Dr. José Raúl Romero Salguero
www.jrromero.net
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xODP: The MagicDraw plugin for RM-ODP and UML4ODP
Latest news Description Screenshots Download Documentation Links Credits

THIS PAGE IS NOT LONGER UPDATED!


Latest news

  • July 22, 2011. Basic and full edition: Minor revision and full correspondences management. Tool renamed as xODP. We have also been working on experimental features. Compatible with MD16.8+.
  • November 3, 2010. Full edition (management of correspondences as UML dependencies) for MD16.8+.
  • April 15, 2010. Basic and full edition (can be installed using the MD Resource Manager) for MD16.8+.
  • May 17, 2009. Basic and full edition (new feature: install the plugin using the MD Resource Manager) for MD16.6-.
  • May 13, 2009. Basic and full edition (new features and improvements).
  • March 29, 2009. Basic edition (new features and improvements).
  • Febrary 16, 2009. Basic edition (some improvements and problems solved); Full edition (based on alpha version).
  • January 29, 2009. Basic edition (stable beta version); Full edition (alpha version - 35%).
  • November 20, 2008. Initial alpha edition and website launched.

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Description

The Reference Model of Open Distributed Processing (RM-ODP) is a joint effort by ISO/IEC and ITU-T, which provides a co-ordinating framework for the standardization of open distributed processing (ODP) which supports distribution, interworking, platform and technology independence, and portability, together with an Enterprise Architectural Framework for the specification of ODP systems.

The fact that ODP languages are notation-independent motivated ISO/IEC and ITU-T to start a joint project in 2004: "ITU-T Rec. X.906|ISO/IEC 19793: Information technology - Open distributed processing - Use of UML for ODP system specifications", known as UML4ODP. UML4ODP defines a set of UML profiles, one for each viewpoint language and one to express the correspondences between viewpoints, and an approach for structuring them according to the RM-ODP principles. The purpose of UML4ODP is to allow ODP modelers to use the UML notation for expressing their ODP specifications in a standard graphical way; to allow UML modelers to use the RM-ODP concepts and mechanisms to structure their large UML system specifications according to a mature and standard proposal; and to allow UML tools to be used to process viewpoint specifications, thus facilitating the software design process and the enterprise architecture specification of large software systems (See RM-ODP.net for further details).

The availability of tools for UML4ODP enables the integration of the RM-ODP enterprise architecture framework with other proposals, such as the OMG's Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) initiative, or with the Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA).

This UML4ODP plugin for MagicDraw facilitates the development of ODP systems specifications according to the guidelines provided by the ISO and ITU-T UML4ODP standard. It has been built using MagicDraw's OpenAPI, and it is fully integrated into MagicDraw modeling environment.

More precisely, this plugin increases MagicDraw's modeling capabilities by providing the following features:
  • It serves to UML modelers as a guide to the use of the UML4ODP profile, since it customizes the MagicDraw environment and facilitates the identification and usage of the different ODP-specific elements.

  • It allows UML modelers to specify all the different kinds of elements defined in the five ODP viewpoints, using the sets of UML Profiles for ODP systems defined in ISO/IEC 19793 | ITU-T X.906. This includes the ability to create and design models of ODP systems using the UML diagrams defined in UML4ODP:
    • the ODP_SystemSpec model;
    • the Enterprise Viewpoint model, and its related diagrams (e.g., behaviour);
    • the Information Viewpoint model, and its related diagrams;
    • the Computational Viewpoint model, and its related diagrams (e.g., sequence diagrams);
    • the Engineering Viewpoint model, and its related diagrams;
    • the Technology Viewpoint model, and its related diagrams; and
    • the Correspondence model.

  • It enables the validation of all user viewpoint models, by checking that they fulfill all constraints prescribed by UML4ODP and RM-ODP. Errors or warnings found in the models during the validation process are clearly reported to the user, showing the precise elements where the conflicts were found. Endpoints at correspondence links can be also validated.

Please notice that we provide three different flavours of the plugin:
Basic edition.
This version provides all the diagramming capabilities, which allow the UML modeler to create and represent any ODP system specification without need to know the ISO's UML Profile in depth.

Full edition.
This version includes all the diagramming capabilities. Moreover, it allows the UML modeler to validate his/her models -both individual viewpoint models and the complete ODP specification model-, and to generate reports that give the MagicDraw's user information about the validation process (warnings and errors found).

