Ada-Based Framework for an IDEF0 Case Tool Using the X Window System

摘要

This thesis documents the design strategy, implementation methodology, testing,and evaluation used in developing an Ada-based framework for SAtoolII using the X Window System. AStoolII is an IDEF sub o graphical project editor and data dictionary editor. IDEF sub o is the ICAM Definition Method Zero graphical notation language adopted by the U.S. Air Force to produce a function model of a manufacturing system or environment (23:1-1). The Air Force Institute of Technology is conducting on-going research in the use of IDEF sub o in the requirements analysis phase of the software lifecycle. The thesis begins by providing background information on the X Window System, object-oriented data modeling, and graphical user interfaces. It then describes how SAtoolII was designed around an abstract entity-relationship model of the IDEF sub o language, an abstract model that was developed in earlier research at AFIT and broken down at that time into an essential model and a drawing model. It also describes the design of a machine-independent Ada graphical support environment which provides fundamental multi-window and graphical capabilities, while shielding an Ada application from the intricacies and distinctiveness of specific window systems. Following the design information, the thesis describes how the SAtoolII program was implemented incrementally, by first developing and testing an autonomous essential model component, drawing model component, machine-independent Ada graphics support environment, and graphical user interface. The thesis ends by describing how these components can be used by follow-on research to build the completed SAtollII software.