Before specifying the feature directions, you need to understand the following concepts:

  • A Feature Direction is an enumeration type that defines literals used by directed features for specifying whether they are supported by the owning Block, or is to be supported by other Blocks for the owning Block to use.
  • A Directed Feature indicates whether the feature is supported by the owning Block (provided), or is to be supported by other Blocks for the owning Block to use (required), or both (the owning block for features on types of Proxy Ports is the type of the Block usage the Proxy Port is standing in for, which might be an internal part). Using non-flow properties means to read or write them, and using behavioral features means to invoke them. Provided non-flow properties are read and written on the owning Block, while required non-flow properties are read or written on an external Block. Provided behavioral features are invoked with the owning Block as target, while required behavioral features are invoked with an external Block as target (required).

The directed feature is a feature element that applies the «DirectedFeature» stereotype. You can specify the feature direction of the selected element.

To specify a feature direction


  1. Right-click a feature’s symbols owned by a Block such as Part Property, Attribute, Operation, and Signal reception.
  2. From the shortcut menu, point to Feature Direction and select one of the following:
    • Provided. Indicates that the feature shall be supported by the owning Block.
    • Required. Indicates that the feature shall be supported by other Blocks.
    • Provided and Required. Indicates that the feature shall be both provided and required.
    The «DirectedFeature» stereotype is applied automatically.