Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!newcastle.ac.uk!gershwin!pravir
From: P.K.Chawdhry@newcastle.ac.uk (Dr Pravir K Chawdhry (EDC Data Exch))
Newsgroups: comp.object
Subject: Information (Data) Modelling Language NIAM
Keywords: NIAM, Information Modelling, Graphical Methods
Message-ID: <1991Feb27.145628.18778@newcastle.ac.uk>
Date: 27 Feb 91 14:56:28 GMT
Sender: news@newcastle.ac.uk
Distribution: comp
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU
Lines: 46

Those who have worked on information modelling might be able to help me.

We are working on a project on information modelling. The domains of
information
of our interest is the design process and engineering product models. We are
looking into using EXPRESS which is becoming a standard ISO/STEP data modelling

language for describing complex engineering product models as well as the
engineering systems using these models. Writing EXPRESS models (in record-field
like syntax) requires a fairly clear picture in mind of what data objects one
is trying to model. Now that's where a graphical data modelling language such
as NIAM and IDEF1X may come in handy. We are interested to find out which
tools are available that allow creating NIAM or IDEF1X based information
models. (There may be those which use a language other than NIAM and IDEF1X).
If you know the source of availability, commercial/educational/prototype
status, price, contact address, tel no and e_mail_address, and capability of
such tools, it would be great.

What we wish to do is to write a compiler to translate NIAM into EXPRESS.
Although I have a graphical description of the constructs (which may or may 
not be complete), I want to obtain the BNF/EBNF specifications of NIAM so
that I can generate a NIAM parser. Does anybody have already written/got
the BNF specs for NIAM? 

Someone tells me that McDonald Douglas even wrote a NIAM->EXPRESS compiler:
does anyone have contact leads to them?

Any information on other info modelling tools will be equally appreciated.
Please reply to me by direct e-Mail and I will summarize the response.

Cheers.
 - Pravir Chawdhry
   e-mail: 
     JANET: P.K.Chawdhry@uk.ac.ncl 
     Internet:P.K.Chawdhry%newcastle.ac.uk@cunyvm.cuny.edu
     UUCP : ...!ukc!ncl.ac.uk!P.K.Chawdhry
   post:   Engineering Design Centre
           Armstrong Building
           The University
           Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU (U.K.)
   tel. + 44 (091) 222 6000 Ext. 8557
   fax  + 44 (091) 261 1182
 - Pravir Chawdhry
   e-mail: 
     JANET: P.K.Chawdhry@uk.ac.ncl 
     Internet:P.K.Chawdhry%newcastle.ac.uk@cunyvm.cuny.edu