Introduction

Modgen is an instrument voor Modeling and generation of text files. Modgen operates on ASCII-files. This improves the re-usability of components between systems.

Modeling

Datmod is a modeling tool for checking ERD-models and calculating repositories from these models.

EAR-modeling.

For the modeling of relational models three ASCII-files are used.
A file with Entitities, including lists of member Entitities.
A file with Attributes.
A file with Relations, including for each Entities the attributes.

The three files must comply to a specific &*EAR*&-formaat.
If the files are processed by &*Modgen*& - &*datamod*&elering, using &*DM-Check*& a repository file is created, in which all owners of relations have been deduced, enabling for instance the creation of foreign keys in create table scripts to be &*genere*&ated.

Contextual generation.

The contextual generation can also be used to generate text-documents. It can be used in combination with the use of EAR-models
The &*context*&ual generation is based on one or more ASCII-tabels.
The relations between files are dynamic and will be covered when Action-Scripts are being described..

Genereration

Genereration in templates.
Genereration occurs through the substitution of tags in templates. This implies, that a Template-file is created, in which the variables to be substituted are designated by their start and end escape-character, usually a %.
Templates also can contain small program-routines to execute frequently occurring substitution-sequences, such as all attributes of a relation.
Genereration controlled by Action scripts.
The genereration is controlled by Action-Scripts. Action-Scripts are written in the structured language CodGen_ActionTemplates (CG_AT), that enables the iteration of environments as the basis for subsitution through numerous paths.
The CG_AT language enables complex generation-sequences through the combinations iterations over objects (Data-models, Parameters) with general iterations (WHILE-loops, FOR-loops, CASE structures).
Within CG_AT special algorithms can implemented for building Finite State Machines to enable translaters enabling conversion interfaces.

User interface

The user interface consists on the windows platform of a Visual Basic module and on the Linux platform of a WxWindows application, where ASCII-files can be processed within a project framework. The generator can also be used without the user-interface as a seperate console application enabling batch-generation as well as generation in environments without a desktop installation (The developer will work command-line oriented. In this way the same functionality is avalailable when combined with a multi-file editor.

Version management

The version management of files is centered around Action-Scripts, in which all the files to be used for generation are connected in a tree, depending on the Action-Script.

Original Dutch User guide

You can download the Dutch userguide here.

Picture fetch

If you like the header, it can be found here.

Images

If you're using firefox, put your cursor over the logo. But for some reason IE doesn't like image rollover effects. Its not that big of a deal.

Modgen : Modeling and generation

Info

Custom designs

About the initiator

User Guide Modgen