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UML profile for an existing ecore model [message #628248]

Tue, 23 February 2010 18:50

prasad

Messages: 22
Registered: July 2009

Junior Member

hi,
we have an existing editor for a DSL. This DSL is expressed in an XML
schema. We used EMF to build a form editor for this DSL.

Our users have asked for UML like graphical editor for this DSL.

I think if I can provide a UML style graphical editor for atleast some part
of the DSL, it will be a good start. Our users may be ok to use the UML
style edior to outline the models to some extent and for finer level editing
they can switch to the form editor.

Is the following approach correct ? Is there a better or different way ?
1. create a UML profile for this DSL.
2. Use this profile to develop few sample models with eclipse UML editor and
any well known 3rd party tool.
3. export the models into XMI
4. Translate the XMI data into my custom xml [ Since my DSL models are xml
files confirming to the DSL's XML schema].

appreciate any guidence.

Thanks
Prasad

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Re: UML profile for an existing ecore model [message #628249 is a reply to message #628248]

Tue, 23 February 2010 20:29

Ed Merks

Messages: 33140
Registered: July 2009

Senior Member

Prasad,

You're probably better off using GMF to define directly a graphical
syntax for your DSL.

prasad wrote:
> hi,
> we have an existing editor for a DSL. This DSL is expressed in an XML
> schema. We used EMF to build a form editor for this DSL.
>
> Our users have asked for UML like graphical editor for this DSL.
>
> I think if I can provide a UML style graphical editor for atleast some part
> of the DSL, it will be a good start. Our users may be ok to use the UML
> style edior to outline the models to some extent and for finer level editing
> they can switch to the form editor.
>
> Is the following approach correct ? Is there a better or different way ?
> 1. create a UML profile for this DSL.
> 2. Use this profile to develop few sample models with eclipse UML editor and
> any well known 3rd party tool.
> 3. export the models into XMI
> 4. Translate the XMI data into my custom xml [ Since my DSL models are xml
> files confirming to the DSL's XML schema].
>
> appreciate any guidence.
>
> Thanks
> Prasad
>
>
>

Ed Merks
Professional Support: https://www.macromodeling.com/

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Re: UML profile for an existing ecore model [message #628256 is a reply to message #628248]

Wed, 24 February 2010 14:45

Vlad Varnica

Messages: 546
Registered: July 2009
Location: Milton Keynes - UK

Senior Member

UML profile will be lost if you try to transform your model to DSL, so don't spend time on this issue :(

It is better to use a UML tool and add stereotype & change some shapes to cover DSL specification if the profile is a requirement.

btw, as Ed Said, GMF is providing specialized tooling for DSL projects. I mean that you have a graphical and model element mapping and many goodies to add graphical extensions. If UML tool is not your need then GMF is the perfect candidate.

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Re: UML profile for an existing ecore model [message #628260 is a reply to message #628256]

Wed, 24 February 2010 19:16

prasad

Messages: 22
Registered: July 2009

Junior Member

Thanks Ed, Vlad.
I gather that GMF is the right way to go.

I have a somewhat related question.
The developers will find the Graphical editor easier to use, but, other
groups of my users [ reviewers, documentation people, general audience ]
need a richer [ in the form of navigation , amount of data they see in a
view at a given time etc] viewers [ preferably web oriented]. I know we
could export the models into svg files which can be viewed in a browser.

My question is, what are the preferred technologies [by developer community
at large] for this purpose ? [ svg ? Ilog Jviews ? Graphwiz ? ].

Appreciate highly any information you can provide.

thanks
Prasad.

"Vlad Varnica" <varnica@omondo.com> wrote in message
news:hm3e36$nan$1@build.eclipse.org...
> UML profile will be lost if you try to transform your model to DSL, so
> don't spend time on this issue :(

> It is better to use a UML tool and add stereotype & change some shapes to
> cover DSL specification if the profile is a requirement.
>
> btw, as Ed Said, GMF is providing specialized tooling for DSL projects. I
> mean that you have a graphical and model element mapping and many goodies
> to add graphical extensions. If UML tool is not your need then GMF is the
> perfect candidate.
>

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Re: UML profile for an existing ecore model [message #628262 is a reply to message #628248]

Thu, 25 February 2010 09:28

Vlad Varnica

Messages: 546
Registered: July 2009
Location: Milton Keynes - UK

Senior Member

I remember that few years ago we have worked on SVG. The SVG export of the graphical diagram was working but didn't really have more value that just an jpg image export.
I then launched a new project on the dynamic svg, I mean that just with your mouse your could have a view of your graphical, model and property elements and navigate inside. This is was a kind of 3 dimensional cube having graphical diagram, model, element property or code views. The dynamic svg was not mature enought in 2006 to finish this project but I think this job could be done today if customers are ready to pay and not just waiting to get every thing for free out of the box !!

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