Example: Using the Call Action Type

One of the most common action types is Call, which allows an activity to invoke a classifier operation (or another activity).

  1. Create an activity and call it Check Login.


  2. Open its property sheet, click the Action tab, and select Call from the Action type list. The Operation field appears:


  3. Click the Create tool to the right of the new field to open a wizard to choose an operation:


  4. You can choose an existing classifier or activity, or select to create one. Select New Class, and then click Next:


  5. Specify a name for the class and for the operation that you want to create, and then click Next:


  6. Create two input and one output parameter for the operation, and then click Finish. The property sheet of the new operation opens to allow you to further specify the operation. When you are finished, click OK to return to the Activity property sheet and click the Input Parameters tab to view the parameters you have created:


    Note that, in addition to the two input parameters, PowerDesigner has created a third, called "target", with the type of the new class.

  7. Click Ok to save the changes and return to the diagram:


    The activity now displays its two input and one output parameter (the target parameter is hidden by default). The class and operation that youhave created are available in the Browser for further use.