Dictionary diagrams

Definition

Dictionary diagrams present terms and dictionaries together with their dependencies and relations. 

Dictionary diagrams (an example is shown in the screenshot below) can be created in dictionaries and in terms.

An example of a dictionary diagram

Dictionaries and terms

The main structural elements in dictionary diagrams are dictionaries and terms.

Dictionaries have the job of grouping and organizing terms. Dictionaries are created using the "Create a dictionary" icon.

Terms express a defined term and its relationship with other terms or model elements. Terms are created using the "Create a term" icon.

Dictionary dependencies

Besides the dictionary and the term, you can also express meaningful relationships between these elements by using one or more of the following dictionary dependencies:

· Synonym

· Antonym

· Homonym

· Related

· Context

· Kind-of

· Trace

The "Synonym" dependency relates two terms which have different names but the same meaning.

To create a "Synonym" dependency, use the "Create a Synonym dependency" icon.

The "Antonym" dependency expresses that two terms have the opposite meaning. For example, "spaghetti design" is an antonym of "layered architecture".

To create an "Antonym" dependency, use the "Create an Antonym dependency" icon.

The "Homonym" dependency relates two terms which have the same name but a different meaning.

To create a "Homonym" dependency, use the "Create a Homonym dependency" icon.

The "Related" dependency links two terms which have some semantic connection, but in a less precise way than "Synonym", for example.

To create a "Related" dependency, use the "Create a Related dependency" icon.

The "Context" dependency specifies that the meaning of a term is only viable within the context of another term.

To create a "Context" dependency, use the "Create a Context dependency" icon.

The "Kind-of" dependency relates a derived term to its source term. This expresses that a term is a specialization or precision of another term. For example, "Diagram" derives from "Representation".

To create a "Kind-of" dependency, use the "Create a Kind-of dependency" icon.

The "Trace" dependency describes how a design or implementation model represents the term. At least one model element must have been created in order to express the term.

To create a "Trace" dependency, use the "Create a Trace dependency" icon.