Adding Rules
Adding Rules is performed in a similar manner to Adding a Node or Arc, but
the central area of the dialog varies slightly when adding a Rule. To add a
Rule, perform the following steps:
- Press the "Add Rule" button at the right side of the dialog.
A rule will be added to the tree listing on the left of the dialog.
- The central area will change appearance, displaying applicable settings
for Rules. Specify the name of this newly added Rule. There is also a
Drop-Down List in this Central Area which the user is required to specify
the rule type. Upon selection, the central area shall display further
settings for the user to set.
The available options to set are:
- Max in Rule
Specifies for a type of node the maximum number of arcs of a specified
type may connect to the node.
- Max out Rule
Specifies for a type of node the maximum number of arcs of a specified
type may depart from the node.
- Node Connection Rule
Allows/Disallows which nodes are allowed to connect to each other
using which arcs.
- Circular Referencing Rule
Allows/Disallows arcs which will cause circular references.
(Definition of Circular Reference: an Arc may not follow the same arc
type back to the originating node.)
- Press the "Add" to register the details to the newly added Rule.
- If all items have been added, the user may press 'OK' from the
Dialog Control Area to close down the Meta Model Builder. Otherwise,
to Add other Items, select the appropriate button from the
Dialog Control Area, or press 'Cancel' to ignore any changes made in the
Meta Model Builder.
Modifying Rules once they have been created is a matter of re-selecting the
appropriate option from the drop-down list. See
Modifying Rules for more details.