sfleming@cs.hw.ac.uk (Stewart T. Fleming) (01/06/91)
I am just starting to look at ways of expressing diagramming styles in some form which allows new styles to be readily created. The form of expression is not restricted to being simply graphical or textual; both forms are equally valid. diagram n. a sketch or plan demonstrating the workings of something. One initial thought I have is to think of a diagram as a collection of graphical objects. A generic diagramming style would deal with objects using : a) shape : the appearance of an object, b) composition : the structure of an object, c) relationship : the way that objects interact with each other. In a way, this is like a symbolic language, where symbols (objects) group into words (meta-objects) and where syntax and grammar (composition and relationship) deal with legal arrangements of those objects to give meaning. Is this a valid supposition ? One example : when working with pencil and paper, the basic symbols are lines. Lines may be grouped into symbols - text or figures etc - or have other meanings : erase, emphasize etc. I think that this method of working fits with the generic style described above. Diagramming styles would be like templates : subclassing the shape of objects, methods of composition and relationship. For example, a circle might subclass to a wheel or a cog etc. A relationship between two touching cogs might be specified so that when one turns, the other turns the opposite way. One consideration not mentioned above is a time dimension to deal with animation. How does the appearance of an object change over time and how can its behaviour be modelled. If anyone has any suggestions about possible representations for such styles, or references to similar work, I would be grateful for the information. Thanks for any help, Stewart -- sfleming@cs.hw.ac.uk ...ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!sfleming "Before starting any programming project, try explaining it to your cat."