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:
- An algebraic property.
- Its status: either true (
),
false(
) or
unknown (
).
- Percentage of states for which the property holds.
- 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.