Re: Comparing two models for differences

Brian Smith wrote:
> I want to write a unit test that does the following:
>     1. Read a MOF model into an extent using XmiReader
>     2. Write the model to a SSM file using my "SSM writer".
>     3. Read the SSM file back into another extent using my "SSM reader".
>     4. Write the model to another SSM file using the "SSM reader" again.
>     5. Verify that steps #2 and #4 result in identical files using
>        the unix "diff" command.
> 
> (Note: "SSM" is the temporary name for the concrete textual syntax that 
> I am developing).
> 
> Currently, I am doing steps #1-#4 automatically, but I have to manually 
> inspect the results of "diff" myself. I am getting diffs that look like 
> the one below. The problem is basically that MDR is giving me the "root 
> nodes" in an indeterminate order. Obviously, that is not incorrect, but 
> it would be nice if MDR would at least provide "best effort" in 
> preserving the ordering of _all_ collections, whether they are 
> explicitly marked isOrdered=true or not. In other words, treat all 
> multiplicities as though isOrdered=true. What do you think?
> 
> Another similar use case:
> 
> Currently, you can't use XMI files as "golden files" in unit tests for 
> the same reasons I can't use diff to compare my "SSM" files (perhaps 
> among other reasons, such as the way xmi.id's are generated).
> 
> Another similar use case:
> 
> Lets say that I'm using MDR to manipulate XMI files. I want to store the 
> XMI files in version control with CVS. In that case, "best effort" 
> preservation of the ordering of unordered collections is necessary; 
> otherwise, CVS and "diff" will likely report many more differences (and 
> conflicts) than actually exist. I know that Novosoft implemented 
> something special in the XMI reader/write to handle this scenerio, 
> although maybe they only made an effort to preserve the xmi.id's.
> 
> Thanks,
> Brian
> 
> Example diff (notice that the only difference is that the packages 
> PrimitiveTypes and CorbaIdlTypes are reversed in order):
> 
> -package PrimitiveTypes
> +package CorbaIdlTypes
>  {
> -   tag "*tag" : javax.jmi.packagePrefix = 'javax.jmi' on ::PrimitiveTypes
> -   primitive type Boolean
> -   primitive type Integer
> -   primitive type Long
> -   primitive type Float
> -   primitive type Double
> -   primitive type String
> +   tag "*tag" : javax.jmi.packagePrefix = 'javax.jmi' on ::CorbaIdlTypes
> +   primitive type CorbaOctet
> +   primitive type CorbaShort
> +   primitive type CorbaUnsignedShort
> +   primitive type CorbaUnsignedLong
> +   primitive type CorbaUnsignedLongLong
> +   primitive type CorbaLongDouble
> +   primitive type CorbaString
> +   primitive type CorbaChar
> +   primitive type CorbaWChar
>  }
> 
>  package Model
> @@ -322,17 +325,14 @@
>     }
>  }
> 
> -package CorbaIdlTypes
> +package PrimitiveTypes
>  {
> -   tag "*tag" : javax.jmi.packagePrefix = 'javax.jmi' on ::CorbaIdlTypes
> -   primitive type CorbaOctet
> -   primitive type CorbaShort
> -   primitive type CorbaUnsignedShort
> -   primitive type CorbaUnsignedLong
> -   primitive type CorbaUnsignedLongLong
> -   primitive type CorbaLongDouble
> -   primitive type CorbaString
> -   primitive type CorbaChar
> -   primitive type CorbaWChar
> +   tag "*tag" : javax.jmi.packagePrefix = 'javax.jmi' on ::PrimitiveTypes
> +   primitive type Boolean
> +   primitive type Integer
> +   primitive type Long
> +   primitive type Float
> +   primitive type Double
> +   primitive type String
>  }
> 
> 
> 
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