def asDictionary(self):
        """ provides a dictionary representation of the object """
        template = {
            "type" : "simple",
            "symbol" :  self._symbol.asDictionary,
            "label" : self._label,
            "description" : self._description,
            "rotationType": self._rotationType,
            "rotationExpression": self._rotationExpression
        }
        return template
provides a dictionary representation of the object