Interacting with autoMed-DM through layers of modelling abstractions a hierarchical, event-driven design

Abstract

We recently proposed AutoMed-DM – a transformation-based data modelling tool for heterogeneous datamanagement system (HDMS). A key feature of the tool is the ability to not only support the activities needed to construct the schemas of the data sources connected to the HDMS, but also effectively and uniformly handle the heterogeneity inherent in those schemas and in the underlying data models. A primary design challenge in the development of AutoMed-DM is how to effectively enable the data model engineers to interact with the tool through its layers of modelling abstractions. In this paper, we address this challenge by proposing a novel hierarchical, event driven design model that formalises a compact and extensible UI hierarchy needed to support the user interaction through all the abstraction layers, and that uses interaction sequence to express the functional design logic. We present in our design model the specification of a key interactive function of AutoMed-DMnamed Create Schema.