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Home » Modeling » OCL » Reusing OCL in a profile
Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587384] Tue, 27 January 2015 10:02 Go to next message
Eclipse UserFriend
Dear all,
When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just once
the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?

Regards,

Víctor
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587527 is a reply to message #1587384] Tue, 27 January 2015 11:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed Willink is currently offline Ed WillinkFriend
Messages: 7655
Registered: July 2009
Senior Member
Hi

UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
Constraint and functionally these could be the various
Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.

You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.

Regards

Ed Willink


On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
> Dear all,
> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>
> Regards,
>
> Víctor
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587567 is a reply to message #1587527] Tue, 27 January 2015 12:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Eclipse UserFriend
Thanks Ed.

I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element in
the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I need
to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no Context
specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way. However, I
can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in the profile.

Regards,

Víctor

El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
> Hi
>
> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>
> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>
> Regards
>
> Ed Willink
>
>
> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>> Dear all,
>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Víctor
>
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587718 is a reply to message #1587567] Tue, 27 January 2015 14:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed Willink is currently offline Ed WillinkFriend
Messages: 7655
Registered: July 2009
Senior Member
Hi

A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.

Regards

Ed Willink


On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
> Thanks Ed.
>
> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
> the profile.
>
> Regards,
>
> Víctor
>
> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>> Hi
>>
>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>
>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Ed Willink
>>
>>
>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>> Dear all,
>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Víctor
>>
>
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587865 is a reply to message #1587718] Tue, 27 January 2015 16:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Eclipse UserFriend
Thanks again Ed for your quick answer.

I've used queries in Acceleo, the problem is that I don't how to do it
in the profile specification.
Please, find attached two images. In the first one (OCL01.png) there is
a OCL constraints which works OK. Now what I would like to achieve is
what is shown in OCL02.png. That is, factorize the constraint by
invoking the query, but I must be missing something or the syntax I'm
using it's not OK.
I wonder if it is possible.

Best,

Víctor

El 27/01/2015 a las 15:15, Ed Willink escribió:
> Hi
>
> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>
> Regards
>
> Ed Willink
>
>
> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>> Thanks Ed.
>>
>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>> the profile.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Víctor
>>
>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>
>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Ed Willink
>>>
>>>
>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>> Dear all,
>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Víctor
>>>
>>
>
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1587904 is a reply to message #1587865] Tue, 27 January 2015 16:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Eclipse UserFriend
Sorry, forgot to attached the images.
Please, find them attached.

Víctor,

El 27/01/2015 a las 17:00, "V. López" escribió:
> Thanks again Ed for your quick answer.
>
> I've used queries in Acceleo, the problem is that I don't how to do it
> in the profile specification.
> Please, find attached two images. In the first one (OCL01.png) there is
> a OCL constraints which works OK. Now what I would like to achieve is
> what is shown in OCL02.png. That is, factorize the constraint by
> invoking the query, but I must be missing something or the syntax I'm
> using it's not OK.
> I wonder if it is possible.
>
> Best,
>
> Víctor
>
> El 27/01/2015 a las 15:15, Ed Willink escribió:
>> Hi
>>
>> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
>> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Ed Willink
>>
>>
>> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>>> Thanks Ed.
>>>
>>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>>> the profile.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Víctor
>>>
>>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
>>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>>
>>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> Ed Willink
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Víctor
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
  • Attachment: OCL01.png
    (Size: 17.60KB, Downloaded 257 times)
  • Attachment: OCL02.png
    (Size: 32.64KB, Downloaded 266 times)
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1588002 is a reply to message #1587718] Tue, 27 January 2015 17:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed Willink is currently offline Ed WillinkFriend
Messages: 7655
Registered: July 2009
Senior Member
Hi

to be clearer

A helper 'function' is a UML Operation that is a query and has a body
'constraint' defined using OCL.

Regards

Ed Willink

On 27/01/2015 14:15, Ed Willink wrote:
> Hi
>
> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>
> Regards
>
> Ed Willink
>
>
> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>> Thanks Ed.
>>
>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>> the profile.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Víctor
>>
>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>
>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Ed Willink
>>>
>>>
>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>> Dear all,
>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Víctor
>>>
>>
>
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1589424 is a reply to message #1588002] Wed, 28 January 2015 12:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Eclipse UserFriend
Thanks Ed, now I found some documentation on the topic here:

http://help.eclipse.org/luna/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.ocl.doc%2Fhelp%2FOCLinPapyrus.html

However, there are some issues I can't solve.
In the image attached I try to add a Helper class with a query operation
that I try to call from another Constraint in a Stereotype.
But I'm not able to find out how to do it properly.

Is there an example somewhere where the invocation of the query is shown.

