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XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1770734]

Wed, 16 August 2017 11:32

Eclipse User

Hi folks,

I have two files (attached) which compose usual RoyalAndLoyalSchool case.
One is the metamodel, the other one an instance (valid).

I would like to edit that XMI instance (to make it conforms with OCL constraints) with a graphical tool AND save it in the same XMI style.

What tool would you recommand ?
I would like to visualize references between objects to follow OCL paths easily.

For now I'm using Notepad++ (so graphical :s) and a home made helper (textual, but very usefull).

Thanks,
Edouard

Attachment: RoyalAndLoyal.ecore
(Size: 15.15KB, Downloaded 183 times)
Attachment: model_00051.xmi
(Size: 0.17KB, Downloaded 199 times)

[Updated on: Wed, 16 August 2017 16:47] by Moderator

Re: XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1770739 is a reply to message #1770734]

Wed, 16 August 2017 11:52

Eclipse User

Hi

Sirius is able to provide a custom graphical editor for an Ecore metamodel. Once you're familiar with Sirius, a basic editor may only take an hour or two, so it's worth experiencing a bit of learning pain.

Within Sirius EValidator should work so OCL constraints should be checkable.

Sirius will show the instance paths, if that's what you want. If you really want the OCL instance paths or OCL class paths you will have to work harder. Not necessarily a good idea since graphics has traditionally failed for arbitrary expressions. However if your OCL is mostly patterns you could re-use / replicate the OCL to pattern approach of the QVTd transformation from textual QVTm to graphical QVTs. See http://www.eclipse.org/mmt/qvt/docs/ICMT2017/MicromappingMoC.pdf for some pictures.

Regards

Ed Willink

Re: XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1770744 is a reply to message #1770739]

Wed, 16 August 2017 12:40

Eclipse User

Hi Ed ! Thanks for your answer.
That is precisely what I meant : does Sirius production is worth learning ?! I'll try it.

It would be an idea to show the OCL path of firing rules on the graphical model, I have all information at hand. But I don't think I'll have time to do it.
If I may, on the matter, what do you mean by "[...] graphics has traditionally failed for arbitrary expressions." ?
The article looks interesting, I'll have a deeper look into it later. Litterature is always appreciated, thanks.

Re: XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1770758 is a reply to message #1770744]

Wed, 16 August 2017 16:22

Eclipse User

Ok. I'm gona get a be deeper.

My XMI (.xmi), if you take time to open it, is written as following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ASCII"?>
<xmi:XMI xmi:version="2.0" xmlns:xmi="http://www.omg.org/XMI" xmlns:RandL="http://de.tuhh.sts.octopus/octopus2emfatic/2006/RandL">
  <RandL:ProgramPartner name="" numberOfCustomers="72" deliveredServices="/5 /2" programs="/4"/>
  <RandL:Membership currentLevel="/7" card="/8" account="/9" programs="/4" participants="/6/@ref_RandL_Customer.0"/>
  <RandL:Service serviceNr="91" description="FDZa" pointsEarned="82" condition="true" pointsBurned="84" partner="/0" transactions="/3" level="/7"/>
  <RandL:Burning amount="0.15246516276275457" points="6" account="/9" generatedBy="/2" card="/8">
    <date year="65" month="48" day="50"/>
  </RandL:Burning>
  <RandL:LoyaltyProgram name="" partners="/0" levels="/7" participants="/6/@ref_RandL_Customer.3 /6/@ref_RandL_Customer.0 /6/@ref_RandL_Customer.1 /6/@ref_RandL_Customer.2 /6/@ref_RandL_Customer.4" memberships="/1"/>
  <RandL:Service serviceNr="67" description="" pointsEarned="47" condition="true" pointsBurned="10" partner="/0" level="/7"/>
  <RandL:Container_RandL>
    <ref_RandL_Customer gender="female" isMale="false" name="YiMK" title="m" age="11" programs="/4" memberships="/1">
      <dateOfBirth year="9" month="63" day="16"/>
    </ref_RandL_Customer>
    <ref_RandL_Customer gender="female" isMale="true" name="VAB2" title="FjO" age="25" programs="/4" memberships="/1"/>
    <ref_RandL_Customer gender="female" isMale="true" name="H" title="dGh" age="83" programs="/4" memberships="/1"/>
    <ref_RandL_Customer isMale="false" name="E1k" title="S" age="55" programs="/4" memberships="/1"/>
    <ref_RandL_Customer isMale="false" name="Y" title="iojK" age="24" programs="/4" cards="/8" memberships="/1"/>
  </RandL:Container_RandL>
  <RandL:ServiceLevel name="hz" program="/4" availableServices="/5 /2" Membership="/1"/>
  <RandL:CustomerCard valid="true" color="gold" owner="/6/@ref_RandL_Customer.4" Membership="/1" transactions="/3"/>
  <RandL:LoyaltyAccount points="13" number="41" Membership="/1" transactions="/3"/>
</xmi:XMI>

Sirius (the Eclipse run of RoyalAndLoyal Ecore modelling) generates (.randl) files in the form :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<RandL:Container_RandL xmi:version="2.0" xmlns:xmi="http://www.omg.org/XMI" xmlns:RandL="http://de.tuhh.sts.octopus/octopus2emfatic/2006/RandL">
  <ref_RandL_Customer/>
  <ref_RandL_Customer/>
  <ref_RandL_CustomerCard/>
  <ref_RandL_LoyaltyProgram/>
  <ref_RandL_TransactionReport/>
  <ref_RandL_Burning/>
</RandL:Container_RandL>

There is a small difference. ANd Sirius does not like it.

I'll ask the same question again, with some emphasis:
I would like to edit that XMI instance (to make it conforms with OCL constraints) with a graphical tool AND save it in the same XMI style. I have many files in the same format I have to edit.
What tool would you recommand ?

Note that I open the instance programmatically afterward, via EMF jars (org.eclipse.emf.ecore and org.eclipse.emf.common - both v2.11) and they don't mind the xmi:XMI style.

[edit: I found that this is related : https://www.eclipse.org/forums/index.php/t/1077730/ ]

[Updated on: Wed, 16 August 2017 16:50] by Moderator

Re: XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1770770 is a reply to message #1770758]

Wed, 16 August 2017 23:24

Eclipse User

The first serialization you show is for a resource with multiple root objects. The second is for a resource with a single root object. EMF's generated editor is not helpful with regard to creating additional root objects (nor is the reflective editor), though it's happy to display them if they already exist in the resource. Probably most editors aren't helpful with regard to creating additional root objects (because any EObject is allowed, so an instance of any non-abstract EClass is permitted, though generally that's no so sensible to propose automatically). But editors can be specialized to support creating additional root objects from your more restricted domain. More typically models are designed with a focus on a single root "container", which you already appear to have, i.e., Container_RandL.

Re: XMI Graphical Manipulation [message #1771072 is a reply to message #1770770]

Mon, 21 August 2017 12:51

Eclipse User

That is a well definition of the problem.
But specializing Sirius looks -very- complicated..

On the other hand, transforming multi root models into a single root is not easy either : All references must be adapted and I don't see an automated way to do that.
I will see with my boss what he'd reckon.

Thanks again for your insight.
Edouard

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