Element Import (Access)   An element import with the keyword access is a directed relationship between a packageable element (arrowhead end) and an importing namespace (tail end). The element that is pointed to is made accessible to the namespace, allowing the element to be used in the namespace without any qualification. It is different from an element import with keyword import because it does not import the element into the namespace but rather just allows it to be accessed. A name can be added to the element import relationship, which is used as an alias (alternative name) for the element in the importing namespace. The visibility of the element in the importing namespace is by default public.

Explanation

The addition of the keyword access to the element import relationship means that the element does not become part of the importing package namespace, but rather is referenced without being included in the namespace. While working with a package or other namespace, a modeler quite commonly needs to refer to an element that is defined in another package or namespace. The element may be referenced by using the fully qualified name of the element, which includes the name of the package. The element import relationship however, allows the modeler to define a relationship between the element and the package in which they are working and then to use the element name as though it were defined in that package. The element in the importing package may not be imported by another package. The relationship is a convenient way of referencing another element but does not allow the element to be changed in the importing package.

Important Points

The visibility of the element import can be the same or more restrictive than the visibility of the element in the referenced package.

An element import relationship may specify a visibility for the imported element. This visibility may not be less restrictive than the visibility that the element has in the imported package (arrowhead end).

Related Entries

Element Import  Similar Usage,  Confused with An element import with keyword access is related to a element import with a keyword import but is weaker. By using the keyword access the element in the imported package (arrowhead end) is not added to the namespace but can be accessed by an unqualified name from within the importing package. An element import with a keyword import adds the element from the imported package to the importing package; this element can in turn be imported by another package.