Glossary

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Action

An event in which one or more Entities participate by performing or suffering the action.

Boundary (Model)

A conceptual boundary dividing those aspects of reality which are modeled from those which are ignored.

Boundary (System)

A boundary, crossed by data stream and state-vector connections, dividing the system from the reality in which it is embedded.

Buffer

A Buffer is used on SIDs for the storage of records or messages.

CASE

See Computer Aided Software Engineering.

Computer Aided Software Engineering

A general term that describes the use of Computer Software programs to assist in the production of computer software.

Controlled Data Stream Symbol

The arrow indicates data flow direction .

Conversational Data Stream Symbol

The arrow indicates data flow direction .

Data Stream

An ordered set of records or messages by which two Processes communicate, the records being read by one Process in the order in which they were written by the other.

Direct Access File or Database

This is a SID symbol that processes may read/write messages/records to/from.

Drag Box

A Drag box is used to drag the picture representation of an entity in any direction on either of the Network Diagram or SID. The result of such an action is the resizing or reshaping of an entities picture representation. All entities have varying numbers of Drag Boxes positioned on them appropriate for their shape. They may be a variety of user configurable colours as specified via the Configure Colours dialogue access from the Options Menu.

Entity

An element found on a JSD Network diagram. It has relationships with other entities on the diagram and is of interest to the application. In JSD terms it is an object in the real world which participates in a time-ordered set of actions.

Function Process

A process which is added to the system for the purpose of producing output, as opposed to a model process.

HTML

Hyper-Text Markup Language. Format used by the Jackson Structure Publisher tool. Also the standard format for help information in all Jackson Workbench tools. Requires an HTML Viewer (such as a Web Browser) with frames capabilities (such as Microsoft's (tm) Internet Explorer Version 4 or later).

Inversion

A transformation in which a sequential process is converted into a procedure, invoked once for each record of each data stream with respect to which the process is inverted.

Jackson System Development

The name of the software systems design method that the Network Editor supports.

JSD

Jackson System Development.

Jackson Structured Programming

The name of the program design method that the Structure Editor supports.

JSP

Jackson Structured Programming.

JSP Diagrams

A diagram that is generated using the Structure Editor. It specifies the way that processes read input data streams, the processing that is performed on the input data and what output data streams are written to.

JSP For Windows

A previous name for the Structure Editor tool that is used to create JSP Diagrams.

Main Diagram Area

The Main Diagram Area is described :-

here for the Structure Editor

here for the Network Editor

Menubar Area

The Menubar Area is described :-

here for the Keywood Workbench

here for the Structure Editor

here for the Network Editor

here for the Batch Converter

Merge Process

This is a convenience process. Thus is just a model or function process with a Merge already attached on the centre of the left side of process. An example is shown below:

Merge Symbol

Data streams are connected to the left side of the symbol, the right side being connected to the left side of the associated process thus:

Message Flow Symbol

The arrow indicates data flow direction. Used on both the Network and SID diagrams.

Model Process

A sequential process forming a part of the model, as opposed to a function process.

Network (Diagram)

Also known as a System Specification Diagram (SSD). A diagram that is generated using the Network Editor.A network diagram is a product of applying the JSD method to designing an application. It presents a collection of Entities and the relationships/data flow between them.

Process

A process is a JSD concept that is depicted on Networks and SIDs and is a type of Entity. Processes may be either Model or Function or a specialist called a Synchronization Process.

Scheduler

A term used to describe an attribute of a Process Entity on a Network diagram. In order to construct a SID from a Network one of the Process Entities must have been nominated as the Scheduler. Nominating a process as the Scheduler is achieved via the Process Popup menu.

Selection Rubber Band

When the cursor is placed over the Main Diagram Area and not over an Entity and the left mouse button is pressed (but not released) and dragged a box is displayed indicating a selected area. If the top left hand corner of any of the entities picture representations are contained within the selected area when the left mouse button is released then those entities become selected and have their Drag and Text Reposition boxes highlighted.

SID

See System Implementation Diagram.

SID Buffer Symbol

SID Simple Data Stream Symbol

Used on the SID to indicate that a connected process has been inverted with respect to one of its Data Streams.

SID Conversational Data Stream Symbol

Used on the SID to indicate that a connected process has been inverted with respect to two of its Data Streams.

Simple Data Stream Interface

The action whereby a Process writes/reads to/from another Processes across a system boundary. Its symbol is shown below:

Simple Data Stream Symbol

The arrow indicates data flow direction .

SSD

System Specification Diagram. Also know as a Network Diagram.

State Vector Inspection

The action whereby a Process inspects another Processes internal variables and text pointer.

State Vector Interface

The action whereby a Process inspects another Processes internal variables and text pointer across a system boundary. Its symbol is shown below:

State Vector Inspection Symbol

The direction of the arrow indicates who initiates the inspection and the flow of State Vector data.

Statusbar Area

The Network Editor Statusbar Area is described here.

Synchronization Process

A special type of model process that is used in the modeling of more complex time synchronization issues between processes. It is connected by data streams to the processes that must be synchronized; the required timing relationships can then be specified exactly in the structure and text of the synchronization process itself.

System Implementation Diagram

A diagram that is generated using the Network Editor. A SID diagram is derived from a Network diagram. It shows additional implementation information. The rules used to generate the SID from the Network can be found here.

System Specification Diagram

Another name for a Network diagram.

Text Reposition Box

A Text Reposition Box is used to move the textual description of an entity in any direction on either of the Network Diagram or SID relative to the entities picture representation. They may be a variety of user configurable colours as specified via the Configure Colours dialogue access from the Options Menu.

Toolbar Areas

The Toolbar Areas are described :-

here for the Workbench

here for the Network Editor

here for the Structure Editor

Two Way Message Flow

These are used on the SID to connect Processes to either Buffers or Files.

Visual JSP COBOL

A previous name for the Keywood Workbench product. CASE that support the production of diagrams associated with the JSD method. Produced by Keywood Computer Services Ltd.

WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. A common user-interface design metaphor.