The Specification Panel

This panel allows algebraic specification of the user interface: that is, you can create a list of algebraic properties about the interface model. MAUI can assess whether each property holds for the model.

The interface's Event Algebra is used for the specification.

The Property Table

The table has four columns:

  1. An algebraic property.
  2. Its status: either true (), false() or unknown ().
  3. Percentage of states for which the property holds.
  4. Lock indicator

Use the buttons to the right of the table to Add and Delete properties.

When the interface model is edited MAUI will not automatically reevaluate the specification, and the status of all properties will be set to unknown (unless locked, see below). The user can do this using the Evalute button.

Editing Properties

To edit a property, click twice on it.

Partial Properties

To see the states which satisfy and do not satisfy a property, click twice on the property's percentage value (column 3).

Locking Properties

To lock/unlock a property, click the property's lock box (column 4). A lock prevents any changes being made to the interface model which would change the status of that property, i.e. make a true property false, or vice versa.