Form-Oriented Analysis

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 372 pages
• Published by: Springer
• Edition: 1st Edition November 29, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 3540205934
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-3540205937
• Book Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Weighs: 1.5 pounds

Product Description


Form-based applications range from simple web shops to complex enterprise resource planning systems. Draheim and Weber adapt well-established basic modeling techniques in a novel way to achieve a modeling framework optimized for this broad application domain. They introduce new modeling artifacts, such as page diagrams and form storyboards, and separate dialogue patterns to allow for reuse. In their implementation they have developed new constructs such as typed server pages, and tools for forward and reverse engineering of presentation layers. The methodology is explained using an online bookshop as a running example in which the user can experience the modeling concepts in action.

The combination of theoretical achievements and hands-on practical advice and tools makes this book a reference work for both researchers in the areas of software architectures and submit-response style user interfaces, and professionals designing and developing such applications. More information and additional material is also available online.

Reader Reviews
This is a book that has been needed for a long time. There have been studies in the past, indeed a body of knowledge even, on the design of paper based forms. The problem with computer based forms such as those for ordering a book from Amazon is that the forms tend to be generated by programmers, not forms specialists. In fact in this book the examples being used are from a hypothetical on line book store. At one point the authors are giving an example of a book page of an online bookshop. On it they give an abstract of their own (that is this) book. It reads: "What is the business logic of n enterprise system? How do I specify it in such a way that I know how to transform it into a running system, by skill and by automated tool support? This book gives a self-contained introduction to the modeling and development of business logic for enterprise systems." In practice, the authors develop a couple of new technologies for the modelling of such forms. Page Diagrams are analagous to flow charts that show what a page does in terms of its interactions. From the home or Welcome page you can go register, go login, look at suggested books, do a search, etc. What links to what? What logic applies (bad password for instance, or is this user logged in). The page diagram is a way for the non-technical manager and the programmer to define exactly what a page or screen is supposed to do. It can become part of the specification that the programmer uses to produce what management wants. The next concept the authors develop is the Form Storyboard. The storyboard shows pages with respect to the actions they cause in the server. Other models such as information pages, and data interchange complete the description of the forms related system. For the most part, HTML based web sites are used as examples in this book. But the same kind of modelling is equally applicable to form/database related system such as accounting, payroll or other business applications. Using the approach developed by these authors is the best way I've seen to document/specify/design a forms based interactive system.