Specifying Visual Syntax
S. Uskudarli (UvA)
(Available as P9504-9.ps.gz)
Abstract
This paper discusses visual syntax definition in a framework of
generating programming environments for visual languages. In
particular, the work is set in the context of the ASF+SDF
Meta-environment [Kli93.meta]. For the generation of a visual
programming environment we need to be able specify visual
languages. This paper discusses how we can define visual syntax for
existing languages, and then outlines an approach to defining a visual
specification formalism.
The basic idea is that given a language specification, such as
sets, and a mapping from this language to a graphical syntax
(using a visual definition language), we obtain a visual language
definition from which we can generate visual tools. This approach can
be exploited to define tools for a visual specification formalism
yielding a visual environment for specifying visual
languages.