MODULESTUDIO

This article is an introduction to the user interface of MOST, and shows the basic concepts for modeling applications. After ModuleStudio has been started for the first time one should review the welcome pages. There is important information, current examples, tutorials and further information which are integrated onto this page by RSS feeds.

An application in ModuleStudio consists of two files: one mostapp file with the actual application Model, and one mostdiagram file with the visual diagram data. The mostapp file is mainly for storing and exchanging applications. New mostdiagram files can be created from the mostapp file at any time by using the menu entry „File > initialise diagram file“.

To create a new model, select the „File > New > Application diagram“ menu entry. An assistant is displayed, and we enter the name of our application as a filename with the extension „.mostapp“.

After finishing the assistant we are now in the editor for the main diagram, which already contains three container elements for model, controller and view. All of these editors are constructed in the same way, therefore the main editor is sufficient to explain the most important basic terms.

Besides the main menu and the toolbars, the environment can be split into two areas. On the left side there is the editor window, which contains a canvas as well as a palette with the available tools. This is where the actual modeling happens. The main editor's palette separates the available model elements into the two groups „Container“ and „Links“. It is possible to have multiple elements at the same time in one model for each of these types.

On the right side there is an outline view with a miniature view of the editor window, and a properties view used to edit properties. In the latter view the „Data“ tab is important, as it allows one to edit the attributes of model elements.

The editors offer different functions to manage the model view, and offers other convenience functions to aid in the modeling process. For example there is an infinitely variable zoom function which can be controlled by several ways. There are icons for this in the palette, a dropdown list at the top right in the toolbar, an entry in the Diagram item on the main menu, as well as in the context menu of the canvas. The zoom function can also be accessed by using the Ctrl key in combination with the mouse wheel—as is used in many browsers, which makes it an intuitive option.

Another important function is "Arrange." We can, for example, select all elements and use this function to automatically arrange them. Also practical is the export of diagrams as an image file, which supports a number of image formats.

If one wants to create several similar elements the Duplicate function may be helpful. Copying an element with the clipboard leads to two diagram elements refering both to the same element in the application model. This becomes obvious if the name of the new element is changed. Duplicating an element causes a new, independent element.

The visual representation of model elements can be customised. Custom colours are possible, as are individual fonts. It is also possible to customise relations. For instance, one can define whether the point at which connections cross over each other should be displayed as jumpers, or whether the lines should be smoothed.

Also, much of the user interface can be customised, like one may expect from an Eclipse-based application. Views can be moved and replaced. One can, for example, customise the palette, and use multiple editors in parallel.

As a first step toward creating a new application one should now define some basic settings for the new model.