You can use this series to learn how to create, prototype, operate, and evolve an application in MDriven Designer, from your first UML model through deployment-oriented topics.
MDriven Designer is a standalone Windows application for modeling and designing information systems. The series is for new users who need a guided introduction and for existing users who want to review specific Designer workflows. Work through the sessions in order for a complete introduction, or use the topic list to return to a specific area.
Start here
- Open Documentation:Introduction to MDriven Designer to understand the role of MDriven Designer and how it fits into MDriven.
- Follow Part 1: Introduction to MDriven Designer to create and organize your first model.
- Continue with the sessions in the order below. Later sessions build on concepts introduced earlier, including classes, diagrams, ViewModels, actions, and prototyping.
- Use HowTos:MDriven Designer Overview Series as the task-oriented index for the complete overview series.
For example, begin by creating a class diagram and classes in Part 1. Then use the ViewModel and prototyper sessions to turn a selected part of that model into an executable user interface.
What you will learn
| Area | Sessions | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Model structure and Designer orientation | Part 1 | Create diagrams, work with the repository tree and Object Inspector, and understand that a diagram is a representation of model elements rather than the model itself. |
| Expressions, prototyping, and ViewModels | Parts 2–4 | Use the OCL editor, work with the system prototyper, define a ViewModel, and explore modal ViewModels. |
| Data access and output | Parts 5–7 | Search database-backed information, create openDocument reports, and work with files and images in reports and the user interface. |
| Model relationships and deployment | Parts 8–9 | Model link objects (association classes), then review MDriven Turnkey, cloud tools, and access groups. |
| User interaction and maintenance | Parts 10–11 and the snapshots session | Define actions and navigation, review ViewModel Designer updates, and keep model and database snapshots safe when moving work between environments. |
Series roadmap
Parts 1–4: Build and prototype a model
- Part 1 — Introduction to MDriven Designer. Learn the Designer workspace, diagrams, packages, classes, categories, process diagrams, and state-machine diagrams. A class can appear on more than one diagram: dragging it onto another diagram adds another representation of the same model class.
- Part 2 — OCL Editor, system prototyper and ViewModel. Learn the OCL editor and the relationship between a model, the system prototyper, and a ViewModel. OCL is the expression language used to describe model logic and transformations.
- Part 3 — WECPOF prototyper application. Continue with the prototyper application and its declarative user-interface approach.
- Part 4 — Modal ViewModels and more. Learn how modal ViewModels support interaction flows that need a separate modal view. See Documentation:MDriven designer overview Part 4.
Parts 5–8: Find, present, and relate information
- Part 5 — Searching in databases. Learn the series approach to finding information in databases.
- Part 6 — openDocument reports. Create reports using openDocument output.
- Part 7 — Files and images in reports and UI. Work with files and images in both reports and the user interface.
- Part 8 — Link Objects association classes. Model information that belongs to a relationship by using link objects, also known as association classes.
Parts 9–11: Operate and refine the application
- Part 9 — MDriven Turnkey, cloud tools, and access groups. Review how a model can be uploaded to an MDriven Turnkey site and how access groups relate to operating the application.
- Part 10 — Actions and navigation. Define what users can do and how they move through the application. Continue at Documentation:Part 10 MDriven Designer Overview. Actions and navigation.
- Part 11 — ViewModel Designer updates. Review updates to the ViewModel Designer.
- Snapshots and uploads. Learn the series guidance for keeping your model and database safe and for moving them between locations.
Suggested learning path
Use this path if you are building a small application while learning.
- In Part 1, create a class diagram and add a class such as
Customer. Keep the class in its package and add it to any diagrams where it helps you explain the model. - In Part 2, create a ViewModel that selects the part of the model you want to present. A ViewModel is a set of transformation expressions that produces a potentially transformed view of model data and can carry user-interface hints.
- In Parts 3 and 4, run the model in the prototyper and refine the interaction, including modal views where your flow requires them.
- In Parts 5–7, add the ways users find information and produce output, such as a report that includes an image or file-related information.
- In Parts 8–10, refine relationships, define actions, and make the intended navigation explicit.
- In Part 9 and the snapshots session, prepare to operate the model in Turnkey and protect the model and database before moving work.
Key ideas to retain
- The repository is the model; diagrams are views of it. Creating
Class1in one diagram adds it to the repository. Showing that class in a second diagram does not create a second class. - Packages organize the model. Use packages to section a software system in a way comparable to namespaces.
- ViewModels connect model data to an executable view. They transform a selected part of the model and carry UI hints that can be used to derive a user interface.
- Prototype before operating. Use the built-in prototyper while defining the model and its ViewModels, then continue to the Turnkey and access-group material when you are ready to operate the application.
Continue learning
The overview series is an introduction, not a replacement for the topic documentation. When you need detail on a specific Designer capability, use Documentation:Designer. For an end-to-end guided exercise, follow the MDriven Designer Overview Series how-to.
See also
- Documentation:Introduction to MDriven Designer
- Documentation:MDriven designer overview Part 1
- Documentation:MDriven designer overview Part 4
- Documentation:Part 10 MDriven Designer Overview. Actions and navigation
- Documentation:MDriven Product Line
- HowTos:MDriven Designer Overview Series
MDriven Designer Overview Series
MDriven Designer Overview Series
This series provides an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial for creating and operating an MDriven Designer application.
MDriven Designer is a standalone Windows application for modeling and designing complete information systems. Its models use standards such as UML and OCL. You can execute a model with the built-in prototyper and upload it to an MDriven Turnkey site for a functional cloud-based information system.
Series topics
| Session | Focus |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Introduction to MDriven Designer |
| Part 2 | OCL Editor, system prototyper, and ViewModel |
| Part 3 | WECPOF prototyper application |
| Part 4 | Modal ViewModels and more |
| Part 5 | Searching in databases |
| Part 6 | openDocument reports |
| Part 7 | Files and images in reports and the user interface |
| Part 8 | Link objects and association classes |
| Part 9 | MDriven Turnkey, cloud tools, and access groups |
| Part 10 | Actions and navigation |
| Part 11 | ViewModel Designer updates |
| Additional sessions | Actions and ViewModels; snapshots and uploads, including keeping a model and database safe and moving them |
Start learning
Begin with Part 1: Introduction to MDriven Designer. For the complete step-by-step series, see MDriven Designer Overview Series.