Regards,

Víctor López-Jaquero

El 27/01/2015 a las 18:46, Ed Willink escribió:
> Hi
>
> to be clearer
>
> A helper 'function' is a UML Operation that is a query and has a body
> 'constraint' defined using OCL.
>
> Regards
>
> Ed Willink
>
> On 27/01/2015 14:15, Ed Willink wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
>> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Ed Willink
>>
>>
>> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>>> Thanks Ed.
>>>
>>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>>> the profile.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Víctor
>>>
>>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the context
>>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>>
>>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> Ed Willink
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to factorize OCL
>>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Víctor
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
  • Attachment: OCL03.png
    (Size: 28.79KB, Downloaded 269 times)
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1589531 is a reply to message #1589424] Wed, 28 January 2015 13:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ed Willink is currently offline Ed WillinkFriend
Messages: 7655
Registered: July 2009
Senior Member
Hi

It's a normal OO functional call

someObject.someFunction()

Regards

Ed Willink


On 28/01/2015 12:36, "V. López" wrote:
> Thanks Ed, now I found some documentation on the topic here:
>
> http://help.eclipse.org/luna/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.ocl.doc%2Fhelp%2FOCLinPapyrus.html
>
>
> However, there are some issues I can't solve.
> In the image attached I try to add a Helper class with a query
> operation that I try to call from another Constraint in a Stereotype.
> But I'm not able to find out how to do it properly.
>
> Is there an example somewhere where the invocation of the query is shown.
>
> Regards,
>
> Víctor López-Jaquero
>
> El 27/01/2015 a las 18:46, Ed Willink escribió:
>> Hi
>>
>> to be clearer
>>
>> A helper 'function' is a UML Operation that is a query and has a body
>> 'constraint' defined using OCL.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Ed Willink
>>
>> On 27/01/2015 14:15, Ed Willink wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
>>> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Ed Willink
>>>
>>>
>>> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>>>> Thanks Ed.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>>>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>>>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>>>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>>>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>>>> the profile.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> Víctor
>>>>
>>>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>>>> Hi
>>>>>
>>>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the
>>>>> context
>>>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> Ed Willink
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to
>>>>>> factorize OCL
>>>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Víctor
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
Re: Reusing OCL in a profile [message #1591341 is a reply to message #1589531] Thu, 29 January 2015 13:22 Go to previous message
Eclipse UserFriend
Hi,
I got it working with a test example by using operations as queries. I
added an stereotype (abstractStereotype) where the operations are
defined. The other stereotype (relationshipC) has a generalization
relationship with this abstractStereotype. This abstractStereotype is an
extension of the metaclass Dependency. Then I write something like after
specifying the operation in the abstractStereotype:

CheckProfiles(self.base_Dependency) (as an OCL in relationshipC
stereotype).

This works.

Nevertheless, when I try to do the same with a model where the profile
is within a package it doesn't work.
Should I change something when calling the operation? I always get the
same error:

The 'RelationshipC::ConstraintTest' constraint result is invalid for
'«RelationshipC»profile::0'
- Failed to evaluate
profile::Test::AbstractDependency::CheckProfiles(UML::Dependency) :
Boolean <<RelationshipC>> <Dependency> 0 profile EMF Problem

I checked the OCL body of the operation by using a regular constraint
and it works.

Regards,

Víctor



El 28/01/2015 a las 14:59, Ed Willink escribió:
> Hi
>
> It's a normal OO functional call
>
> someObject.someFunction()
>
> Regards
>
> Ed Willink
>
>
> On 28/01/2015 12:36, "V. López" wrote:
>> Thanks Ed, now I found some documentation on the topic here:
>>
>> http://help.eclipse.org/luna/index.jsp?topic=%2Forg.eclipse.ocl.doc%2Fhelp%2FOCLinPapyrus.html
>>
>>
>> However, there are some issues I can't solve.
>> In the image attached I try to add a Helper class with a query
>> operation that I try to call from another Constraint in a Stereotype.
>> But I'm not able to find out how to do it properly.
>>
>> Is there an example somewhere where the invocation of the query is shown.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Víctor López-Jaquero
>>
>> El 27/01/2015 a las 18:46, Ed Willink escribió:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> to be clearer
>>>
>>> A helper 'function' is a UML Operation that is a query and has a body
>>> 'constraint' defined using OCL.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Ed Willink
>>>
>>> On 27/01/2015 14:15, Ed Willink wrote:
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> A helper 'function' is just a query Operation, probably with an
>>>> OCL-defined body. It can have as many parameters as you like.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> Ed Willink
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 27/01/2015 12:22, "V. López" wrote:
>>>>> Thanks Ed.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know exactly how to create helpers in the Constraint element
>>>>> in the profile specification. Since it is a helper function, Should I
>>>>> need to specify a Context or I should use a parameter instead with no
>>>>> Context specification. I guess a parameter would be the right way.
>>>>> However, I can't find the exact syntax to create helper functions in
>>>>> the profile.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Víctor
>>>>>
>>>>> El 27/01/2015 a las 12:50, Ed Willink escribió:
>>>>>> Hi
>>>>>>
>>>>>> UML Constraints are not re-useable, which is clearly very irritating.
>>>>>> Graphically there is no problem in drawing multiple lines from a
>>>>>> Constraint and functionally these could be the various
>>>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values. Unfortunately the
>>>>>> Constraint.constrainedElement values are underspecified and almost an
>>>>>> irrelevance. It is the one Constraint.context that defines the
>>>>>> context
>>>>>> of the Constraint and consequently makes it un-reuseable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You can define a helper operation that can be invoked from multiple
>>>>>> constraints and so avoid repetitive complex OCL expressions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ed Willink
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 27/01/2015 10:02, "V. López" wrote:
>>>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>>> When adding OCL to a profile in Papyrus, I would like to
>>>>>>> factorize OCL
>>>>>>> code to improve maintainability. For instance, if I have in two
>>>>>>> stereotypes an attribute of type TypeA, I would like to write just
>>>>>>> once the constraints and then invoke them from both stereotypes.
>>>>>>> Is it possible when specifying the constraints in the profile?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Víctor
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
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