Specifying merge options for model-to-model transformation output

The output that a transformation generates can replace or merge with an existing model. You must specify the merge properties in the transformation configuration that you create before you run the transformation. The availability of a merge depends on the specification of a merge strategy for the output metamodel.

Before you begin

A transformation configuration file must be defined, typically in the project that contains the input model that the transformation will process, or in the project that contains the target model that the transformation overwrites or merges into. A transformation configuration file has .tc as a file name extension, and defines how the model-to-model transformation runs. The target metamodel must declare a CompareMerge content type extension. If the metamodel of the target model does not declare a CompareMerge extension, the transformation overwrites the target model.

Procedure

In the Project Explorer view, right-click the transformation configuration file; then click Open.
In the Transformation Configuration editor, click the Properties tab.
Specify how the model that the transformation generates should be merged with target model.
Click File > Save.

Example

For example, assume that the transformation generates an output model called MyOutputModel.input, which is an instance of the input.ecore metamodel. Assume that the plugin.xml file of the input.ecore metamodel plug-in contains a merge extension that specifies the default Ecore merge strategy. If you create a transformation configuration that specifies MyOutputModel.input as the target model in a transformation configuration, and specifies the override merge option, the transformation replaces the contents of MyOutputModel.input with the contents of the temp.input model that the transformation generates at run time.

If you specify other merge options in the transformation configuration, such as automatic, silent, or visual and the input.ecore metamodel plug-in specifies the default EMF merge strategy, the transformation merges the contents of temp.input with MyOutputModel.input.

If the input.ecore metamodel plug-in does not specify a merge strategy, no merge occurs, regardless of the information in the transformation configuration. The transformation runs as though the override merge option is specified.

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