Adding Elements to an Interface

Use

Elements in packages are not visible - and therefore usable - automatically. This allows package elements to be protected from access. To make an element in another package available so that it can be used, you make it visible to other packages by assigning it to one or more package interfaces.

You can also specify the level of support for the element by defining the value of the Release status attribute. In this way, you can specify how long you want an element to be compatible.

Prerequisites

The elements you want to add to a package interface are either in the same package as that interface or are included in an interface belonging to one of the package's sub-packages.

Procedure

To add package elements to an interface:

Display the relevant package interface in the Package Builder.
Select Change mode.
Choose the Visible elements tab.
To add an element, choose the Add button.
The system displays the Visible element dialog box.

Enter the other attributes for the element:

Object type

Choose the appropriate object type. You can obtain a list of possible entries by choosing F4.

Development element

Enter a name for the element.

Release status:

You can assign the following values:

Not supported (assigned by default)	Every element is assigned this value by default. This value reveals nothing about the future availability or compatibility of the element, which may remain unchanged for several releases, but which could become incompatible at any time.
Obsolete	If you assign this value to an element, it will not be supported in the next-but-one functional release. (This is similar to the way Change Management is applied to BOR object types and their components). Until then, element is treated as if it were supported (in terms of compatibility and availability). Usually, the developer will provide a new element to replace the obsolete one.
Supported	If you assign this value to an element, you guarantee that the element will remain available for at least the next three functional releases, and that during this time, only compatible changes will be made. (This is similar to the way Change Management is applied to BOR object types and their components)
Not supported (assigned by developer)	You choose this value to emphasize the fact that you cannot make any assumptions about the availability or compatibility of the element.

Choose .

Alternatively, in step 3, you can add an element from the object list tree structure using Drag&Drop.

Result

You have now added one or more elements to a package interface. These elements are now visible - and can be made available as services - to other packages. Thus by definition, any element that does not belong to an package interface cannot be used by other packages - that is, access to it is prevented.