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Type Graph With Node Type Inheritance

AGG gives us a possibility to enrich the type graph with an inheritance relation between nodes. Each node type can have one or more direct ancestor (parent) from which it inherits the attributes and edges. The parent node can be defined using item Set Parent of the pop-up menu Operations of nodes. After selecting the parent by clicking the left button on the appropriate node the inheritance edge appears. Deletion inheritance relation is possible using item Unset Parent and clicking the left button on the parent to delete.

It is also possible to define a node type as an abstract type by using item Abstract of the context pop-up menu [Operations. It is not allowed to create an instance node of an abstract type.

The multiplicity of a parent type also has an effect on the number of instances of successor types in a graph. Since all successor types can be seen as instances of that parent type, the sum of all instances of all child types is limited by the multiplicity set for the parent type. Similiar for edges inherited from a parent node, the overall number of incoming or outgoing edges is limited by the multiplicity set for the edge connected to the parent type.

Now it is possible to define abstract rules, containing ancestor nodes.


next up previous contents
Next: Drawing and Modifying Nodes Up: Defining a Type Graph Previous: Defining a Type Graph   Contents
Olga Runge 2006-08-16