VCT - A FORMAL LANGUAGE FOR THE SPECIFICATION OF DIAGRAMMATIC MODELING TECHNIQUES

In this paper we propose a language to produce formal high-level speci fications of modelling techniques based on diagrammatic notations such as Dataflow Diagrams, State Transition Diagrams or the Entity-Relatio nship technique. The language, called VCt, is based on set theory and a form of predicate logic. It is aimed at expressing the semantics of modelling techniques. Being a formal language, the specifications prod uced from it are unambiguous. Complete VCt specifications have been pr oduced for a number of modelling techniques. The specifications are us ed as the input of a system for the automatic generation of design too ls. The system includes a parser for the VCt language and a code gener ator. Each generated tool is dedicated to a specified modelling techni que, providing both diagrammatic and semantic support. (C) 1998 Publis hed by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.