Graphical Model Transformation Framework (GMTF)- Normalizing heterogeneous models into UML – a suggested approach

Problem Space • Product Vendors need a tool to visualize and persist

heterogeneous domain models in the form of a platform-specific yet standard-based model.• In order to minimize the chaos, the product vendors are very fast coming

up with standard specifications for industry domain models. • For example,

o telecom industry has proposed a common meta-model for telecom products. o Similarly, warehouse tools have agreed upon CWM (Common Warehouse

Model).o Statistical tools trying to adopt a common Predictive Mark-up Modeling Language

(PMML).o Rule Engines adhere to Ontology Definition Model (ODM).

• These meta-models are referred as Computational Independent Model (CIM).

Solution Approach• We embrace the MDA to address the problem

Capturing the business requirement using a Computation Independent Model (CIM – e.g. SBVR/ODM/XMI/XSD/WSDL/Annotated POJO). – as mentioned in the problem space

Then defining the system functionality into platform-independent model (PIM - e.g. EMOF) using an appropriate Domain Specific Language (e.g. EMF).

In an attempt to ensure synergy and interoperability between different meta-models, OMG has proposed MOF (Meta-Object Facility).

It’s the responsibility of MOF implementers to provide an API that can convert heterogeneous CIMs into a standard Platform Independent Model

Finally, given a Platform Definition Model (PDM - e.g. eclipse GMF

vocabulary) the PIM is translated to one or more platform-specific models (PSMs - e.g. UML with domain specific stereotype).

Eclipse makes it so simple !

UML

XSD

WSDL

DB Schema

EMF+GMFDomain Specific Graphical model

Annotated POJO

Case Study A: A Finance Vendor needs to render the purchase-order requirements received as WSDL into a PSM

CIM (human elaborated

specifications)

Case Study A: Implementation

• Convert CIM to Ecoreo Xsd2EcoreBuilder –

dynamically generates the EClass hierarchy using EMF API.

Case Study A: Implementation• Convert Ecore to UML

o Eclass hierarchy is converted into UML class hierarchy using UML Diagramming Framework API (uml2tools plugin).

UML meta model (implemented as uml.ecore -> ecore.ecore)• Convert PIM to PSM

o the domain specific (FinanceEntity) stereotypes are applied to the uml model in order to obtain a PSM.

• Visualize the PSMo GMF persists the UML superstructures using a diagram notational

model (an eclipse specific diagram persistence vocabulary-PDM).o finally the PSM (domain specific uml model) is rendered on a

graphical editor.

Case Study A: Final PSM

• This domain specific uml file now can be imported into any other xmi-compliant uml tools (Rational / EA/ Poseidon etc.).

• Only the data "behind" the diagram <uml:Model/>… will be transmitted. • The diagram elements will be recreated by importer tools.

Viewer & Editor

Controller

GEF

Model

EMF

«notational»View

Diagram model

«semantic»EObject

Biz Model

«notational»commands

Graphical editing Component (IGraphicalEditPart)

Editing policies

requests

figures

layouts

references

manipulates

reads

listens

returns understands

handles

ConnectionRouters

creates/updates

PSM is visually rendered/ manipulated by gef Controller and persisted in emf Model

CIM

CIM-to-Ecore

Behind the scene….

Case Study B : Converting Java Model into PSM

Case Study B : Visualizing PSM

JavaEcoreBuilder UMLModelGenerator GMF Renderer

Case Study C : Transforming DB Schema into Graphical Model

Schema Meta Model (DTP) (DB2EcoreBuilder) Ecore Meta Model (EMF) UML Meta Model PSM with Table stereotype (UMLTools) Editor (GMF)

Graphical Model Transformation Framework – in a nutshell