It is assumed that the standard category (e.g., domain or discipline) being customized cannot be modified directly. Thus, all changes must be stored in a separate plug-in from the standard category being customized. To see the resulting changes, you need to browse or publish a configuration that includes the original standard category plus the customizations. If you can modify the standard category directly, you should follow the guidelines described in Guideline: Categorizing Method Elements Using Standard Categories.

There are a number of different ways that you can customize an existing standard category. You can: 

• Assign elements to the category
• Remove elements from the category
• Replace an existing standard category with a new standard category
• Rename the standard category

Specific standard category customization scenarios are described in the remaining sections of this guideline.

Assign elements to the category

Perform the following steps to add a method element to an existing standard category:

• If it does not already exist, create a plug-in to contain the standard category customizations.
• In the new plug-in, define a standard category that contributes to the existing standard category and assign the new elements. For more information on contribution, see Guideline: Using Method Content Variability. For more information on assigning elements to a standard category, see Guideline: Categorizing Method Elements Using Standard Categories. 

Remove elements from the category

Perform the following steps to remove a method element from an existing standard category:

• If it does not already exist, create a plug-in to contain the standard category customizations.
• In the new plug-in, define a standard category and assign the same elements as in the original standard category, except for the element you want to remove. For more information on assigning elements to a standard category, see Guideline: Categorizing Method Elements Using Standard Categories.
• Change the definition of the new standard categoy to extends-replace the original standard category. For more information on extends-replace, see Guideline: Using Method Content Variability.

Replace an existing standard category with a new standard category

Perform the following steps to replace an existing standard category with a new standard category:

• If it does not already exist, create a plug-in to contain the standard category customizations.
• In the new plug-in, define the standard category and assign the desired elements. For more information on assigning elements to a standard category, see Guideline: Categorizing Method Elements Using Standard Categories.
• Change the definition of the new standard categoy to replace the original standard category. For more information on replace, see Guideline: Using Method Content Variability.

Rename an existing standard category

Perform the following steps to rename an existing standard category:

• If it does not already exist, create a plug-in to contain the standard category customizations.
• In the new plug-in, define a standard category and give it the desired presentation name. Specify that the new standard category is to extend-replace the existing standard category. For more information on extends-replace, see Guideline: Using Method Content Variability.