Univers@lis Model Repository Tool

 Main Page

Documentation
 Overview
 Model Interfaces
Reflective Interface
Tailored Interface
Generation rules
 Textual Notations
XMI and XMI+
JMI, PMI, CTF
 Repository Facility
Structure
Repository Session
Program Sample
 Tools
Universalis Viewer
Import/Export Facility
Conversion Tools
 Publications

Samples
 Metamodels
MOF
UML 1.3
 Models
Notation Guide
A Bank Model
 Model Instances
Bank instances

Projects
(restricted access)
 Groupe Méta
 Pilote

 

Universalis Overview

Universalis is a Model Repository tool that allows storing object oriented models. Model elements are represented as instances of meta-classes that are defined according to an OO metamodel. Universalis provides support for the UML 1.3 metamodel and the MOF 1.3 metamodel. Other metamodels can be supported by simply importing their specification into the tool.

Universalis was developed in the France Telecom research center of Lannion (France). Architecture concepts used in this tool are basically the same as the ones that have been formalized by the OMG in the Meta Object Facility Specification (MOF). These basic principles are :

  • A four-layer metamodel architecture at the top of which stands the meta-metamodel language.
  • The use of a reflective interface and the definition of generic rules for generating tailored interfaces so as to inspect model elements.
  • The use of textual notations for model interchange (XMI, JMI).

There are some differences in the design with respect to the MOF specification (regarding the reflective and tailored interfaces). They are basically due to the fact, that in order to achieve the closest mapping to the UML metamodel, we have added a direct support for the association class abstraction at the meta-metamodel level.

Regarding repository management, two important distinctive characteristics of Universalis tool are, firstly, the way in which registration is done (explicit registration upon a two-level hierarchy of object identifiers). Secondly, flexibility in creating the model elements (this includes overloading of link properties such as navigability and agregation).

A paper concerning this work, entitled

"A Pragmatic Approach for Building a Flexible
and User-friendly UML Repository Tool"
has been presented at the UML'99 Conference (Fort Collins, October 1999).


Last modification July 29 1999
mariano.belaunde@rd.francetelecom.fr