introduction to the graphical modeling framework

© 2008 by Borland Software Corp; made available under the EPL v1.0 | 17 March 2008

Introduction to the Graphical Modeling Framework

Artem Tikhomirov, BorlandAlexander Shatalin, Borland

Introduction to the Graphical Modeling Framework | © 2008 by Borland Software Corp; made available under the EPL v1.0

GMF Overview• “The Eclipse Graphical Modeling Framework (GMF) provides a

generative component and runtime infrastructure for developing

graphical editors based on EMF and GEF.”

• Significantly reduces cost of DSL tooling

• GMF is part of Eclipse Modeling Project

• GMF-generated solutions proved by: .ecore diagram editor

.gmfgraph bootstrapping editor

UML2 Tools project diagram editors

Borland Together DSL toolkit


Agenda

• Define requirements for diagram editor • Building diagram editor with GMF, basic steps• Live demo• Hands on – try building your version of GMF diagram• GMF architecture• Q&A session• Generated diagram extensibility• Additions


Define requirements for diagram editor

Workstation

RouterSubNet


Building diagram editor with GMF, basic steps

• Design EMF domain meta-model

• Create graphical representations for diagram nodes/links

• Define diagram structure and generate code ?


EMF domain meta-model


Graphical elements

• SVG picture

• Draw2d “matryoshka”

• Composite SVG figure


Define diagram structure and generate code

Javacode

Domain model

?M2M

M2T

Graphical shapes


Live demo


Hands on/Q&A session

Try building your version of GMF diagram


GMF architecture: GMF Tooling

• Set of models to define diagram editor - capturing graphical, tooling and meta-modeling aspects.

• Extensible code generator, capable to customize generated code to match specific requirements

Generator Model (GMFGen)

Java code

Mapping (GMFMap)

Tool Definition (GMFTool)

Graphical Definition (GMFGraph)

Domain Model (ECore)

Transformation

Templates


Models: Domain. What is meta-model?

UML EMF XSD

Java API

A dog sits in a car.

A girl reads a green book.

…

Instance level Meta-level

…


Models: Graphical Definition

FiguresShapes


Models: Graphical Definition

Diagram Elements


Models: Tooling

Palette tools

Context menu actions

Property sheet


Models: Mapping

Domain model

Tool Definition

Graphical Definition

Mapping model


Models: Generation

M2T

M2M


GMF architecture: Runtime component

A set of plug-ins simplifying development of EMF-based diagram editor, with an execution time extensibility

• Reusable components for graphical editors• Standardized model to describe visual properties of diagram

elements• Set of Services extensible via declared extension-points at

execution time• Command infrastructure that bridges EMF and GEF


Variation points

Generator Model (GMFGen)

Java code

Mapping (GMFMap)

Tool Definition (GMFTool)

Graphical Definition (GMFGraph)

Domain Model (ECore)

ModelsTransformationTemplatesExtension pointsCode


Additions


Runtime - Lite

• Lightweight alternative to Full Runtime

• Notation Model to represent diagram

• Experimental option• Targets pure GEF• Easy to understand

nothing but EMF and GEF


Notation Model


<sentenceRepresentation sentence="s.xmi#//@sentence"> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.0"/> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.1"> <color red=“255“ blue=“0” green=“0”/> </wordRepresentations> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.2"/> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.3"/> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.4"/> <wordRepresentations word="s.xmi#//@sentence/@words.5" bold="true"/></sentenceRepresentation>

Visual model: Styled text representation

A dog sits in a car. A dog sits in a car.


Visual model: Styled text representation

A dog sits in a car. A dog sits in a car.


Thank you for your attention.

• www.eclipse.org/gmf

introduction to the graphical modeling framework

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