Replaces variability

The Replaces variability association provides a mechanism for an element to replace a base element without directly changing any of the base element's existing properties.

A replacing element replaces relevant attributes in the base element when the configuration is published or examined in the Browsing perspective. In most cases this is used for method plug-ins as a way to replace specific content elements such as roles, tasks, or activities with a completely new variant. Replacement can also be used to change the fundamental relationships of these elements. The base content element will be logically replaced with the new replacing element to which all incoming associations still point as before, but which has potentially new attribute values and outgoing associations.

When you replace an element, all description attributes are replaced by corresponding attribute values from the replacing element. If a description attribute in the replacing element is blank but the base element has content, the attribute will be blank in the resulting element.

Replace always replaces attributes and associations of the base element with the replacing element's attributes and associations, except for incoming associations, which are only added to the base, but do not replace the base's incoming associations.

Replace association rules

The following rules are for replacing associations:

Exceptions

All replacing associations are "many to many" except for the following association:

For more information about the associations for each element type, see Associations impacted by variability.

Adding a replace association

  1. On the Description tab, use the Content Variability section to make an element replace another element.
  2. Select Replaces as the Variability type and select the base element that this element will replace. Note that the base element must be the same type of element as the replacing element.