Modeler: Tutorial/Introduction

The following lessons provide a step-by-step introduction covering the most important features of CaseTalk. Every lesson is divided into several exercises. Each lesson starts with a brief summary of the topics covered. The average lesson takes about 30 minutes to complete.

This lesson contains several remarks you should know before you can start.

Installation

Before you start with the lessons you need to install CaseTalk. In the lessons it is assumed that you have installed CaseTalk in ...\CaseTalk.

Configuration File

If CaseTalk was installed on your computer by another person, it is recommended to remove the file '...\CaseTalk\CaseTalk.CFG'. This file contains several of the FCO-IM Casetool options. By removing this file CaseTalk options will be restored to the default options.

Speedbuttons and hotkeys

Throughout this manual you will find the icons of speedbuttons in the right margin. Such an icon indicates the action which is described can also be preformed by clicking the speedbutton. In several cases you will also see a hotkey under the icon of the speedbutton. Pressing this hotkey (-combination) will also perform the action which is described.

Displayed expressions

Because the space character can be be part of the predicate of an expression CaseTalk will, in most cases, display the space character as a little dot.

Steps in the right margin

During the installation of CaseTalk several 'IG' and 'IGD' files are installed in the directory '...\CaseTalk\LESSONS\STEPS'. The names of the 'IG' files can be found in a black box in the right margin at the start of an exercise. For example Step X. If you have made a mistake in one of the previous exercises, you can return to the an exercise with such a black box.

If you want to continue with Step 9, you should take the following actions:

Remove the files 'lesson.ig' and 'lesson.igd' from the project directory.
Copy the file 'step09.ig' and if present 'step09a.igd' from '...\CaseTalk\LESSONS\STEPS' to the project directory.
Select the option Add File from the File menu. Select the files 'step09.ig' and 'step09a.igd' and click Ok. Both files will be added to the project.
Double click on the 'step09.ig' file in the Project Manager. Select the option Save IG as from the File menu. Save 'step09.ig' as 'step.ig'.
Double click on the 'step09a.igd' file in the Project Manager. Select the option Save IGD as from the File menu and save it as 'lesson.igd'.

You can now proceed with the exercise.

The MS Windows interface

Rollup's A rollup window is a small window 'floating' above all other windows.

Popup-menu's A popup-menu is a menu which appears when you point to an object (using your mouse cursor) and click the right mouse button.

Dragbox A dragbox is used to select multiple objects at the same time. Place the mouse cursor on an empty area of the diagram, press the left mouse button and move the mouse cursor. While you are moving the mouse cursor (still pressing the left button) a rectangle with a dotted line appears. All objects within this rectangle will be selected as soon as you release the left mouse button.

Drag-and-drop Select the object with the mouse cursor, keep the left mouse button pressed, while you move the mouse. Release the left mouse button if the object is at the correct position.

Double click Click an object twice within a short time interval.