany {
  generalization Company
}

association "CompanyHasEmployees" {
  direct Company Employees.+employee[1..*]
}

association "MyCompanyHasEmployees" {
  generalization CompanyHasEmployees
}

association {
  direct MyCompany (redefines employee) Employees.+me
}

[w00lf]

association "CompanyHasEmployees" { direct Company Employees.+employee[1..*] }

association "MyCompanyHasEmployees" { generalization CompanyHasEmployees }

It seems that all these associations can be defined with attribute syntax:

class Company {
  +employee Employees[1..*]
}
class MyCompany {
  +me Employees{redefines employee}
}

Why do we need:

association "MyCompanyHasEmployees" {
  generalization CompanyHasEmployees
}

In order to draw this additional generalization line?

[ronaldtse]

Maybe you're right. But how does this line:

  +me Employees{redefines employee}

know that {redefines employees} points to the relationship defined as:

class Company {
  +employee Employees[1..*]
}

?

I guess we can find that employee is an attribute of Employees.

Great idea! :+1: