Action Flow View

An action flow view shows how an action runs: its steps, the order between them, the items that flow between their parameters, and which part performs each step. It is a view typed by ActionFlowView that exposes an action definition or usage.

• The exposed action is the frame; its parameters are pins on the frame border. Its actions are rounded boxes with their parameters as pins (in on the left, out on the right), including the parameters of their definitions.
• Start (filled circle) and done (ringed circle), fork and join bars, decision and merge diamonds, accept and send actions, and loops (while) are drawn in SysML v2 notation. Successions are arrows; a guard shows in brackets, and an unguarded succession after a decision is [else]. Flows are green arrows between pins, labelled with their item.
• Swim lanes come from perform (and allocate): a part that performs actions of the flow gets a lane with those actions.
• + Action ▾ or the Add panel adds an action, accept or send action, a loop, or a fork, join, decision or merge node. Drag from the green dot of a node to another node to add a succession; drag from one pin to another to add a flow. + Parameter ▾ adds an input or output to the selected action.
• Select a succession to set its guard; double-click it to type one. Select a loop to edit its condition. Drag an action into a lane to make that part perform it; drag it out of every lane to remove the perform. + Lane adds an empty lane for a part.
• Double-click a name, or press F2, to rename. Delete removes the selection with the successions, flows and performs that name it; it goes to the project’s Trash.
• Every change is written into the text and checked first: a guard that is not a valid expression is refused. Each change is one undo step. Positions are kept when you edit the text.
• ▶ Simulate ▾ runs the exposed action in the Simulator, as Discrete Event or Monte Carlo (Simulate Action Flows).
• Generate Parts View creates a view of the parts that perform (or are allocated) the actions of the flow: an Interconnection View of the part that contains them all, else a General View of the parts. The view is written into the model and opens in a tab; one undo step removes it.