A rendered view artifact (i.e., view) is a rendered view usage element that provides a specific view of the model. A view does not display the model in its entirety with all of the elements the model contains. It represents a particular set of model elements, encompassing a particular view of the model. As the Containment tree and the Textual Editor, views can be used as a tool for modeling. Creating, editing, or deleting elements via a view modifies the model itself. The changes are visible both in the Containment tree and the Textual Editor.

Creating a rendered view artifact (i.e., view) encompasses: 

  1. Creating a view usage element;
    1. Typically, a view usage is defined by a view definition that contains a renderer. View definitions may also contain filters and other customizations (e.g., specific symbolic view palettes, tabular view columns).
  2. (Optional) Specifying what elements should be exposed by the view;
    1. Exposition must be specified for tabular views; it is optional for symbolic ones. 
    2. Typically, exposition is specified for each view individually.
  3. (Optional) Filtering exposed elements based on specified conditions;
    1. Typically, filters are specified for the view definition defining a view.
  4. Rendering the view, so that the view and its exposed elements can be displayed in the specified rendering style.
    1. Typically, the renderer is specified for the view definition defining a view.

Once the view is created following the above-listed steps, you can open the view and display element symbols on it.

The subpages of this section contain procedures for all the listed steps.