Elements

The following elements are present in a Smalltalk program.

Class

A class element refers to a particular class by name. It refers to the class only - instance variables and the like are distinct elements. A version of a class element contains the following properties:

• superclass name
• format (bytes, words, weak, variable or normal)
• category

In the Monticello user interface, a class element is displayed as the class name within angle brackets, like this: <String>

Class Comment

A class comment element refers to the comment for a particular class. A version of a class comment has the following properties:

• author initials
• timestamp
• text

It is displayed like this: <String-comment>

Method

A method element refers to a particular method of a particular class. A version of a method has the following properties:

• author initials
• timestamp
• source
• category

It is displayed showing the class name, a separator symbol and the method selector. Instance methods use $# as the separator, while class methods use $*. For example, <String#asLowercase> or <String*cr>.

Instance Variable

An instance variable method refers to a named instance variable of a particular class. A version has only one property - the index of the slot where the variable is stored in an object. An instance variable element is displayed using $@ to separate the class name and variable name: <Text@string>.

Class Variable

A class variable refers to a named variable accessible by all instances of a particular class and its subclasses. A version of a class variable has no properties beyond its presence or absence. It is displayed with $% separating the class name and variable name: <String%AsciiOrder>.

Class Instance Variables

A class instance variable is an instance variable of a class object. Versions of a class instance variable have only one property - the index of the slot where the variable is stored. A class instance variable is displayed with a dollar sign separating the class name and variable name: <ChangeSet$current>.

Pool Imports

A pool import element refers to the use of a particular pool dictionary by a particular class. A version of a pool import has no properties beyond its presence or absence. It is displayed with an ampersand separating the class name and pool name: <Paragraph&TextConstants>