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Chapter 4

Representing Objects and Relationships


Describes how to represent objects and relationships by creating classes, instances, subclasses, class hierarchies, subobjects, workspace hierarchies, connections, and relations.

Introduction
Summary of Representing Objects and Relationships
Using Object-Oriented Techniques for Representing Objects and Relationships
Objects and Encapsulation
Classes and Instances
Inheritance
Subsystems
Information Hiding
Representing Classes and Instances
Creating a Class Definition
Displaying the G2 Class Hierarchy
Creating Instances of a Class
Guidelines for Creating User-Defined Classes
Subclass Built-in Data Structures
Subclass User-Defined Classes
Subclass Built-in Definition Classes
Hide Private and Non-Instantiable Classes
Use Message as the Superior Class for Non-Iconic Classes
Representing Subclasses and Class Hierarchies
Creating Subclasses
Using Multiple Inheritance
Using Multiple Inheritance
Linearizing the Class Hierarchy
Effects of Multiple Inheritance
Rules of Multiple Inheritance
Overriding Inherited Characteristics and Behaviors
Overriding Inherited Attributes
Overriding Inherited Methods
Overriding Inherited Icons
Guidelines for Creating Class Hierarchies
Normalize the Class Hierarchy
Create Abstract Classes
Use Generalization and Differentiation
Representing Compound Objects and Workspace Hierarchies
Creating Subobjects
Guidelines for Creating Subobjects
Restrict the Class of Subobjects
Use Subobjects When an Object Contains but Does Not Define Another Object
Do Not Embed External Variables in Subobjects
Creating Subworkspaces
Guidelines for Creating Subworkspaces
Create Hierarchical Views to Hide Information
Create Subworkspaces to Store Adjunct Information
Use Activatable Subworkspaces to Control Which Parts of Your Application are Active
Creating Workspace Hierarchies
Guidelines for Creating Workspace Hierarchies
Create Only One or Two Workspace Hierarchies
Name as Few Workspaces as Possible
Do Not Create a Large Number of Subworkspaces
Identify the Top-Level Workspace
Consider Creating a Top-Level Palette
Representing Physical and Conceptual Relationships
Examples of Connections
Examples of Relations
Using Connections to Represent Graphical Relationships
Creating and Deleting Connections
Defining a Connection Class
Declaring Connection Stubs for a Class
Creating and Deleting Connections Between Objects
Using Relations to Represent Non-Graphical Relationships
Creating and Deleting Relations
Creating a Relation Definition
Concluding and Breaking Relations Between Items
Detecting Connection and Relation Events
Comparison Between Connections and Relations
Guidelines for Using Connections and Relations
Use Connections to Create Graphical Relationships
Use Connections to Provide Configurability
Use Connections to Provide Information about Relationships
Use Relations to Create Non-Graphical Relationships
Use Relations to Control the Number of Related Items
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