Overview of Reflective Ecore Model Diagram Editor

Introduction

Reflective Ecore Model Diagram Editor dynamically loads a meta-model, and provides a diagram editor for editing its instance. In a general case, from a meta-model you generate model, edit, and diagram code by using EMF and GMF. On the other hand, Reflective Ecore Model Diagram Editor provides a diagram editor directly from a meta-model by using EMF reflective APIs.

It's assumed that readers of this document are familiar with EMF and GMF.

Dynamic loading of meta-model

In the case of .xsd file as a meta-model, the editor converts it into a dynamic Ecore model by using XSDEcoreBuilder. The editor saves the location of the given meta-model file as "xsi:schemaLocation" attribute in .xmi_diagram/.xml_diagram file. The attribute enables that the editor finds the meta-model and converts it when opening again.

Nodes on the palette

Once the editor loads your meta-model, it places every non-abstract EClass in the meta-model on the palette. For example, if the editor loads mindmap.xsd (its class diagram ) as a meta-model, complex types in the xsd are converted into EClasses and placed as "nodes" on the palette, i.e., ThreadItem, Thread, Topic, Resource, and Relationship are put on the palette. In this example, however, Map class is not put on the palette because it is the root class corresponding to the diagram canvas and it is not instantiated as a child for any classes.

Note that association classes such as Relationship are also placed as "nodes" on the palette instead of "links" because the editor cannot recognize as a link.

Links on the palette

Two kinds of link creation tool are supported: "Containment" and "Reference". "Containment" creates EReference with containment="true" and resolveProxy="false", whereas "Reference" creates EReference with containment="false". If no EReference with containment="false" exists in the meta-model, this creation tool does not appear on the palette.

Which EClass is the diagram root element?

GMF requires an EClass which corresponds to the diagram root element. In Reflective Ecore Model Diagram Editor, the root element has to be determined dynamically. If .xsd files is given as a meta-model, the type of the root element defined in the XSD is chosen as the diagram root element. In the case of .ecore file, the creation wizard asks after loading the dynamic Ecore.

Editing model instance

You can create an instance by using node creation tools on the palette. Click one of the nodes on the palette, then click again on the canvas. If the node can be contained by the diagram root element, the node is added/set to the appropriate feature of the root element EClass. If not, the node is treated as a phantom node by the editor. Phantom nodes can be contained by other nodes by connecting links using "Containment" link creation tool on the palette. Of course, the editor does not allow to make a connection which is not defined in the meta-model.

Label on a node

Once you put a node on the canvas, you might be able to edit its label. The label corresponds to a String attribute of its underlying semantic model. The attribute is selected according to the same algorithm as EMF's ReflectiveItemProvider.

Editing other attributes of a node

You can edit other attributes of a node on the Properties View.

Popup menus on canvas

When you are going to put a new element from the palette, or connect elements as Reference or Containment, there may be multiple structural features to add the element. In this case, a popup menu appears to select which features you are adding the element to, as shown in the following screen-shot.


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