Issue 6155: Replace "initial value" with "default value". (uml2-superstructure-ftf)
Source: NIST (Dr. Conrad Bock, conrad.bock(at)nist.gov)
Nature: Revision
Severity: Significant
Summary: "Default values" should be called "initial values", for example in
property values.  Defaults are values that are assumed if no value is
available on the instance.  This can be at any time during the life of
the object.  An instance may have a value for a property at one time and
when the value is removed, the default takes over until another value is
given.


The current semantics is that the "default" value is put in the property
only when the object is created.  If the value is later removed, the
"default" value does not return.  This is normally called an "initial
value".

Resolution: 
Revised Text: 
Actions taken:
August 30, 2003: received issue
March 9, 2005: closed issue
Discussion: 
In the spec ‘initial value’ is used for values supplied on instantiation (e.g. para 3 of p87
which states: When an object is instantiated in a class, for every attribute of the class that
has a specified default, if an initial value of the attribute is not specified explicitly for the
instantiation, then the default value specification is evaluated to set the initial value of the
attribute for the object.”
In the UML spec it states that ‘default’ is indeed used in initialization, however it does
not state that it is only used then. For example MOF provides the ability to ‘unset’ a
Property in which case the default is used (see MOF 2 Core section 9.1): so this does tie
in with ‘normal’ usage of ‘default’.
Disposition: Closed, no change
End of Annotations:=====
Name: Conrad Bock
Company: NIST
mailFrom: conrad.bock@nist.gov
Nature: Revision
Severity: Significant
Subject: Replace "initial value" with "default value".


"Default values" should be called "initial values", for example in
property values.  Defaults are values that are assumed if no value is
available on the instance.  This can be at any time during the life of
the object.  An instance may have a value for a property at one time and
when the value is removed, the default takes over until another value is
given.


The current semantics is that the "default" value is put in the property
only when the object is created.  If the value is later removed, the
"default" value does not return.  This is normally called an "initial
value".