Ontological analysis of whole-part relationships in OO-models

Earlier semantic and formal analyses of whole-part (WP) relationships in ob ject-oriented models have led to a framework, which distinguishes between p rimary, consequential, secondary and dependent characteristics of WP relati onships. This paper interprets, validates and elaborates on that framework using an existing ontological theory and an associated formal model of obje cts. The revised framework confirms most of the original characteristics an d suggests a number of additions and modifications. The analysis also groun ds the characteristics in the framework and thereby suggests more precise d efinitions for some of them. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.