4.3 Model-Specific Shorthands

   There are several kinds of model-specific shorthands and configurations available in HUTN, each described in the following subsections:

• The use of a class’s attribute as the class’s unique identifier, and the specification of the scope over which the identifier is unique.

• The representation of a boolean or enumerated attribute as a keyword or adjective in the Class header rather than a name-value pair in its body.

• The omission of the class type of an object reference when only one type is possible, or the omission of the reference name for containment relationships.

• The use of default values for mandatory attributes, enabling them to be omitted in many cases.

• Alternative representations for associations.

• The selection of an alternate name for any model element for HUTN language-generation purposes.

• The use of parametric form for attribute values; that is, representing a number of a class’s attribute values in parenthesis in the Class header rather than as name-value pairs in the body.

   Some of these short-hands can be incorporated automatically from analysis of the MOF model, but a couple of them require some additional information about the model. Those that do are specified using a language configuration MOF-metamodel. This metamodel is presented in the next section, and is followed by descriptions of the various available shorthands. The final section will discuss the effects of inheritance on the various available configuration.