Class Hierarchy Index
BDE User Guide for Java Version
1. BDE Java Version:
The Block Diagram Edit (BDE) is a graphics user interface (GUI) based application developed in the Department of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts at Lowell leaded by Professor Robert Lechner. It is a powerful tool for generating data models graphically. The codes of BDE was originally written in C/C++. BDE Java version was derived from its C/C++ version. It was designed to run in both application mode and applet mode. This guide is primarily focus on the application mode.
2. Environment:
Compiling and running BDE Java version requires Java Development Kit (JDK) version 1.0.2. Current version does not work properly under JDK 1.1 and after.
BDE Java has been tested in following platforms with JDK 1.0.2 or compatible libs: Windows 95 (Win32 - should also works in Windows NT too), Linux/XFree, and DEC UNIX/X-window.
3. Files:
All source files are in $case/97s523/bde2gif/hren/java, documentation are in $case/97s523/bde2gif/hren/html.
4. Running BDE:
4.1 Set path
In Windows95(if files and JDK are in disk C:): include c:\java\bin in path (autoexec.bat or manually type in DOS console) and also set path for classes by either include the following line in autoexec.bat or manually type in DOS console:
Set CLASSPATH=.;C:\java\lib\classes.zip
In UNIX system, include the path of java/bin in c-shell or other initial shell. Also included in the shell or manually type is the path for classes, e.g., in .cshrc, add the following:
setenv CLASSPATH .;path/java/lib/classes.zip
Here path is the full path of Java directory.
4.2 Compile source code:
After set up path and environment, change directory to the one holds BDE Java codes, e.g., ~bdejava\ (in UNIX ~bdejava/), then give:
Prompt:> javac bdeJava.java
Note here the J in bdeJava must be capitalized.
For compile an individual file, just:
Prompt:> javac source-file-name.java
4.3 Running BDE Java:
Inside directory holds classes files of BDE Java, do:
Prompt:> java bdeJava
5. Drawing:
Use two groups of tools listed in the left side of the Drawing Canvas to draw a diagram. User can draw a diagram either on the current canvas or on the other ones by selecting Create + Graph.
About the detail, please read "BDE User Guide-Version 3.0". The path is
$case/95s523/95sbde/bde/doc/bdeUserGuide.tex
6. Open Data File:
BDE data file can be opened through main menu File/Open and the data will be automatically converted to a BDE graph on the Canvas.
7. Save Data File:
There are two choices under main menu File for save data file:
"File/Save": It will save data into a file with default name "test.dat";
"File/Save As": User can choose file name in pop up dialog window, the filename must be followed by extension ".dat". Otherwise the fill can not be saved.
8. Print Graph to GIF File:
There are two choices under "File/Print.../Print As GIF":
"File/Print.../ Print As GIF/Print Current Graph": save the current BDE graph to a GIF file;
"File/Print.../ Print As GIF/Print All Graphs": save every BDE graphs into separate GIF files, respectively.
Both save procedures will name GIF files as data-file-nameHG#.gif, here data- file-name is the name of related BDE data file without extension of ".dat".
9. Print Graph to PS File:
There are two choices under "File/Print.../Print As PS":
"File/Print.../ Print As PS/Current Graph": save the current BDE graph to a PS file;
"File/Print.../ Print As PS/ All Graphs": save every BDE graphs into separate PS files, respectively.
Both save procedures will name PS files as data-file-nameHG#.ps, here data-file- name is the name of related BDE data file without extension of ".dat".