eFFBD Reference Functions

The symbols provided in extended Function Flow Block Diagrams (eFFBDs) in the Essential and Implementation domains have been extended to include reference functions.

A reference function has the same semantics and syntax rules as an ordinary eFFBD function, and is described by a function specification. However, a reference function can (and should) also contain a reference to another function elsewhere in the same or a different model in the same domain. This reference is achieved by storing the number of the other (referenced) function inside the reference function. In this way, the reference function points to the other function:

The name of the referenced function is shown when the diagram is displayed in Child or Definitions modes in the Diagram Editor, and when the diagram is printed with definitions. This option is available in the Toolset’s Graphics Reporter and Web Publisher tools, and in the Document Publisher.

Reference functions provide an alternative to shared functions in eFFBDs as a method whereby one or more functions, the referenced functions in this case, can be shared between two or more parts of model(s). The reused (common) functions are pointed to by multiple reference functions.

Reference functions cannot be decomposed into child diagrams. They are intended to reference a function that is common to multiple reference functions and so the referenced function is analogous to the expansion of an ordinary function into its child diagram and child function specification.

There are new pseudo cross-references called:

• Specifications referenced by this specification
• Specifications that this specification references

available to navigate between the reference functions and the functions that they reference. These pseudo cross references are available in WorkBench views and in the Document Publisher.