Creating transformations and transformation extensions

A transformation is a type of pattern implementation strategy that takes a source element, or set of elements, and based on the contents, creates a new target element, or set of elements. By using transformations, you can transition between models and code or models and text, as well as between models of different levels of abstraction. You can create transformations, or extend the transformations that are available in IBM® DevOps Model Architect.

Before you begin

To create transformations, you must install the extensibility features, which are packaged as an optional product component. You must enable the Modeling and XML Developer capabilities.

To create your own transformations, you must enable the capabilities for modeling and XML development.

About this task

To view the list of transformations that are installed in the product, complete one of the following steps:
  • View the list of installed transformations in the product help. See the Related information section at the end of this topic.
    Note: Some information, such as links to Eclipse documentation or to developer guides, is available only from the help topics that are installed with the product.
  • Click File > New > Other > Transformations > Transformation Configuration, click Next, and select the Show all transformations check box. In the New Transformation Configuration wizard, on the Specify a Configuration Name and Transformation page, the list of installed transformations is displayed.

Transformation preferences

To set preferences for transformations and transformation authoring, click Window > Preferences > Modeling > Transformations. For example, you can specify the location of debug logs, set prompt and warning preferences, and set visualization preferences for the design contract management protocol (DCMP) named mixed modeling. Explore the subcategories in this section for preferences that relate to transformation authoring.

  • Creating capabilities to show or hide transformations
    You can create capabilities to which you can bind transformations. You should create capabilities in a different plug-in from the transformations that you create. You can bind more than one transformation to a capability. By using this feature, you can show or hide the transformations in the list of available transformations in the New Transformation Configuration wizard or on transformation pop-up menus.
  • Creating transformation utilities
    You can create transformation utilities to perform routine tasks as part of the overall functionality of a transformation. You might create a transformation utility if predefined transformation utilities, such as comparing and merging or team integration utilities, do not contain the functionality that you require.
  • Creating transformation extensions
    You can create transformation extensions that add functionality to the transformations provided in the product or to custom transformations. For example, you might create a transformation extension that adds a common preface to the artifacts that a transformation generates. In a transformation extension, you can extend multiple transforms, but you can only extend one transformation.
  • Creating transformations
    You can create transformations that transform models into models, transform models into text or code, or create transformations that transform code into models in a different way from the language-specific transformations in the product. You should create a transformation if you cannot generate the required transformation output by extending an existing transformation. You can create a transformation in any Eclipse plug-in project.
  • Creating model-to-model transformations
    You can create model-to-model transformations by specifying mapping relationships between elements in models or metamodels.
  • Creating JET transformations
    By authoring Java Emitter Templates (JET) transformations, you can quickly create template-based model-to-text transformations. By using JET tools, you can generate files from a model by using templates, which contain text and JET commands, which are also called tags. Learn about JET syntax and transformation structure, transforming models into text using JET transformations, and the compatibility of Design Pattern Toolkit (DPTK) tags and JET tags.
Related concepts:
Design contract management protocols
Transformation extensions
Related information:
Enabling workbench capabilities
Installed transformations
Feedback