1 Sobah Abbas Petersen Adjunct Associate Professor TDT4252 Modelling of Information Systems Advanced…

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Sobah Abbas Petersen

Adjunct Associate [email protected]

TDT4252Modelling of Information Systems

Advanced Course

Lecture 4: Introduction to Metis TDT4252, Spring 2013

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Introduction to Metis

• This presentation provides an introduction to the Metis

modelling application and contains a “getting started”

guide to Metis modelling.

• These slides are based on a set of slides prepared by

John Krogstie, TDT4252, 2009, and updated in

January 2012.

TDT4252, Spring 2013Lecture 4: Introduction to Metis

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Metis 5.2.2

• The Metis 5.2.2 software is available on the computers in the computer lab P15.

• You are encouraged to use the computer labs for running Metis.


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Terminology (as used in Metis)

• Metamodel:– The logical model of objects and relationship types and how they relate to

each other. This is the modelling language and defines the constructs available for modelling.

• Template:– How a metamodel or a set of metamodels are packaged as a set of capabilities for

creating models.

• Modelling domains:– A specific area or aspect (of an organisation or a situation) that is modelled. e.g.

product domain, organisation domain.

• Model View:– A means of organisaing and displaying model contents in a meaningful way.


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Basic Idea• Metamodels or templates provide modelling constructs or the

modelling language.• Basic modelling constructs are:

– Objects (object types)– Relationships (relationship types)– Symbols for the constructs

• Other modelling constructs are available to structure the model contents as well as to make large models easy to present.

– E.g. the concept of a folder called “container”.

• Metis has powerful viewing capabilities.• Metis has a development capability to design Metamodels of your

choice (this is beyond the scope of this scope).


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Modelling Capabilities• Object-oriented, based on ideas of ER modelling.• Objects and relationships have properties; name and

description are default properties, others can be added in the Metamodel.

• Relationships can be created between objects within the same domain or across domains. E.g. a product can be related to an organisation, to indicate responsibility.


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Important to remember!

• Always ask:– Why am I creating the model? – What is the modelling goal?– What purpose will my model serve? – What questions will the model help me answer?

• If you’re clear about these, then the model is more likely to give you what you want.

• Always check if your model provides you the answers you want.


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Running Metis


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Starting Metis 5.2.2


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Create Model


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Create Model: Select Metamodel or Template


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Saving the new Model


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Metis Modelling Window


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Modelling Window: Model Tree


Expand the Model Tree to access the modelling constructs included in the metamodel: object types, relationship types, symbols.

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Creating models

• Models can be created using the modelling constructs (or artefacts) available from the Model Tree.

• Objects and relationships can be created by:– Dragging and dropping modelling constructs from the Model Tree to

the Modelling Area.– Right-clicking in the Modelling Area and selecting the option “New

Object” and then selecting the desired object type.– Selecting a modelling construct from the Modelling Notation Toolbar

(right hand side of the screen), moving the mouse pointer to the Modelling Area and by clicking the left mouse button to place the modelling construct.


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Model Instance Tree


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Edit Properties


The Property dialogue for an object or a relationship can be obtained by:•Pointing to the entity, clicking the right mouse button and selecting the menu option “Properties”. •Pointing to the entity, Press the Shift Key and double click on the left-mouse button simultaneously.

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Edit Properties (2)


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Creating Relationships (1)


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Creating Relationships (2)• Additional ways to create relationships between

objects are:– Select an object in the Modelling Area, point to another object and

right click. Select “Connect to Selected” from the menu. Then a list

of all the possible relationships between the selected and the

current objects are listed. Select the desired type of relationship.

– Select an object in the Model Instance Tree. Point to an object in

the Modelling Area and right click. Select “Connect to Selected”

from the menu. Select desired relationship type from the list.


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Saving Models

• Metis reminds you to save your model every 10 minutes (default).

• Save your model by clicking the menu iten “Save” or “Save all”.


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Open an existing Model (1)


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Open an existing Model (2)


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Model Repository


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Edit Models


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Edit Models – Shortcuts

• Metis has several hot keys or shortcuts. Some commonly used ones are:– Ctrl L: Zoom All– Ctrl E: Zoom to selected object– Ctrl I: Zoom In– Ctrl U: Zoom Out– Ctrl R: Zoom rectangle– Shift, double click left mouse button: open property dialogue

window


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Copy and Paste

• Objects may be copied and pasted by using the right-

mouse menu or by using the standard Ctrl C and Ctrl V.– The selected object (if using Ctrl C) or the current object (if using the

menu) is copied along with all its sub-objects and relationships. i.e. the

copy function picks up the structure that belongs to the object.

– When pasting an object or a set of objects, the objects are pasted

within the current object. i.e. the pasted object or structure of objects

become a part of the structure of the current object (a child of the

current object).


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Model ViewsViewing models contents selectively

• To view just the objects connected to a specific object:

– Point to the relevant object– Right click and select menu “Find instances”, “Find neighbors”. A small window appears. Select the level (the depth of the

structure) you want to view and click “Find”.– Select the menu “Create model view”. A new model view (similar to the Modelling Area) is created

with just the relevant object and the other objects that are related to it.

• This can be used for:– Analysing large models– Selective viewing, e.g. selecting parts of the model that may

be relevant for specific user.– For presenting selected information from a large model.


Complete model

Model View

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Relationship Matrices• Provide an overview of relationships

between objects. e.g. the relationships between a requirements and the organisations that generated the requirements.

• This can be used for:– Obtaining a quick overview of

dependencies among objects.– Easy visualisation of selected model

contents.– Easy access to edit the properties of

relationship.


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General Objects and Relationships

• When the metamodel does not contain all

the required modelling concepts:

– Use “General Object” and “General Relationship”.

• In the Model Tree, Open “Metis Modelling”,

then select “General Relationship” or

“General Object”.


Model Tree

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Summary

• This presentation is an introduction to Metis and provides

instruction on how to get started and creating simple models.

• It gives an overview of basic modelling and model viewing

capabilities.

• Note: this is not an exhaustive list of all the capabilities.


Documents

1 Sobah Abbas Petersen Adjunct Associate Professor TDT4252 Modelling of Information Systems Advanced…