Structure Chart and Action Block Usage Tools › Action Block Usage Tool

Action Block Usage Tool

You use the Action Block Usage tool to analyze the usage of action blocks. An Action Block Usage diagram shows how an action block has been referenced through the USE command by other action blocks, processes, and Procedure Steps. This is similar to an index reference in a book. The branches of an Action Block Usage diagram represent the paths from each higher level action block to the same lower level action block.

CA Gen creates this diagram automatically when you access the Action Block Usage tool and select an Action Diagram name. The diagram displays the selected action block on the right, connected to the processes, Procedure Steps, or action blocks that call it, on the left.

The following colors are used to distinguish objects on an Action Block Usage diagram:

Action Block Usage diagrams provide the following benefits:

• Provides information quickly about how an action block is used in the model
• Eliminates the need to chain between Action Diagrams to review the structure
• Provides a simple way to match import and export views of action blocks called by the USE command
• Allows you to see Action Block Usage in different ways

Action blocks are created during both Analysis and Design:

• When adding common action blocks using the Action Diagram during Analysis and Design
• When automatically generating a process using the Activity Hierarchy Diagram or Data Model during Analysis
• When implementing a process in a procedure using the Dialog Design during Design.