From Model to Markup

XML Foundations [./]
Fall 2008 — INFO 242 (CCN 42572)

Erik Wilde, UC Berkeley School of Information
2008-11-13

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Contents E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

Contents

E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(2) Abstract

While XML is very useful for representing and manipulating structured data, the question remains where these structures come from. They are usually some kind of encoding for a conceptual model, but there is no established and universally accepted way of how to connect the modeling world with XML markup. Some of the challenges and approaches to XML and modeling will be presented in this lecture. The goal of this lecture is to raise awareness for the current gap between models and markup, and for practical approaches how to bridge that gap.



Motivation

Outline (Motivation)

  1. Motivation [7]
  2. Data Modeling [2]
  3. Conceptual Modeling for XML Data [3]
  4. Conclusions [1]
Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(4) Writing schemas is hard & tedious



Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(5) XML Schemas are Implementations



Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(6) What is a Model?



Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(7) What is a Model? (Natural Language)

model-mark.jpg

Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(8) Modeling

In a certain field / realm / universe of discourse there usually is some agreement on how modeling has to be done. This is an essential prerequisite for models to be used as a subject of discussion / negotiation / evaluation. This agreement can have been achieved implicitly or by standardization. In the example [What is a Model? (Natural Language) (1)] above, Derek Zoolander does not know the conventions implicitly being agreed on when dealing with architectural models.


Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(9) Why modeling?



Motivation E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(10) Model Layers



Data Modeling

Outline (Data Modeling)

  1. Motivation [7]
  2. Data Modeling [2]
  3. Conceptual Modeling for XML Data [3]
  4. Conclusions [1]
Data Modeling E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(12) What is Data Modeling?



Data Modeling E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(13) Quality Criteria



Conceptual Modeling for XML Data

Outline (Conceptual Modeling for XML Data)

  1. Motivation [7]
  2. Data Modeling [2]
  3. Conceptual Modeling for XML Data [3]
  4. Conclusions [1]
Conceptual Modeling for XML Data E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(15) Is there Conceptual Modeling for XML?



Conceptual Modeling for XML Data E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(16) Why is it so hard to create a suitable formalism?



Conceptual Modeling for XML Data E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(17) An informal formalism

Determine … Phase Question Example Action
1. Entities Inventory What's there? person, company Sketch boxes
2. Reusable Objects Analysis address, date Perhaps include some model libraries (UBL [http://docs.oasis-open.org/ubl/cd-UBL-1.0/#SCHEMAS])
3. Reusable Tags Markup design What do we need? lists, hyperlinks, headings Perhaps include some schemas (XHTML [http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd])
4. Relations Assembly What's the connection? has-a, contains, references Draw arcs and arrows


Conclusions

Outline (Conclusions)

  1. Motivation [7]
  2. Data Modeling [2]
  3. Conceptual Modeling for XML Data [3]
  4. Conclusions [1]
Conclusions E. Wilde: From Model to Markup

(19) XML and Modeling



2008-11-13 XML Foundations [./]
Fall 2008 — INFO 242 (CCN 42572)