ModelMaker is an extremely powerful tool; as a result, like all powerful and extensive products, ModelMaker is complex and can be quite daunting to a new user. With that in mind, I’ve prepared this document as a starting place for those who see the potential in ModelMaker and wish to get up and running faster.
ModelMaker is often billed as a UML diagramming tool or a Delphi CASE tool. However, it is far more than a diagramming tool and the label CASE toolsometimes brings to mind some AI attempting to write code for you. A more accurate description of ModelMaker is that of a full-featured, extensible two-way code management tool with support for UML diagramming, design patterns, reverse engineering, refactoring, etc.
At its core, ModelMaker features an active code model― all your classes and associated elements (units, diagrams, documentation, event types, etc.) are objects within the model. ModelMaker provides various views into this active model, allowing you to manipulate it from within a class list, member list or a diagramWhen you’re ready, you can generate source code units from the model to be compiled by Delphi. Since the units are generated afresh each time (rather than MM working in the extant units), you can change various settings (such as code commenting options, code order, method instrumentation, etc.) and regenerate the units for a variety of purposes (instrumented code for debugging, heavily commented code for automated documentation generation, etc.).
Note that these tutorials are in no way comprehensive; there is more than one way to do most operations; and there are many, many options in the environment. But the following topics should give you a small taste of what ModelMaker is capable of. For more information or assistance, visit www.modelmakertools.com for downloadable documents. You can also request ModelMaker training services via Thoughtsmithy; see our Training Services page for details or contact us at info@thoughtsmithy.com.
