About Modeling
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Contents
Introduction
The primary objective of the Modeling tool is to provide graphical view to organize and visualize the structure and components of software systems, particularly software systems built using the object-oriented style. The Modeling uses the Unified Modeling Language (UML) notation to design different kinds of UML diagrams. UML diagrams in UML models designed using the Modeling visually represent requirements, subsystems, logical and physical elements, and structural and behavioral patterns of software systems designed using the object-oriented style. These UML diagrams are designed using concepts of packages, interfaces, classes, attributes, and operations.
This UML modeling process is similar to creating a set of blueprints for a large development project by an engineer. Like a set of blueprints, a UML model not only depicts the system as a whole, but also allows you to focus on specifics such as structural and behavioral details.
The Modeling supports an approach to software engineering where the UML modeling tools are completely integrated within the RAD Studio integrated development environment. The Modeling provides the features needed to design and build object-oriented software systems, allowing the entire development team to collaborate using common language, diagrams, and software. Abstracted away from any particular programming language, a UML model allows all participants in the development cycle to communicate in the same language. The Modeling provides business people, developers, and project managers a single platform with a consistent UML-based user interface for all of their work throughout the entire software development cycle. Effective usage of UML diagrams simplifies developing of your software systems.
One of the Modeling's main features is simultaneous round-trip engineering, the ability to immediately synchronize class diagrams with their implementation source code and reverse.
The main IDE elements used by the Modeling
The Modeling features tightly integrate with the RAD Studio IDE. When modeling support is activated:
- The following IDE's elements become active:
- Model View -- The Model View shows the model tree of logical structure and containment hierarchy of your modeling project.
- Diagram View -- The Diagram View displays UML model diagrams created in your UML model.
- You can execute many operations managing UML models and diagrams directly from the Model View and Diagram View. You can: add or delete new UML diagrams to the project; add, delete or rename diagram elements (nodes and links); add or delete members in diagram elements; create new diagram elements by patterns; create hyperlinks; add constraints; export diagrams to images; add user properties; manage the diagram layout; generate documentation; navigate among the Diagram View, Model View, and source code; cut, copy, and paste elements; and so on.
- The following IDE's elements become active:
- The functionality of the following IDE features is extended:
- Object Inspector -- The Modeling extends the Object Inspector's functionality providing the tool to manage properties of UML diagrams and diagram elements. The Object Inspector shows the properties of a modeling diagram or diagram element that is selected in the Model View or Diagram View. Using the Object Inspector, you can view and edit properties of the selected modeling diagram or diagram element.
- Tool Palette -- The Modeling extends the Tool Palette by adding UML modeling elements. When a UML diagram is shown in the Diagram View, the Tool Palette displays icons corresponding to modeling elements available for this diagram. These icons identify commands that can be used to create corresponding modeling elements on the diagram shown in the Diagram View.
- Menus -- The Modeling specific commands are added to the main menu and to the context menus of the Project Manager and Structure View.
- The functionality of the following IDE features is extended:
The main Modeling features
The Modeling supports the following features:
- You can create projects that support UML Modeling. You can create design (programming language-independent) or implementation (language-specific) modeling projects.
- You can use all UML 1.5 and UML 2.0 types of UML diagrams. In the Diagram View or Model View, you can directly create all supported types of UML modeling diagrams and directly manipulate all model elements (diagrams, packages, classes, links, and so on).
- Two-way navigation between model elements and the source code. In the Diagram View or Model View, you can navigate from the graphical depiction of a model element directly to the source code implementing this model element. Similarly, you can navigate from a class in the source code directly to its graphical UML diagram in the Diagram View.
- Class diagrams provide two-way run-time synchronization between the language-specific source code and the UML model. Changes in source code are immediately reflected in the graphical depiction and vice versa. This feature works in implementation projects (UML 1.5).
- Source code generation for sequence diagrams can be used in implementation projects (UML 1.5).
- You can use patterns.
- You can use audits and metrics.
- You can use the source code refactoring.
- You can import and export XMI format models.
- You can import IBM Rational Rose (MDL) format models.
- You can automatically generate documentation for designed models.
- You can annotate and illustrate UML diagrams.
- You can use gradient coloring and images to illustrate UML diagram elements.
- You can use OCL constraints.
Warning: Not all features described in this Help are available in all editions of RAD Studio. To determine the Modeling features supported in your product edition, refer to the feature matrix on the Embarcadero web page.