1. 9/20/2018
Advantage:Gen
An Overview

2. What is Advantage:Gen?
A set of integrated, model-based development tools enabling systems developers to develop mission-critical enterprise applications rapidly, reliably, and with quality.
It covers the entire systems development life cycle
Based on Information Engineering set of methodologies (IE provides a road map for development)
9/20/2018

3. Difference between an ERP package and Advantage:Gen
Buy versus Build
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Purchased, generic enterprise-wide software packages - models are based on so-called best business practices
Examples: SAP, BAAN, Peoplesoft
COOL:Gen: Built to specifications
9/20/2018

4. Facets of Building Applications
1. Model Based
Sales_Order: Navigation Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer List
Sort Selection
Customer Details
List Box: ALL_OUTPUT
Entry Field: ZIP_CODE
2. Interface
3. Data Storage
Sales_Order: Sales_Order - Data Model X
Places
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer
Number
Name
Address_Line_1
Address_line_2
Order
Value
Delete_Order
Add_Order
Sales_Order: Add_Order - Action Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
ADD_CUSTOMER_ORDER
IMPORTS:
EXPORTS:
READ customer
WHERE DESIRED customer number IS
EQUAL TO imports customer number
ENTITY ACTIONS:
WHEN successful
MOVE customer TO export customer
4. Business Logic
9/20/2018

5. 1. Modeling - A Blueprint
“Good” developers typically do modeling before they start coding (Do you build a house without a plan?) What are the three types of models? What are the advantages of modeling?
9/20/2018

6. Problems of Modeling Without an Integrated CASE Toolset
Difficult to Change
Seldom Maintained
When you are done, you still have to code the system
9/20/2018

7. 2. Interface - Windows, Dialog boxes
Sales_Order: Navigation Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer List
Sort Selection
Customer Details
List Box: ALL_OUTPUT
Entry Field: ZIP_CODE
Interface
Created during design phase
Goals
Intuitive to use
A user-friendly way of working with data
9/20/2018

8. 3. Data Storage Goals Diagrams Code Efficient use Efficient updates
Efficient reads/queries
Diagrams
Entity Relationship
Code
DDL: programming language used to create the database, which provides user with data access
Data Storage
Sales_Order: Sales_Order - Data Model X
Places
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer
Number
Name
Address_Line_1
Address_line_2
Order
Value
Delete_Order
Add_Order
DDL stands for Data Definition Language
9/20/2018

9. 4. Business Logic - logic of what the business does
Goals
Efficient
Maintainable
Diagrams
Process Action Diagrams (this is where Analysis crosses over to Design)
Procedure Actions Diagrams (Design)
Code
COBOL,
C, C++
Business Logic
Sales_Order: Add_Order - Action Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
ADD_CUSTOMER_ORDER
IMPORTS:
EXPORTS:
READ customer
WHERE DESIRED customer number IS
EQUAL TO imports customer number
ENTITY ACTIONS:
WHEN successful
MOVE customer TO export customer
Process Action: A specific action that the business requires, e.g., charge customer. Process is designed to “talk” to your database.
Procedure Action: Designer applies a practical view of the best possible way to implement the process. A way of carrying out a specific action, e.g., print customer invoice.
9/20/2018

10. Process Action Diagrams(PADs)
Implement elementary processes
Business rules are embedded (encoded) in PADs
PADs enforce business rules to ensure integrity of data - we should not violate any rules depicted in an ERD
A window calls upon the PrAD, then PrAD calls upon the PAD, which in turn works directly with the database
PADS are in pseudocode or pseudologic
Pseudologic or pseudocode: An abbreviated form of English used to outline program logic.
9/20/2018

11. Process Action Diagram Views
Procedure
PAD
data sent
IMPORTS
EXPORTS
IMPORTS
EXPORTS
LOCALS
temporary data
ENTITY ACTIONS
data received
data sent/received as part of data model action

12. What does Advantage:Gen give us
What does Advantage:Gen give us? A Series of Model-Based Development Diagrams...
that represent a visual specification for each layer
XX XXX XXXX
and are linked from layer to layer.

13. …That Cover the Entire Software Development Lifecycle...
Processes
PLANNING
ANALYSIS
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENT MAPPING
IMPLEMENTATION
CONSTRUCTION

14. ...that are Used to Generate Executables (Output)…
database DTCDB X
record STORE __
index I00027 __
Generate and install the database definitions (DDL)
Generate programming code
Test and debug the executables
Language C
COBOL
Views Step Go
READ MOVE

15. …For a Variety of Environments.
Sales_Order: Navigation Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer List
Sort Selection
Customer Details
List Box: ALL_OUTPUT
Entry Field: ZIP_CODE
Environment
Independent
Sales_Order: Add_Order - Action Diagram X
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
ADD_CUSTOMER_ORDER
IMPORTS:
EXPORTS:
READ customer
WHERE DESIRED customer number IS
EQUAL TO imports customer number
ENTITY ACTIONS:
WHEN successful
MOVE customer TO export customer
Sales_Order: Sales_Order - Data Model X
Places
Diagram Edit Detail View Options Window Help
Customer
Number
Name
Address_Line_1
Address_line_2
Order
Value
Delete_Order
Add_Order
Business Rules
Data Relationships
Interface Design
GUI
Character
Block
Batch
Browser
Operating System
UNIX (HP, Sun, …)
OS/2
Windows 3.1
Windows 95
Windows NT
MVS (CICS, IMS, ..
VMS
Tandem NonStop
DBMS
Oracle
DB2
Informix
Sybase
Ingres
NonStop SQL
SQL Server
Comm Type
MQSeries
Tuxedo
DCE
TCP/IP
Sterling
Language C
COBOL
TP Monitor
Tuxedo
Encina
Sterling
Environment
Dependent
Web Interface
COM
Java C

16. Competitive Advantages
Benefits
Lowers training and personnel cost
don’t have to train on all the technology
reduces training time
Reduces cost of deploying new technology
Reduces complexity by simplifying the development process ~
Increases focus on the business
Competitive Advantages

17. Managing Development through a Repository
Model Management
Repositories
Multiple Projects
Multiple Developers
Multiple Versions
Version 2.0
Release 5
Multiple development teams working concurrently to speed development
Cost savings
Competitive advantage

18. Web Enablement
New Proxy Targets
9/20/2018

19. See Advantage:Gen site...
Get more details on Advantage:Gen link, from web page above
9/20/2018