Object Constraint Language (OCL)

1. Object Constraint Language(OCL) Yih-Kuen Tsay Dept. of Information Management National Taiwan University OCL -- 1

2. Outline • Introduction • Relation with UML Models • Basic Values and Types • Objects and Properties • Collection Operations OCL -- 2

3. About OCL • A formal language for writing expressions (such as invariants) on UML models. • It can also be used to specify queries. • OCL expressions are pure specifications without side effects. • OCL is a typed language. • Version 2.0 in the finalization process. OCL -- 3

4. Why OCL • UML diagrams do not provide all the relevant aspects of a specification. • Additional constraints expressed by a natural language are ambiguous. • Traditional formal languages are precise, but hard to use. • OCL tries to be formal and yet easy to use. OCL -- 4

5. Where to Use UML • As a query language • Invariants on classes and types. • Pre- and post-conditions on operations • Guards • Target sets for messages and actions • Constraints on operations • Derivation rules for attributes OCL -- 5

6. Basic Form context TypeName inv: 'this is an OCL expression with stereotype <<invariant>> in the context of TypeName' = 'another string' OCL -- 6

7. Class Diagram Example OCL -- 7

8. Relation with UML Models • Each OCL expression is written in the context of an instance of a specific type. • The reserved word self is used to refer to the contextual instance. • An explicit context declaration can be omitted if the OCL expression is properly placed in a diagram. OCL -- 8

9. Invariants • Inside the class diagram example: self.numberOfEmployees > 50 specifies that the number of employees must always exceed 50. • Alternatively, context Company inv: self.numberOfEmployees > 50 • A different name can be used for self : context c : Company inv: c.numberOfEmployees > 50 • The invariant itself can also be given a name (after inv). OCL -- 9

10. Pre- and Post-Condtions • Basic form: context Typename::operationName(param1 : Type1, ... ): ReturnType pre : param1 > ... post: result = ... OCL -- 10

11. Pre- and Post-Condtions (cont.) • Example: context Person::income(d : Date) : Integer post: result = 5000 • Names may be given: context Typename::operationName(param1 : Type1, ... ): ReturnType pre parameterOk: param1 > ... post resultOk : result = ... OCL -- 11

12. Package Context package Package::SubPackage context X inv: ... some invariant ... context X::operationName(..) pre: ... some precondition ... endpackage OCL -- 12

13. Operation Body Expression context Person::getCurrentSpouse() : Person pre: self.isMarried = true body: self.mariages->select( m | m.ended = false ).spouse OCL -- 13

14. Initial and Derived Values context Person::income : Integer init: parents.income->sum() * 1% -- pocket allowance derive: if underAge then parents.income->sum() * 1% -- pocket allowance else job.salary -- income from regular job endif OCL -- 14

15. Basic Types • Boolean: true, false • Integer: 1, -5, 2, 34, 26524, ... • Real: 1.5, 3.14, ... • String: 'To be or not to be...' OCL -- 15

16. Basic Operations • Integer: *, +, -, /, abs() • Real: *, +, -, /, floor() • Boolean: and, or, xor, not, implies, if-then-else • String: concat(), size(), substring() OCL -- 16

17. Other Types • Classifiers • All classifiers of a UML model are types in its OCL expressions. • Enumerations OCL -- 17

18. Sub-expressions context Person inv: let income : Integer = self.job.salary->sum() in if isUnemployed then income < 100 else income >= 100 endif OCL -- 18

19. Definition Expressions context Person def: income : Integer = self.job.salary->sum() def: nickname : String = ’Little Red Rooster’ def: hasTitle(t : String) : Boolean = self.job->exists(title = t) OCL -- 19

20. More about Types and Operations • Type conformance • Casting (re-typing) • Precedence rules • Infix operators • Keywords • Comments OCL -- 20

21. Properties A property is one of • An Attribute context Person inv: self.age > 0 • An AssociationEnd • An Operation with isQuery • A Method with isQuery OCL -- 21

22. Previous Values in Post-Conditions • context Person::birthdayHappens() post: age = age@pre + 1 • context Company::hireEmployee(p : Person) post: employees = employees@pre->including(p) and stockprice() = stockprice@pre() + 10 OCL -- 22

23. Previous Values in Post-Conditions (cont.) a.b@pre.c -- takes the old value of property b of a, say x -- and then the new value of c of x. a.b@pre.c@pre -- takes the old value of property b of a, say x -- and then the old value of c of x. OCL -- 23

24. Collections • Set • Bag • OrderedSet • Sequence OCL -- 24

25. Collection Operations • Select context Company inv: self.employee->select(age > 50)->notEmpty() • Reject context Company inv: self.employee->reject( isMarried )->isEmpty() OCL -- 25

26. ForAll Operation context Company inv: self.employee->forAll( age <= 65 ) inv: self.employee->forAll( p | p.age <= 65 ) inv: self.employee->forAll( p : Person | p.age <= 65 ) context Company inv: self.employee->forAll( e1, e2 : Person | e1 <> e2 implies e1.forename <> e2.forename) OCL -- 26

27. Exists Operation context Company inv: self.employee->exists( forename = 'Jack' ) UML OCL 2.0 Adopted Specification 29 context Company inv: self.employee->exists( p | p.forename = 'Jack' ) context Company inv: self.employee->exists( p : Person | p.forename = 'Jack' ) OCL -- 27

28. Iterate Operation • Reject, Select, forAll, Exists, and Collect can all be described in terms of interate. • Example: collection->collect(x : T | x.property) -- is identical to: collection->iterate(x : T; acc : T2 = Bag{} | acc->including(x.property)) OCL -- 28