KIELER =
Rich Client Application v.0.1.0
Release Notes
We are happy to provide the first release of the Kiel Integrated Environment for Layout Eclipse Rich Client! It =
is a framework for enhanced user interaction in graphical modeling basing o=
n the Eclipse platform. This being a pre-release provides some basic core c=
ontributions as listed below. The full user experience will follow in upcom=
ing releases. For known shortcomings and problems also see below.
Installation Notes
You can either download the Rich Client Application (RCA) which comes bu=
ndled with all required Eclipse infrastructure or you can install the singl=
e KIELER features via an Update Site on top of your own Eclipse 3.5 install=
ation.
- See KIELER project website for download details.
- You'll require a Java Runtime Environment >=3D version 1.5.
- Many of the features require Xtext version 0.8, which is not part of Ec=
lipse 3.5. So install that from the Xtext Milestone=
Update Site. This is not required for the RCA.
- The nicest graph layouts can be obtained by GraphViz and KIELER =
makes use of a GraphViz installation on your machine. So you might want to =
install it.
Provided Features
This is a very brief list of included features.
- Graphical Editors
- Thin Kieler SyncCharts Editor (ThinKCharts)
- Simple Dataflow Editor
- Textual Editors
- Infrastructure for Meta Layout (KIML)
- Execution Manager (KIEM)
- SyncCharts Simulation using Ptolemy II (KlePto)
- Structure-Based Editing of SyncCharts (KSBase)
- Environment Visualization (KEV)
Quickstart
When you start KIELER, you will probably start a new empty workspace.
- If it is not already, open the KIELER Perspective! It =
opens the most important views that KIELER adds to Eclipse and adds some sh=
ortcuts to the New-Menu.
- Window -> Open Perspective -> Other... -> KIELER Modeling
- Create a new empty simple project.
In your new project you can create new graphical or textual models. Here=
is some possible use case:
- Create a new SyncCharts diagram.
- File -> New... -> SyncCharts Diagram
- Create a new initial SyncChart
- Select empty canvas -> KIELER main menu -> Add Default
- Edit the diagram
- Select existing graphical objects in the diagram, choose editing operat=
ions from the KIELER main menu or the context menu (right-click). You won't=
need the palette. Layout is always performed automatically.
- Trigger automatic layout
- Use the corresponding little button in the toolbar (or Ctrl-R L)
- Use the Layout view to customize the autolayout: choose differ=
ent layout algorithms---even within the same diagram for different hierarch=
ical nodes---or configure specific options.
- Save the SyncChart to automatically validate it.
- Simulate the SyncChart with the Execution Managerview
- From the dropdown list select the matching schedule synccharts=
. This will setup KIEM for SyncCharts Simulation.
- Press the play button.
- Use the Execution Manager view and the Data Table view to inte=
ract with the model (i.e. see outputs and enter inputs).
- Checkout the key-bindings! Key-bindings help you to be faster with KIEL=
ER. All KIELER bindings have the Sequence Ctrl+R <key>, wher=
e <key> is some additional key that is pressed in sequence with Ctrl+=
R (CMD+R on Mac).
- Press only Ctrl+R and wait to get a list shown with all possible key-bi=
ndings.
- Maybe most frequently used are Ctrl+R L for autolayout and Ctrl+R Z for zoom to fit.
Known Problems=
and Limitations
- Currently there is no full-blown user documentation integrated as well =
as no example models. Find some material online:
- In the ThinKCharts Editor Copy / Paste does not work as expected.
We're working hard to make the graphical modeling user experience as con=
venient as possible. However, bugs can still remain in the code and some th=
ings might not be as you would expect them. Please don't hesitate to send i=
n bug reports or give other comments like feature requests.
Send bug reports onto the rt-k=
ieler mailing list.