A domain model-driven approach for producing user interfaces to multi-platform information systems

Abstract

User interfaces to information systems can be considered systematic as they consist of two types of tasks performed on classes of a domain model: basic tasks performed on one class at a time (such as insert, delete, modify, sort, list, print) and complex tasks performed on parts or whole of one or several classes (e.g., tasks involving various attributes of different classes with constraints between and establishing relationships between). This paper presents how a wizard tool can produce user interfaces to such tasks according to a model-driven approach based on a domain model of the information system. This process consists of seven steps: database selection, data source selection, building the opening procedure, data source selection for control widgets, building the closing procedure, setting the size of the widgets, and laying them out. The wizard generates code for Visual Basic and eMbedded Visual Basic, thus enabling to obtain support for both stationary and mobile tasks simultaneously, while maintaining consistency.