Case Study in ER Diagrams in the Context of Development of Generic Visualization Methods
Boris P. Leontyev · 2008
Abstract—Purpose of this paper is development of Generic Visualization methods (GVM) to enhance a Periodic Table of Generic Visualization Methods (PT-GVM) by examining a particular case of ER diagrams. Work is based on the concept of the three-layer architecture for an information visualization system, including: (1) Periodic Table of GVM (PTGVM); (2) middleware, translating conceptual visualizations into classes, comprising processing logic in the spirit of Generic Programming, and translating methods of classes into instructions of a Graphic Programming Language of Computer-Aided Publishing System; and (3) graphic package, realizing visualization physically. Middleware can be developed exploiting such methods as (a) inheritance; (b) polymorphism; (c) parametrized templates (Boost C++ Graph Library). This paper relates to the case (a). Hierarchy of classes, representing nodes, was designed and implemented, programs to draw ER diagrams were developed, exemplary ER diagrams were generated. Quantitative signature for this particular representative visualization was defined to position it precisely inside a PTGVM. Fragments of implementation code are given.