Experimental edition.
This version is based on the full edition. Moreover, it includes the management of ODP correspondences and the prototyping of the ODP computational specifications in Maude. Both capabilities are executed using model transformations, using the QVT Medini and ATL transformation engines, respectively.

xODP IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

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Screenshots


perspectives Initial ODP_SystemSpec diagram
Specific RM-ODP perspectiveInitial ODP_SystemSpec diagram


EV diagram IV diagram
Enterprise Viewpoint diagramInformation Viewpoint diagram


CV diagram TV diagram
Computational Viewpoint diagramTechnology Viewpoint diagram

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Download

We provide different flavours of the plugin as explained above. The latest versions of the plugin are:
  • Basic edition.
  • Full edition.
  • Experimental edition.
    • current version (no versioning for this edition; always based on the latest full edition).

The ODP icons, as SVG files, used in this tool are also available for download in this zipped file (Acknowledgement: All icons and artwork used in the UML profiles for ODP were originally designed by Richard Hodgkinson FISTC, Hampshire, United Kingdom).

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Documentation

The current version of the user manual is available in English. A complete sample and demo can be found below.

How to install
This plugin is provided as a ZIP file, which contains five folders:
  • /data. It contains the descriptor file, as used by MagicDraw to automatically import the plugin.
  • /manual. It contains the user guide.
  • /perspective. It contains the RMODP perspective.
  • /plugins. It contains the folder -named as 'es.uco.mdplugin.rmodp'- corresponding to the plugin program.
  • /profiles. It contains the ODP-specific UML profile version in mdzip format that is instantiated and used by the MD-plugin.
Before installing the plugin, please check that the version and edition of the MagicDraw modeling tool that you have installed in your computer is compatible with the version of the plugin.

You can install the plugin manually (as provided in this site) or from MagicDraw Resource Manager (version 1.0.0).
  • Manually:
    To install the plugin, unzip the plugin package in the proper folder, i.e., the MagicDraw's base folder (e.g., 'C:\Program Files\MagicDraw UML Personal Edition') and overwrite any previous existing version of the plugin files. Please note that MagicDraw perspectives need to be imported first clicking on Options > Perspectives > Customize > Import new perspective, and then selecting the proper UMD file (i.e., '/perspective/rmodp.umd', as provided in the plugin's ZIP file). Finally, copy the profile file ('ODP_Profile.mdzip') to: [MagicDraw installation directory]\profiles.


  • Resource Manager:
    There is two ways: Local and Remote installation.

    • Local installation.
      1. Download the most recent standalone installation version (as ZIP file) from this site.
      2. From the Help main menu, select Resource/Plugin Manager. The Resource/Plugin Manager appears and prompts to check for available updates and new resources. Click Import.
      3. Select the RM-ODP plugin ZIP file downloaded. Click Open.
      4. Click Yes to proceed with the installation.
      5. Restart the MagicDraw application.

    • Remote installation. (Only available in the Full Edition)
      1. From the Help main menu, select Resource/Plugin Manager. The Resource/Plugin Manager appears and prompts to check for available updates and new resources. Click Check.
        NOTE: Specify HTTP Proxy Settings for connection to start MagicDraw updates and resources.
      2. Select the RM-ODP Plugin check box and click Download/Install.
      3. Restart the MagicDraw application.


    • Samples
    The UML4ODP Standard (ISO/IEC 19793) comprises a complete example of an ODP system specification using UML (Annex A), which may be accurately reproduced using this plugin. The mdzip file is available for download from here as a ZIP file.

    If you are a Java programmer, and interested in building your own validations, you can also download the Eclipse project comprising the example illustrated in the user manual.

    You can also have a look at the online demo: explore the possibilities that this plugin offers you!

    NOTE: Please notice that you need to have installed Flash Player in your computer to launch this online demo, which is shown as a pop-up window.

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    Links

    • RM-ODP resource site. [+]
    • ITU-T Rec X.906 | ISO/IEC 19793 - Use of UML for ODP systems specifications (IS). [+]
    • ITU-T Rec X.902 | ISO/IEC 10746 - Open Distributed Processing - Reference Model. [+]

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    Credits


    If you have any question or incidence, please contact us at rmodp.support -at- gmail.com.

    Developer:
    Juan Ignacio Jaen, MSc.

    Advisor:
    Jose Raul Romero, PhD.

    Supporters:
    Supported by Projects TIN2008-03107 and P07-TIC-03184 (PI: Dr. Antonio Vallecillo).

    Atenea Research Group KDIS Lab Research

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